Would you do this? I feel weird about it but everyone is saying to take advantage

[Itsthebluecrayon]

I am due to have some minor ish surgery in May. I’ve been told recovery can take up to two weeks but a lot of people feel fine within 48 hours and back at work/usual tasks within a few days.

Obviously I’ve no idea how it will go until it gets to that point but having mentioned it to friends and family, everyone has said oh I hope you’ll make the most of taking some leave and have some time to yourself (or variations on this).

I don’t know if part of this is I’m a single parent so I haven’t had a ‘day off’ for over 2.5 years now (and toddler age child) or whether this would be the attitude generally. I haven’t had time off sick in several years and I have huge anxiety about it. I mentioned it to my mum (she’s not going to be impartial I guess!) and she said it’s obvious I am not well rested and I should think seriously about taking this opportunity in one go… taking multiple sick leave creates alerts whereas one following one event would not.

I have been really surprised by these comments and it’s made me think twice about rushing back in to work. What would you do? How long would you take?

Are you having a diagnostic laparoscopy by any chance?

I really played mine down to my employer beforehand, I genuinely had no idea what the surgeon would find.

I was signed off for 2 weeks. I needed to rest but I did take the most of the leave, and didn’t feel guilty about it.

I think you’re overthinking this tbh.

Take the two weeks, and book it now. Don’t think you’ll play it by ear because then the anxiety will kick in and you won’t take the time.

Your employer will neither remember you had two weeks off to recover, nor give you any credit for not taking it.

You might need the whole two weeks. You might be broadly fine after 48 hours, in which case you can enjoy a week and a half of catching up on sleep, cleaning out your cupboards, or whatever else you never get any time to do.

I would take the two weeks. The four weeks is taking the piss because that is not the medical advice. 2 days is silly and just sets you up for a slower, less effective recovery, especially if you're overall somewhat unwell.

I had gallbladder removed years ago. Had 2 weeks signed off. After 1 week I felt a lot better and was dead bored (pre kids) but i found trying to go into the office was actually too much. I compromised with my boss by agreeing to do a couple of hours remotely (10-12 every day) to keep on top of the really urgent things, respond to emails, pass work to colleagues etc and it felt like the right balance of being helpfula t work butnot limiting my recovery.

Echoing other posts here but take all the time you need. You may be capable of work after two weeks but being capable and being recovered are different things, especially if you're running on empty anyway (as it sounds like you are). You don't need to feel guilty about resting, your job would replace you in a heartbeat and won't give you a medal for going back early. We've all internalised this "work means worthy" attitude and I think it can be damaging. You need to rest and recover and take care of yourself, you're allowed to do that without feeling bad.

Follow your doctor's advice and not friends and family?

The surgeon will give you a sick note - they'll have known how countless people recover from the operation, and variations based on age / fitness / severity of problem / how the operation itself goes etc etc. They'll give you a note for however log they think you'll need, and you should do as they say.

I don't think that people are really following the OP's question - she seems to be asking about the suggestion that her friends/family made that she take four weeks off which is two more weeks than the surgeon has suggested.

Taking two weeks - good
Taking four weeks - taking the piss (and not sure how that would work as I don't imagine the surgeon would give a sick note for the extra time, if not warranted)

Take the leave advised by the medical staff.
Upright and conscious seems to be be the qualifier for going to work, and you're guilt tripped if you are and not at work. Probably not even upright to be honest with some employers!

If you need further time off after returning early because you didn't recover properly, through guilt, they're not going to take that into account when dealing with follow up sick leave, they'll just follow the protocol and you'll be the one paying for it. Better to take it all in one go, recover properly and reduce that risk.

I think it's ludicrous that employers can pressure and guilt you into not taking the full amount of recovery needed, and then punish you when it doesn't work out.

Your work will require a fit note for any extended period of time off. If your doctor gives you a fit note that says you can't work for 2 weeks, then your work cannot allow you back unless you provide another note that says you are now fit for work. You can't override it and say "actually I feel fine now".

I hope it goes well OP. Take the time to recuperate properly and fully.

There's no need to over-complicate this - your doctor will sign you off for however long they believe is necessary.

If you feel better sooner, then great, you take advantage of that by enjoying some peace and quiet - there's absolutely no benefit to rushing back sooner.

You'll need a sick note and it is unlikely they'll sign you off for 4 weeks if you are better after 2. Get the sick note for 2 weeks and rest for that time.

I have surgery due sometime... I've been warned 2-6wk recovery depending on how much they remove and how I respond. I'm fully expecting to need the 6 weeks and have prepped work for that long. I will not be rushing back, but I won't be taking the piss either.

If you need 2 weeks to get through the initial recovery and 2 weeks to get through the associated fatigue and recover from the pain etc that seems very reasonable to me!

You'll need to take whatever the doctor signs you off for probably. Most employers won't let you work if you have a sick note, it's too risky for them.

If it’s the public sector you work for don’t rush back. No one could care less. You’d never be thought any better of. If it’s private sector I suppose you need to think carefully

It's better to over rest and be amazingly recharged than under rest and cause yourself some damage. Take it easy x

Also you'll probably need more than one sick note, so expect to speak to the doc more than once about your recovery.

Take the time guilt free. 100% without a shadow of a doubt.

Start with what the surgeon recommends to GP for your fit note. You can always go back earlier if you recover super fast and are bored senseless.Alternatively, if there are complications, you can get more time off to fully recover. I recently had surgery and although some people their incision closes in a couple of days and they are fine in two weeks, it took 6 weeks for my wound to close (allergic reaction not an infection) and I am over 2 months down the road and still in a lot of pain. I am healing very slowly, probably because I am also anemic and have an auto-immune condition.

If they say two weeks take two weeks, recovery is as much about rest as anything else. I had a cholecystectomy in 2023 and whilst the pain was fine quickly, I found I got tired much quicker for at least a couple of weeks, and I'm not a single parent so DH was around to pick up things I would usually do and the lion's share with DH. Pretty sure your not going to get so bored you're desperate to go back within two weeks.
The other aspect might be pay, I'm fortunate that I was paid in full but I know not all companies do.

Do it, take the two weeks. I’ve got an operation coming up in April and plan to do the same. It will probably take about 2-3 days to get over the GA but I don’t care. Work have got a good sick leave policy and I can’t be bothered to go to work 🤷‍♀️

A month is a long time, I would tell work 2 weeks but you may need up to 2 weeks longer and you'll do your best to give them enough notice as soon as you know. Then see how you feel.

The amount of time off you take is absolutely related to length of recommended recovery. Take the maximum. You can always go back to work sooner if you're up to it. It's great the other people recovered quickly and were back to work in a few days. But, they're not you. No-one know how you will feel after surgery and how quickly you will bounce back.

Have had three ops in the past 18 months - two mastectomies and salpingo-oophorectomy. The latter was keyhole and thought that would be the easiest. It really was not, I couldn't even stand up straight for the first week.

Wishing you well for your surgery OP 💐

Yes I would take the two weeks I was signed off for. You acknowledge you have anxiety about taking any sick days and feel guilty about resting. You are not the best barometer for judging what’s reasonable recovery time. Trust the HC professionals.

There's a big difference between recovered to the extent that you can basically function and ACTUAL recovery. Being fully recovered after any surgery under general anaesthetic is highly unlikely after a few days, whatever age you are. We really neglect the importance of recovery and convalescence as a society imo.

What others have said - take the time recommended, and it's better to plan for the 2 weeks than to say you'll be back in 1 then need more time. Of course follow your doctor's advice if you get some. I had a laparoscopic surgery recently and really downplayed it as it was 'just keyhole' which was a mistake - still GA and like @doublec I couldn't stand upright for the first few days let alone work! I couldn't even have sat/lain in front of a computer. That said, when you take the time be clear with your family it is recovery, not some kind of jolly, as it sounds like you have a tendency to feel guilty. Recovery is hard, your body is using energy to heal itself. Good luck with the op and take care OP 💐