Returning to work after Hysterectomy

[Jusfloatingby]

A friend of mine had a Complete Abdominal Hysterectomy in February. I had the same operation a couple of years ago and took twelve weeks off work. She is a bit fed up today because she met a colleague in the supermarket yesterday who said something along the lines of 'You're still off work? I thought you'd be back by now' (not sure of exact wording). This friend's father died about ten days after her surgery so she's had that to contend with as well.
I have told her to take as much time as she needs as you still get very tired for some time after the surgery but now she is worrying that she looks as if she's swinging the lead.
I remember, during my recovery, feeling a bit concerned when I read websites advising that you would be back in work after about six weeks as I felt nowhere near ready enough to return at that stage.
Has anyone else on here had an abdominal hysterectomy and how much time did you take off work. There just seems to be a lot of misleading information out there which I think can be unfair on people who may feel hassled into going back to work before they're ready.

I'm 7 weeks post-op, having had a Vaginal Hysterectomy (with a laparoscopy done 2 days later). I have been signed off work until week 12 (due back 14th May) which my Physio and GP were both keen for ....and this is without the abdominal cut! I am having a Phased Return (again at the request of the Physio and my GP) and so will be working part time hours up until half-term.

My job is quite physical (teaching assistant in a Reception class) and involves standing most of the day. I've been very lucky in that my boss (female) has been very supportive and as soon as I told her I needed a hysterectomy, she had already planned for me to be off for 12 weeks. The way I see it, you only get one chance at getting this recovery right...screw it up, and you could end up with more surgery or ending up with further complications....and NO JOB is worth more than your own health.

As I say, I'm 7 weeks and still get tired as the day wears on. I still get twinges and niggles internally when I've overdone something. Tell your friend about Hysterectomy Association website....fantastic support for me! There is a section where you can log into the month when you had your surgery.

My mum had a hysterectomy 2 years ago. She was unemployed (and looking for work) when it all happened so did not have a job to return to, but even if she had there was no way she could have that soon anyway. From how she was afterwards and how long her recovery took, I'd say she wouldn't have been fit for full time work for at least 4 or 5 months after. My mum is 58 and had existing chronic health problems which may have been part of it taking that long, but still!

Your friend's colleague is being ridiculous and deserves to be ignored, possibly with judicious application of eyerolling. A hysterectomy is very major surgery, as I'm sure you know, having had one. She needs to take all the time she needs to recover properly, it'll only lead to trouble down the line if she doesn't. My mum is very tough and 'just get on with it' and I think her consultant got the measure of her very quickly; she just told mum outright that there was to be no messing around and she was to do the amount of physical activity as instructed by medical professionals and not an ounce more or less.

I'm glad to see other people's experiences back up my own. I honestly think some of those medical websites must be run by employers' groups when you see the unrealistic time frames they give for recovery from various operations and procedures. I remember a few years ago having an embolisation procedure for fibroids. From reading websites I thought I would be practically bungee jumping after a week. The reality was very different. .

Into week six after total hysterectomy, due to go bk to work next week but feel so tired!