Impact of asking to delay starting date

[Idefix]

I am writing this from my hospital bed - I was diagnosed with a type of hernia that needed to be fixed asap so 11 days ago I had the procedure to repair it which was not fully successful and today I will find out if I need a further procedure.

My issue is that I am due to start a new job mid-March, I have been told that I would be fine with that start date and would work with recovery period. On Friday I was told I made need a further procedure which would set the clock back again on my recovery and I would need to delay my start at work till the end of March.

I am in tears writing this, I haven't called my new employer as I had every expectation that I was going to be ready to go for the date agreed. I hate letting people down, I am worried about this creating a super bad impression of me, I feel scared

I will be reviewed later today and no if surgery is necessary but part of me is thinking to just leave it so I can start work as agreed. The impact would be more on my daily quality of life and physical comfort, not on my physical health. I have lived with this problem for a long time.

Prior to this operation my last sick days off were 3 1/2 years (2 days off work following minor op) ago I don't do sick generally (hcp).

Just feel so anxious, I have been trying to give my head a wobble but it is not working...

Has anyone ever had experience of this either as the employer or employee?

If the surgeons think you need further surgery please have it. I know that you're worried about your job but you really don't want your hernia to strangulate-that can be fatal and is excruciating. Hope they decide everything is ok.

I had time off for a minor op a few days into starting a new job - if I'd thought about it I would have delayed the start by a couple of weeks. So my view it's better to explain why you need to start later rather than take time off not long after you're in. Your health comes first.

Please have the surgery, your quality of life is very important. Much better to start the job having had all the surgeries than need it down the line.

Can you contact the HR department as they tend to be the first port of call for new starters.

Explain your medical situation, tell them you are really keen to start but please can you agree the new start date of xxxx. If you think it would help you could offer to provide them some means of verifying your circumstances, but make sure they don't have anything on your HR record as it should be treated as a circumstance before you have officially joined. All you need to do is build trust with them so they know this is an emergency.

Reality is it is only a couple of weeks' delay in real terms, I'm sure their business will cope, and they won't want to have the bother of restarting recruitment, so I am pretty certain your position is safe if you play your cards right.

All the very best for your OP

Sorry that should say op, OP

Definitely agree re quality of life coming first every time!!

Thanks everyone, I know I need to get this sorted just feeling wobbly.

Daisy it is a GP practice so no HR as such, and I am fairly sure they will be fine iyswim in saying start in April, we did discuss this at one point but then settled for earlier. We have been in email communication since just upset that things are not going to plan.

Been seen by one dr today who I have never seen before who has examined me and said I now need to wait for the consultant. Really hoping I see him today.

Trying to be calm and patient...