More advise please

[pilot1]

Ok group.
I own my own business and office at home. I am at my desk most of the day. Sitting, writing and pounding on the computer with emails.
I will be having my surgery on a thursday Jan 7th. I hope to be home by sunday Jan 10th.
An issue I will have is the amount of work mostly mental I will have to do. I really will need to be back at work on that Monday the 11th. Good thing is my wife works at home too and will be able to bring files to me. I think I will have my computer in my lap and be in a recliner most the time working. Does that sound like something I can do.
My biggest issue will be catching up on what I dont do on Thursday and Friday..
Really stinks, I told my wife it is really one of my biggest worries. Wish I could be off work and not have to worry about anything but recovering..
Take care and thanks for any advise.. would love to hear others that had to do the same.

 

[Jamie]

Pilot, I think you are being unrealistic. You will have had major surgery days before. You will likely have some pain and be on pain medication. Those pain meds will make the type of work you're talking about very difficult to do well. Surely your clients will understand the need for some down time after major surgery, wouldn't they???

You certainly can try to work from home like you describe, but I think you need a PLAN B in case you are not up to it. Your first priority needs to be your recovery. If you push too hard too soon, you'll just delay your recovery. Better to take the appropriate amount of time up front and come back sooner. I'm afraid your work will really suffer otherwise.

Spend some time reading in the Hip Surgery Recovery forum and you'll get a feel for what you will be going through in the days following surgery.

 

[sasvermont]

Okay, you asked for it.

When I first met with my surgeon to discuss having hip replacement surgery, the first thing he said was that I needed to set this surgery up as my first priority and not worry about my work issues. Being on the other side of the surgery, I certainly understand why.

Why? The first few days you are on many pain meds and not capable of making many important decisions (you are usually in and out of sleep). Your energy should be spent getting in and out of bed, a little PT, walking a bit and recovering from surgery. Maybe, if all your stars are aligned just right, you will feel well enough within a week or two to sit up and perform (work) .....

One would hope that you could put fires out at work, working at home, but being productive at first, I don't think so. I don't know your situation, work wise, but I don't recommend working for at least the first week!!!!

Everyone is different...recovery wise. Most doctors want you to recoup for at least a few days. Mine told me not to work for six weeks. I work in retail, so I must be on my feet for 8/10 per day. If I had a desk job, maybe he would have different considerations.

Take this time to recoup and recover from this major surgery.

Good luck!

 

[teejay]

Pilot, I’m with Jamie and my recovery has been fantastic. I’m a small business owner with a home office myself and my work could be described as just surfing the net. I started to work three weeks out last Monday, and only part time three to five hours a day, and this is hard. It’s rather easy to lie in your bed or recliner and peck the keyboard hours after hours to post here, but it’s much harder when you are doing actual work and need brains. I’d not have carried out my duties five days after the surgery.

Your recovery is the most important matter, so you can get back to work ASAP. Don’t ruin that.

 

[jaz]

I found I was pretty lousy until the staples came out which was about two weeks after surgery so wouldn't attempt anything until they had been out for at least a few days. You will be fuzzy due to the surgery, broken sleep and the drugs so productive work will be difficult and frustrating. You will get very sore if you have to sit for extended periods. I had a fast recovery and still took three weeks off then went back for reduced days. This is at 38 yo when you do bounce back a lot quicker. Even working from home with assistance from your wife I would still look at taking at least three weeks off.

 

[pilot1]

Yikes,
O ****... and ooops is all I can say..
I am the brains of my business and it does not work without me. I am the problem solver and get er donner... at all times..
I think I could work just a few hours a day a few days after surgery and keep everyone happy.. even if in bed with the computer and my wife going back and forth to the office.
Looks like I am going to need to do some extra things to make this happen.
I sure wish I could take off more time.. just not able to.
I even work on vacation.. have for the last 12 years.
Take care,,
I will figure a way to do this..

 

[pilot1]

Okay, you asked for it.

When I first met with my surgeon to discuss having hip replacement surgery, the first thing he said was that I needed to set this surgery up as my first priority and not worry about my work issues. Being on the other side of the surgery, I certainly understand why.

Why? The first few days you are on many pain meds and not capable of making many important decisions (you are usually in and out of sleep). Your energy should be spent getting in and out of bed, a little PT, walking a bit and recovering from surgery. Maybe, if all your stars are aligned just right, you will feel well enough within a week or two to sit up and perform (work) .....

One would hope that you could put fires out at work, working at home, but being productive at first, I don't think so. I don't know your situation, work wise, but I don't recommend working for at least the first week!!!!

Everyone is different...recovery wise. Most doctors want you to recoup for at least a few days. Mine told me not to work for six weeks. I work in retail, so I must be on my feet for 8/10 per day. If I had a desk job, maybe he would have different considerations.

Take this time to recoup and recover from this major surgery.

Good luck!

First of all I loved this reply.. Ok you asked for it cracked me up and I did ask for it and appreciate it.
I know what to expect and that will help. My wife will basically be handling calls first week and I will be available to help with any questions or concerns and just be healing.
Maybe business will be slow..
Take care and appreciate all the responses.

 

[JudyS]

Pilot
I agree with all the others. I do remember the first 2 weeks consisted of sleeping, napping, resting , doing my physical therapy exercises. The surgery really zaps your energy, the pain meds zap your brain!!

Sounds like yuo deserve some time off from work anyway.
judy

 

[Josephine]

Well, no-one can stop you from trying but I wouldn't want to rank the quality of your decision-making that soon. All your energy, both physical and mental, will be focussed on getting through from morning till lunchtime, etc., etc. I think you may find it a Herculean task to even try to "think business" until at least a week or two out.

 

[pilot1]

Thank you.. I appreciate the responses.
I am confident with my wifes help and preparation we will be ok..
I had my wife read the posts to make sure she is ready for what we are up against..
Take care and will let everyone know how it goes..

 

[Jamie]

It’s rather easy to lie in your bed or recliner and peck the keyboard hours after hours to post here, but it’s much harder when you are doing actual work and need brains.

Ummmmm......Teejay, I love ya guy, but are you saying it takes NO BRAINS to be a BoneSmartie??? :skp: And that posting here is not actual work??? :hehe: And here all this time I thought I was really using my ol' brain when I was online "not working.".....

Actually, I know what you mean....I just couldn't resist the opportunity to "rag" at you a little!

 

[Judles]

Tee Jay...You're Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!!!!! (0)

 

[pkuznets]

Pilot,
I had my surgery 6 days ago--I've been home for 2. You eat, sleep, do the PT, practice with your walker, and mentally try to "see" your environment in your new state--all of that takes SO much energy and concentration! I have not been able to crack open a new novel yet because the pain meds make my mind a bit sloshy, and the physical demand of the new "condition" takes all of my energy. I'm 52--considered young--but I am in no way ready to begin depending upon my brainpower in a productive manner. Each day, I see an improvement, but it is a slow process. Each time you hoist yourself out of bed, navigate the walker to your commode, do a few "laps" up or down your hallway, you find yourself nearly ready for a nap! Please try to streamline your workload as your concentration will be seriously devoted to recovery...in a good way. I love my new hip and feel like a little girl who was visited early by a most gifted OS santa!
Take care,
Patrikya

 

[pilot1]

Thanks Patrika,
I will. I had expectations that I would be much more alert..
I will post after surgery and see how it goes..
Take care and glad you are on the other side.

 

[tweedy57]

Pilot,
While planning my life for the next few weeks, made sure that my son and daughter-in-law understood that I'll would not be babysitting the grandchildren (love them as I do)for awhile. Normally, I watch the 2 yr old on Mondays (my day off from my library job) and both the 2 & 5 yr olds on Monday and Tuesday nights while work schedule and schooling keep their parents busy. As soon as I get a sense of how I am after surgery then I can plan how soon I help again. Or babysit with my husband around.
Just be sure to have several back up plans to your Plan A-Get back to work right away, like Plan B- Rest and Recuperation or Plan C-the unplanned and unexpected has happened. Good luck! You'll definitely figure it out!!

Patrika,
Glad you have posted your experiences with your HR , appreciated your comments. I'm 52 also and heading in hospital tomorrow!!!

:whis: All I want for Christmas is a new right hip!:whis:

Betsy "Tweety"

 

[arla222]

I remember after my THR that it really took away all my energy -- both physical and mental. I really wanted to be able to do things, but I needed a nap every few hours, and I was also constantly tired since it was difficult to get a good night's sleep for at least 6 weeks for me.

So, hopefully you won't have these same difficulties, but you really need to line up your ducks in case you can't just jump into you work right away.

Best of luck to you!

 

[kjt]

I agree on the plan B - especially if you're not really sure how anesthetic and pain meds hit you. Anesthesia alone can knock me down for a couple weeks.

I didn't need a whole pile of pain meds after my hip scope this spring - but the Lovenox really trashed me. Other people I know had no issues w/the Lovenox at all.