SRS recovery time

[jollyjoy]

I plan on having SRS in October this year and I'm a little concerned about the recovery time. I work as a wedding photographer and have to often crouch or kneel  during the wedding to get good angle photos. Photographing weddings is pretty physically demanding since the hours are often 10+ hours with minimal rest.

Can anyone tell me how many months of rest should I expect to have before I go back to doing my wedding photography work without pain or discomfort?

[Dena]

It's personal but most often the time would be 6 weeks to two months. Standing the issues is weakness and you can get over that with reasonable activity while recovering. Sitting, you know what the problems is and that depends on your healing rate. Moving around, pain pretty much isn't an issue pretty quickly.

[Jenna Marie]

I can't tell you how long you will need... but I can tell you that at 4 weeks a desk job was nearly too much for me, and I wasn't up to performing demanding physical labor for 10+ hours at a time for more like 3 months. Sorry!! (I *could* do demanding tasks as needed - but I'd have to rest after half an hour to an hour of that sort of work.) On the other hand, some women do bounce back more quickly.

I was also told not to lift more than 10 lbs for 2 months, in case your camera equipment weighs more than that.

[OCAnne]

Hello, I still had serious discomfort at 12 weeks.  It was mainly centered around the pubic bone region.  My job requires climbing in and around live TV productions trucks.  Lot of squatting and sitting on hard floors.  All pretty much normal at 6 months.

Here are a couple notes from my SRS log.
OK to have sex at 8 weeks.....(although I held off to 14)

Cleared to jump into pool at 12 week. 

EOM

[AnonyMs]

It also varies by surgeon. Suporn in particular has a much longer recovery time.

[jollyjoy]

Thank you all, I hope 6 months of rest will be enough for me before I go back to doing wedding photography work. Anyone knows any tips/tricks to speed up the healing time?

[Dena]

Six months should be more than enough time. Most what you need to do is move around and return to your normal routine when you feel ready and not before. Walk and spend time on your feet when you have the strength to but take it easy at first. Above all, don't make the mistake I did and return to work 4 days out of the hospital. That's a real killer and yes, it was a really dumb move.

[TG CLare]

6 months is really a lot of time. I found after 6 weeks I felt so much better compared to week 1 after surgery. As for healing, we all heal at different rates but I'd venture that as long as you're healthy and your immune system isn't compromised with a cold or something, you should be alright.

Love,
Clare

[jollyjoy]

Glad to know 6 months is more than enough time!

[Elaine S]

Hi Joy:

My experience was helped in large part by becoming quite fit by the time GRS time arrived. In the hospital for 9 days (25+ years ago) and can't say for the work as my getting RIF'ed from work as the program I was working on laid off many. Back then I was a runner/jogger. I was back to running the 1 mile up and 1 mile back on my street as normal within the first month of getting out of the hospital post-op. As I had all my time available to recover and renter exercise, I quickly started getting mobile again. Cleared by all my doctors and needed to pursue new career. Definite is a wide variance of opinion.

Best wishes to Joy and enjoy the new day

Elaine

[Butterflylover3]

I'm 4 months post op and im feeling a lot better. Everyone is different. Only you know your own body and don't push yourself that is the key to healing. Good luck!

[Laura_7]

Here were some hints :

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,190515.msg1697107.html#msg1697107


hugs

[jollyjoy]

Thank you all for your helpful tips!!

[Katie]

Was riding my motorcycle and mowing grass three weeks after surgery. I felt reasonably well. I will say though that the full recovery took two years. What I am saying is all the stranger sensations of recovery took two years to go away.