For those who've had top surgery...

[xAndrewx]

Alright so I'm trying to get the answers ahead of time. I know the healing process is very individual so it may be sooner but here's a scenario

I know after surgery I've read many of you can't go back to work that involves heavy lifting for 2 weeks to 2 months (is that right?) depending on how you heal. My job doesn't involve any lifting, raising my hands higher than waist level, and really it is just standing. So I'm wondering, if your job had been like that, how fast do you think that you would have been able to return to work from the day you got the surgery?

I know it's a YMMV thing but I'm just curious for a general. I think I could get 3 weeks off (maybe a little more if I'm not ready by then) and I'm wondering if it would even be remotely enough. Thanks in advance guys

[Arch]

If I'd had a teaching job that summer, I suppose technically I could have taught as soon as five to seven days after surgery--one class, two or three days a week. Not eight hours a day, five days a week. (ETA, I wouldn't have been writing on the board, that's for sure.)

I found that I was incredibly tired and sleepy for weeks after my surgery. I had to take long naps every day for about a month (maybe a bit less). I suppose it was a combination of the shock to the body and the aftereffects of anesthesia. If I'd been working, I would have had to sleep more.

I tend to be a bit slow to heal and recover, and I was nearly 47 when I had the surgery. If you are young and strong, you will probably have less of a problem. Still, you might want to just get as much time off as you can. You only get one shot at this.

Do you know how rapidly you heal from major injuries and how your body reacts to anesthesia?

[xAndrewx]

I'm pretty young and my job is only about 6 hours a night so I should be alright there. I take a bus to and from work so it's 6 hours travel every day but I could sleep on it or at least relax on it. They usually schedule 4-5 days a week but sometimes I only get 2 days in a week and they are willing to work with me on it.

I haven't really had any major injuries and I've never had any surgery before this. Worst I've had was a severe bacterial infection that put me in the ER. I was back up and around 3-4 days after starting the anti-biotics but really I don't figure it's enough to go off of 

[Robert Scott]

It is a surgery so it qualifies for FMLA - family medical leave act .... you would only have to have the surgeon sign off on some paperwork ... then you can have as much time off as necessary

[Carson]

I work as a cashier but it does require lifting my arms above my head pretty often and carrying things 10-25 pounds. I took a month off.

[xAndrewx]

Thanks guys Yeah Kvall, you're right I'm not sure what I was thinking when I put 2 weeks because I know you shouldn't even if you could because you could risk scar stretching.

Rob- 3 weeks is what I could get off without giving them an actual medical reason. I don't want to do FMLA unless absolutely necessary because I don't want them knowing anything. Not even that I am having surgery if I can avoid it. My co-workers would ask questions. However if I mention that I have to go out of town for family reasons and then tell them I just cannot be scheduled with some advanced notice they don't tend to care when anyone else does it.