Sorry if this is a repeated thread.I searched and found no questions regarding heavy lifting post-op.

How soon after my GRS will I be able to lift/move heavy objects at work?
I am a Registered Nurse on an ICU so my day includes turning and lifting patients in their beds.
How soon folowing my GRS will I be able to safely use that much lower body stength?
Will I need extra time of work?
Therefore needing to use FMLA.

Some of the other women may be more informed about this but you may as well consider that it probably would coincide with whatever advice an OB-GYN would give to a woman who had just had a hysterectomy. You're in a perfect position as an ICU nurse to have that question answered by the experts. Good luck!

Brassard says no lifting over 10 pounds for at least 8 weeks, and wait to lift anything really heavy "until you've healed completely."

Personally, I think it was about six months post-op before I could lift a 50-lb box at work without feeling a twinge. Not sure how heavy your patients are, or how much assistance you'll have, but I'd plan on several weeks past the 2-month mark at least...

Collette,

I was working as a CNA when I had my SRS.  I was a patient of Dr Suporn, his
direction was to not lift anything over 25 pounds until 3 months after surgery.

I needed all of that time before returning to work.  Lifting wasn't as much of a problem
for me as bending and kneeling. I worked in a long term care center, so lots of kneeling
to put shoes, pants, briefs on folks while they were sitting.  Also my level of general fatigue
was much higher.  I ended up cutting down from 5 shifts to 4.

I made sure to concentrate a lot more on body mechanics, and get help more often.

I used every day of FMLA. 

Best wishes,
Elaina

I actually had discharge instructions that told me there were no restrictions on my physical activities other than what the fatigue and soreness dictated as I moved.  Most of my pain and muscle stress had calmed way down at 4 weeks, and by 5 weeks the last two sutures had dissolved and at that point I did have an occasion to do some heavy lifting and suffered no ill from it. I suspect that each Surgeon has their own preferred limit if it is ONLY GCS.  At six weeks I had regained my former comfort and skill levels for "smart lifting".

Well this is not medical advice because I am only a student as yet. However my own experience may help. I'm PAIS, my op was a long time ago - but was broadly similar to standard SRS... back then if I recall correctly, we were made to rest for about ten days in the immediate aftermath, but after that we were told that as long as we weren't straining, the more exercise and work we did the better.

I went back to work after a month, but only part time at first, but then working development laboratories (which was what I was doing at the time) didn't really involve much. About six weeks after the op I decided I needed a new patio - and was swinging a lump hammer to break up the existing concrete - which I then lifted into the skip (dumpster).

I recall that I did get more easily tired than usual, and as one of the few here who has some insight into the likely pressures of working in a healthcare environment I would say that you would probably be being rather ambitious to plan on going back to work before 6 weeks, and probably not for 8 weeks. The op does take it out of you and you will be more tired than you expect. In fact that sums up my experience really. The pain was far less than I expected, the tiredness was far worse.

So I would plan on the basis that you will have at least 6 weeks off, but warn your employer that as this is medical treatment recovery rate cant be guaranteed and be prepared to go the full 3 months if needed. Then if you feel ok at the 6 weeks go back part time for a few weeks ramping up gradually. As far as the lifting is concerned, as long as you use good techniques and don't lift beyond your capacity it should be fine.