How do you fit in the time required for dilation? What if there is a need to do overtime?

Precise timing on your dilations is not "mission critical" so there is flexibility in your life.  My usual for a 3X period of time (first 90 days) was get up time before a shower, pre dinner time (as a slow cooker meal was working) and then bedtime with a sitzbath to clean up with.  Note that I have not used any clock numbers in this.  At 2X  (91 - 180 days)  it was get up time and bed time, so I could be more creative in my dinner cooking.  Now at 1X it is usually bed time with a shower afterward, and the morning is faster for all concerned.

I do not know who your surgeon is, but mine recommended only a fairly short session each time, and in fact, the greatest time span was in prep and clean-up issues.  By now it is a system that takes no time at all and is worked into my daily "habit" routine. Time will make itself available for you, and it can be an excuse for someone else to take out the trash for a few months.  Do not over think or over analyze your doctor's instructions.  I found that I had to double dilate (IE two sizes in same session) for only about two days during the step up in size window, and that saved time and material. YMMV   

I know that legends abound on the horrors, and it is a ton of worry when you look forward to it, but it became as regular as shaving once was and as annoying to some degree.  Use the time off work in the 4 to 5 weeks after surgery to put dilation into the times a work schedule will dictate.  Relax and get life to where it will not keep you from doing good work at your job. 

4 weeks, and I wished I'd taken one more week both for recovery and dilation scheduling. That meant I had about a week of having to do 4 dilations per day (with 2 dilators, 20 minutes total) while back at work, and I ended up driving home during lunch to do one dilation session for those days.  Luckily I did not have a job with OT, or that would have been a problem.

(Brassard's dilation schedule : At home, you should dilate 4 times per day with, #1, #2 for 5, 15 minutes for one month. Dilate 3 times per day with #1, #2, #3 for 5, 10, 15 minutes for two months. Dilate twice a day with #2, #3, #4, for 5, 10, 15 minutes for 3 months. Dilate once a day with #3, #4, for 5, 15 minutes for 6 months. Slowly increase the interval of time between each dilation until you reach one dilation per week with #4, for 15 minutes for the rest of your life.)

Quote from: unregistered on January 02, 2014, 02:53:34 AM
How do you fit in the time required for dilation? What if there is a need to do overtime?

I used to get up at 4am and dilate, shower, eat breakfast and go to work. Then go to work and dilate again as soon as I got home. At one point early on post op I had to dilate twice after work, once right after work and once just before bedtime. Best of luck in that first year it's a pain, but it does get better and easier with time.

I took off 6 weeks from work and that was barely enough. Since I managed to use short term disability I was able to come back to work with a very light work schedule. I mean they ARE going to know you are leaving work for medical reasons, so i wouldn't plan on trying to hide this as some kind of vacation. It's going to be obvious afterwards.

Waited 7 week before  going back to work, tried at 4, but well no-way lol.

Then when I did return, how did I manage the dilations?

well if I had to work at 8 I'd be up at 5-530 the manage a 1hour dilation then get home at 5 to do an immediate dilation, finally to do one more at 10-11, and do it again.
sometimes I had too work at 1pm, id be up at 7 do a dilation then than again at 11 than finally when I got home from work while eating dinner I would do one.

killed a lot of time, ended up sleeping 4-6 hours and downing caffeinated beverages regularly.
I am still not a year at about 10 months now and sense I am currently down because of another surgery I can dilate a lil more freely timed but. I don't dilate now as often as I was suppose to but I don't have any issues either so...   all good

what about those of you who have desk jobs? even 6 to 7 weeks in now I have problems sitting down for periods of time

Are you glued to the desk??  If not, plan your work for desk for a short time, and some job at a filing cabinet standing up, and then back to the desk.  Also a collection of pretty pillows on the desk chair that can be rearranged to take pressure off of certain points.  Telecommute where you can have the keyboard in your recliner with your donut pillow at home.  Your boss should be able to give you a reasonable accommodation in terms of office supplies, such as foot stools to get your legs up even at your desk, or even split shifts, or you can go back on sick leave. 

I am curious about this topic, too.  I am lucky in that I can telecommute for extended periods, so I can address sitting and dialation.  But how soon after surgery do you feel interested in returning to work and able to concentrate?  My biggest suprise after FFS was how long it took before I could focus my mind.  How long should you give yourself for the emotional and mental aspects of recovery?

I went back to work six weeks after SRS. I had no issues with doing so at that time, but my recovery was very easy and free of complications.