I'm fixing to book for Chettawut at the end of March 2013, and I'm a professor. I typically teach 1-2 courses per term, each being 3hrs of class time per week (3x50min or 1x 3hrs). I'll be able to have 5.5 weeks off after the surgery date, and I plan to be really careful with my recovery while still in Thailand. I can stand or sit while I lecture.

Do you think that it's reasonable to be back at work after that amount of time?

You can probably do it barring any complications, but it will definitely suck. Can you arrange to have it be your 1 course term? That might be more manageable.

I don't think the actual classes would be the problem so much as the work load. You're still going to be spending the majority of each day doing self-care, and you'll be pretty exhausted all the time.

Most people wait 2-3 months to return to work if they can possibly manage to stay off for that long.

Well, I need to work, so I have to do something. However, I can probably get 3 distance education (all online) courses (pays less than 2 in-class courses). Teaching 2 classes still gives me tonnes of time to be home and doing self-care as needed. It might be better to go with the DE courses, especially if it's going to be really painful in the first month of teaching.

Oh I don't expect it would be really painful by that point, as long as you don't have to sit for long periods of time. At least it wasn't for me. It's more just being kind of like 40% there all the time? I found it was really hard to focus and work properly in the first couple months. Mostly just wanted to lie down and zone out a lot. And you have to arrange doing stuff around the self-care schedule, which was pretty rigid at that point.

I think you can do it, just try to take it as easy as you can.

Quote from: rachl on September 09, 2012, 11:20:41 AM
I'm fixing to book for Chettawut at the end of March 2013, and I'm a professor. I typically teach 1-2 courses per term, each being 3hrs of class time per week (3x50min or 1x 3hrs). I'll be able to have 5.5 weeks off after the surgery date, and I plan to be really careful with my recovery while still in Thailand. I can stand or sit while I lecture.

Do you think that it's reasonable to be back at work after that amount of time?

Yes, it's reasonable. I had surgery with Dr. Chett, and was spending 3 1/2 hour on my feet walking around the wall 9 days post op, and doing a 9 hour tour of bangkok 18 days after. But if you are taking it easy after surgery you are unlikely to have any set backs that will cause you discomfort while you are teaching

admin ninja edit: fixed quote