Realistic timescales for return to work

Hi Peppermint Paddy

As it is said you are still in the early days of recovery and still recovering from your treatments. You should not feel this pressure and worry. You are dealing  with enough  at the moment.  When the time is right for you there should be a phased return for you to do  and any issues beforehand discussed with the relevant people at work for adjustments made for you.. This will be to help things easier for you with this phased return to work.  You  are protected by the law.. There is some very good advice here.  My advice would be to concentrate on getting on yourself well. People are well meaning but we should not feel we need to keep explaining ourselves.  

Best of luck with the counseling.

Best wishes

NIcky

Hello there, 

i had surgery followed by radiotherapy which finished in April last year. I went back to work September and did a phased return, im full time and still find it difficult. So much so im using leave owed to me from being off sick to have extra time off during the week . I still have many residual side effects from treatment which is made worse by speaking and sitting at a desk. Difficult because i have to communicate all day  with the public.  
i am lucky that my employer is really supportive and ive never felt pressured. 
Dont go back until you are ready, do you have access to occupational health? They can recommend how best your employer can support your return to work 

Elaine 

Thanks Elaine that’s really helpful. I am seeing consultant tomorrow for a check up so will see how I am progressing. I hope to go back part time rather than full time if possible as I don’t think I could manage full time now 

Hi Peppermint You want to nip that in the bud and tell them you will be in contact when or if you are ready to return to work. End of story , Your Number One Here and Dont forget that. Give you lap top back and phone and tell them you know they might mean well but you need rest. All the Best Minmax 

Hi Minmax, I couldn't agree with you more. These employers who put this kind of pressure on people, need taking to task.

Ray.

Hi peppermint, 

Regarding HRT, it's been brilliant for my wife. She's had the patches for 6 months and the difference is great 

Oh I’m a fan too 

Geezer63rd said:

Regarding HRT, it's been brilliant for my wife.

Hi

yes it’s been a game changer. I think my husband is pleased too as I am less of a grumpy old cow now haha! 

Thanks. I have switched them all off and they are gathering dust in a cupboard now. Saw my consultant today and he said six months is realistic after treatment for a return to work and is writing to my GP to explain so she will be able to update my sick note accordingly. 

Hi Peppermint I am delighted for you , You need to focus 100% on you. I have a customer who is a corporate lawyer and she had a heart issue where she didnt know if she was going to live or die for years fortunately she is cured but she was on sick pay for years and did not rush going back to work. The next week I met a woman who is in a really stressful high powered job in a mainly male sector. She was on some mad dose of  medication along with some other  female colleagues. She was going to quit her job and I persuaded her to speak to her doctor who gave her a cert for a good break. Dont even dare opening that laptop or switching that phone on and mind what you put on social media as they might start nosing around . Good Luck