total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy - return to work - when?

Hi Valita and welcome to the forum.  I noticed you havent had any replies yet.  I had the same procedure as you, as did many of us on here,  but I had a different diagnosis, but as I don't work that wasn't an issue for me.  I do know that you can't hurry these things and had I have had a job to go back to I would certainly have waited until I was very sure I was fit and well.  Everyone heals differently, and I think some people go back gradually and build up their hours.  I'm sorry I can't be of any help but hopefully someone else will come along who can help you more.  But I would suggest speaking to your GP about extending it anyway and hopefully he/she will listen properly to your concerns.

Hugs, Lesley xx

Hello @Valita welcome from me too. I had a similar procedure plus removal of the omentum 4yrs ago. I was diagnosed with an aggressive serous endometrial adenocarcinoma. I was staged at 3c1 because it had somehow jumped into a single pesky lymphnode..I was strongly advised to have chemotherapy and external radiotherapy, which I did. I was told that they hoped all of this would prevent a recurrence, but they also said that if it did it would probably be treatable but not curable. That took a lot of processing even though I’m not classed as incurable at this time.

My gynae oncologist originally said before the op that going back to work depended entirely on how I felt and on the type of job I did. He insisted on a minimum of 12 weeks off and said to remember that whilst I might feel ok it actually takes a year to heal fully internally.When it became obvious that I needed chemo, he told me he didn’t want me to return to work because I worked in a school office which increased my risk of picking up an infection. My gp was very happy to renew my fit note and willingly signed them for a month at a time all the way through my treatment (Sept 16 to March 17). I was physically and mentally too tired after treatment to go back to work and again my GP was very understanding. In the event I used the time to make changes and decisions about what was important to me and eventually I decided to take early retirement and my family were very supportive of that decision. I know I was fortunate that we could afford for me to do that. 

You have an awful lot of physical and emotional healing to do and it’s really important that you give yourself time and space to do this if you can. Id suggest speaking to your CNS and to your GP and I hope both will give you the support you need at this difficult time. When you’re ready you may find it helpful to think about also  joining the Living with Incurable Cancer support group which you can find here. https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/living_with_incurable_cancer

There are lots of lovely people there who live with an incurable diagnosis and who will have lots of support and advice to offer too. Sending you a gentle hug and lots of good wishes x

Thanks Fairycake, yes, I've already joined the incurables

Hi Valita

Gosh, you have enough to worry about with thinking about work but remember, under the Equality at Work Act,  Cancer is deemed a disability so I believe you have protection against dismissal and your employer must make allowances in your work conditions, hours etc. no matter what your doctor says.  I think Macmillan can give you good advice so  why not try the "Ask an Expert" link at the top of this page.

Hi Anne, you say cancer = disability so am I right in thinking that most people in this forum are receiving PIP and I'm entitled as well probably?

I have no experience myself and I think you would need to talk to the Macmillan experts on the PIP issue.   The disability definition means that you can't be discriminated against because you have cancer in issues like dismissal or unsuitable work conditions. 

From what I have read on this forum, I think the award of PIP depends on your ability to carry out  various normal daily activities and both PIP and the blue badge system have very specific entitlement conditions for which some expert advice seems to be needed..  it's certainly worth checking with Macmillan about both of these. 

I know there are some people here that have experience about this, either as claimants or with  professional knowledge and perhaps they may come along to tell you more. . 

Good Luck 

Hi Val, 

I had about 14 weeks off. It was nowhere near enough, the reasonable adjustments lasted about two weeks and i was thrown in at the deep end. I had a reoccurrence at the two year mark and had radiotherapy and brachytherapy this time, i again had about 4 months off, and again it was nowhere near enough. I did a phased return that time so had a fee weeks at part time. In remission just over 18months so doing well. Still have a lot of aches and pains and bowel issues, as well as surgical meno stuff but im coping well. All id say is dont go back till your absolutely ready because people soon forget what you've been through. Good luck with everything and gibe yourself time sweetheart xx

I never went back to work... tried going back on a phased return but just couldn’t manage it. Luckily I’m 59 so could take my pension. My nurse said the first year is the worst. It’s now almost two since the surgery and I’m not recovered. I couldn’t work now. Look into the benefits you might be entitled to. Your GP should support your absence. Good luck!

Thanks ladies for getting in touch. So I'm not the only one who is not having a very speedy recovery after hysterectomy...

Mercifully my GP signed another 6 weeks fit note so I won't go back to work until next year, I'll get roughly 4 months off like Niklap.

Yes Galantophile, I've heard it takes a year to recuperate properly after a big operation like this. Sorry you had to quit your job, don't give up on your health though! I'd consult every possible medical professional (osteopath, physiotherapist, dietetician, acupuncturist etc) in order to be in decent or ideally good health. Health is soooo vital!

My oncologist recommended the book "Lifestyle And Cancer, The Facts" written by Professor Robert Thomas. It's full of useful tips. Who knew that people with my cancer (sensitive to oestrogen) should avoid alcohol and grapefruit??? 
Right now I'm not drinking anyway because of the cocktail of painkillers I'm taking but I L-O-V-E wine, going teetotal is going to be very tough :-(

I'll go back part-time to "my day job" but my dream is to launch a small business, I hope I'll have the energy and the physical health to do that and much more, I have lots of stuff still on my bucket list!
I'm "only" 40, retiring is not an option and I've asked, I cannot even touch my private pension unless I'm really incapable of going back to work or terminal... I need my body to function well for another 15 years at least