Effect of Surgery on my work - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

genuinentrue · 12-22-2008, 05:05 PM

I have so many mixed emotions right now mostly because of the effect of my surgery on my job. I had surgery on Dec 3rd and planned to be off until Dec 17th. However, I started to have really bad pains ion my left side that caused me not to be very mobile. The pain burns and feels like someone is slicing me open. This all began a 1-1/2 week out of surgery. I asked myself "Why me?" Someone I work with had the same surgery and was back to work within the same time period my pain began.

I called in every day advising them I would not be at work and would keep them updated. I manage a bank and am suppose to be launching a new site and get it up and running middle of Jan. So each day, I call in to work and check on my bankers, help them via home, etc. I am still doing something daily for work and feel like I am worthless if I just sit here.

Well, my pain had progessively got worse so the Dr scheduled me to come in today to ck things out. Good news, I have lost 31 pounds in 19 days. Bad news, my pain still throbs and hurts to move much, bend, etc. I know I am a baby and my pain threshold must be low as this is normal as you heal to feel this way. My Dr sent me to have a CT scan today which thankfully turned out to be normal. I was very relieved.

However, I called in today and advised my bosses of what was happening. My boss is concerned that I wont be strong enough or healthy enough to run a new location and launch it. She feels that I overextended my time off and should have been back to work already. DId I mention I have 3 week of vacation and had 8 floating holidays that I was going to lose!!! My boss said she only authorized me to be off 2 weeks and stated, if I was off any longer I had to take a LOA. I couldnt believe she said this to me. I know she is not happy as I was gone all month and didnt make a certain quota on sales which would have brought her and I to a trip and into a nice bonus. Oh well, I thought my health was worth more! I advised my boss I would be at work on Friday and things would be fine. She still says she will see if I can do a new branch as I sound like I will be too unhealthy. Moreover, she says she doesnt want any issues in mid Jan when the time comes for the launch. I cant believe how insensitive she is being. I have always been a top performer and now that I actually took the only time I took all year off when everyone else had time off, she treats me this way. I feel like I should have never had this surgery cause of the pain and the effect on my job.

How much time did everyone else take? We have our bodies invaded and have six holes placed in them while our organs are rearranged..and we are suppose to be up and running around like normal in two weeks or under....The thing that disappoints me is that I have given my all and work six days a week on salary to be successful for myself as well as the company. I have given my heart and soul and thought my boss was all for my surgery as she supported it before I had it. Now that I am effecting her making more money, the branchs performance has been low since I have been out, and well, I am not 100% yet...makes her question my ability and pressure me to be better.

Please tell me the pain will get better and that I will be able to function much more normally soon.

netta · 12-22-2008, 05:15 PM

Do they have FMLA (family medical leave act) where you work?? This is used to make sure when ever a person is off of work for any amount of time that they will still have their job when they return.

Go to [url=http://www.dol.gov]The U.S. Department of Labor Home Page, and it says all there. This is from the US Department of Labor.

genuinentrue · 12-22-2008, 05:33 PM

Yes, this is a major company and FMLA is offered. However, I will do what I need to do and grin and bear the pain Friday when I go back to work. My boss is just comparing my healing process to a coworker who took 1-1/2 week off and was in thr trash can every few mins she worked.

netta · 12-22-2008, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genuinentrue

Yes, this is a major company and FMLA is offered. However, I will do what I need to do and grin and bear the pain Friday when I go back to work. My boss is just comparing my healing process to a coworker who took 1-1/2 week off and was in thr trash can every few mins she worked.

just making sure no job loss over this, I agree with you. It is a major surgery and the boss has no clue.

genuinentrue · 12-22-2008, 05:43 PM

Netta:

Thanks. Her sister had the band and was back to work in two weeks. It was mentioned to me today that I must be very ill as I never miss work. Having my work integrity and values questioned before and when I return just hurts. I would have so looked into FMLA with a Leave of Absence if I ever thought the pain I have had would be so strong. Oh well, to prove my worth, I will just do what I have to do. Watch, she will count this against me in my performance review...wouldnt that be just dandy and my luck.

kittens4 · 12-22-2008, 06:35 PM

I remember asking for 2 weeks off for the surgery, thinking I'd really only need one....because another girl who had the surgery was back to work in a week!!
HA! HA! I was off for 2.5 months!!! I developed an obstruction 1 week out, had a 2nd surgery, and then developed pneumonia from there! Was on home oxygen for a month...had a picc line put in twice in that time. It was a nightmare...but still, didn't lose my job, and people even donated their paid time off to help me! Luckily I work for a nice group of GI doctors who were very understanding. We don't have FMLA because we have less than 50 employees...but, they still kept my job for me...and for that, I will be forever grateful....to say the least.
I hope all goes well with you. Sounds like they aren't real understanding around your place. Everyone is different, so don't be hard on yourself...you can only do what you can do...and can't compare yourself to anyone else. Take care of yourself and don't try to go back before you are ready or you may end up having more problems down the road! Just be careful. xoxoxo

mistymee · 12-22-2008, 06:41 PM

Everyone is different. I needed 8 weeks off before I was able to go back to work and I had a sit down job.

coptergirl · 12-22-2008, 06:51 PM

I took 6 weeks, and then eased back into things for 2 more weeks. If you have PTO available, IT IS YOURS to take, and this is medical. If you have a note form your doc extending your time off, and still have PTO, use it. If no PTO, they have to offer you FMLA, and there is nothing they can do. They have to hold you position or one equal upon your return. Pull out the big guns and forget your bosses opinopn...it is uneducated and naive....

Best of luck...let us know how it goes...

katzz87 · 12-22-2008, 07:27 PM

First off the band and RNY are TOTALLY different surgeries!! No saying the the band "is easy"...but it difinitely doesn't entail splitting your innards, know what I mean?

I took off weeks so that I could get used to my new way of eating/drinking. And I am thankful that I did!! And remember the healing time is really such a short, short time frame in the whole scheme of your life. What's 4-6 weeks out of the YEARS you will have added by being healthy? In one year will it really matter that you took off an extra few weeks?

Don't let them make you feel guilty! You need to put yourself first and everything else will fall into place!

jerseygrl684 · 12-22-2008, 07:40 PM

i feel like this is my story. my bosses gave me helllll. I had 3 hospitalizations and 3 surgeries after my rny & after the last one, i was let go due to my fmla being up. Trust me when i say i felt my job was at jeopardy EVERY SINGLE TIME I was in the hospital.Doctors said it wasnt worth it, and I was actually making it worse by not focusing on my health.

A job is a job. They come and they go. PLEASE UTILIZE THE FMLA!!! It will hold a position, may not be your exact one, but it will keep A position open for you at the company.