Why cant I stop thinking about...

Barbara, Thank you soo much! I really needed to hear this. I really appreciate it. You are soo right especially of the being taken advantage of part. Once again, Thank you! I will do what is best for me

 I was told by a doctor once that this type of jobs where you feel responsible for everything and everyone and you are in charge makes us fat in the first place.  I used to have a job like that, but then decided to lose weight and was told i must reduce work stress, so I cut back (it was SO hard!!!), but I was pretty established by then and my boss had no choice, I went from working 60 hours to 40 a week, and stopped reading work emails outside of business hours (that was SUPER hard!), but I lost 40lbs just doing that.  I still need surgery and will have one soon, and it'll be in he busiest time at work, but I warned my boss way ahead of time and I don't worry about it anymore. Business is business, but my life and my health are way more important. And so is yours!!! 

And people in previous posts are right, they appreciate you a lot more when you are sometimes not available to fix every problem as soon as it occurs, they finally know how much you actually do! 

Good luck! 

Makes alot of sense, I never thought of that. Your so right. Thank you and good luck to you too

Hi- I am new here, but have a line from my nutritionist that may help- "you only get ONE chance to heal well from surgery".  It has helped me as I have scheduled my work absence and made arrangements for being gone. Good luck on the 2nd! 

Thank you. I will definitely keep that in mind

I have been in your position and at my current job I made sure to plan ahead as much as I could and prepare what I could for those covering me while I would be out.  I work in what should be a stress-free job, but because of micro-management and anal retentive upper management, it puts a lot of unnecessary stress on the staff.  Several events in my life have caused me to change my thinking.  First, I work to live, not live to work.  The job pays my bills.  The first thing in my life that changed my mind was the birth of my son...19 years ago.  He has always been my 1st priority.  When I lost my Dad 6 years ago it hot me hard.  Enjoying my life and family is more important.  This surgery was a rebirth for me at 50.  It will allow me to live healthier and hopefully, longer - for grandchildren.  What is at work will be there when you return.  For the first week after surgery, TURN OFF YOUR PHONE!  Call those you want to talk to and let them know you are OK.  Then take time to heal and recuperate.  I thought about trying to go back to work after about 2 or 3 weeks.  I decided to take the full 4 until my follow-up appt. with my surgeon because I deserve it and I need it.  It has been a great, stress-free recuperation and I do not regret it one bit.  Listen to your husband and let him support you, as he truly seems to do.  You are worth it!  Best of luck to you!

Your job sounds alot like my job, we also have alot of micromanaging and too many chiefs. That's the problem. I actually had given a four month advance notice. I emailed my boss every month since then to remind her and she was like, okay, thanks for the heads up and I emailed her last week as the last reminder and then she says, I am no longer in charge of your dept and that I needed to tell so and so to hire someone while I am off. I was like really?!? So the poor guy in charge now had only one week to hire someone when I had given my previous boss four months advance notice. How unprofessional and irresponsible! But oh well, Not my problem. I saved ALL my emails. Thank you for the advice. You are soon right.

KareBare50 has it nailed. You've been preparing and training your substitute. Will it be life or death at work if you aren't available for a question? If not, then let them rely on the training & figure things out. Absolutely do not answer those calls for the first week, and I'll bet after a week their anxiety will calm down too.
I felt a little guilty about taking the full 6 weeks off (just went back this Thursday). But I'm so glad I did. You really need to be able to rest when you need it, and that means turning off the stress too. When I read some posts of people who hit work and working out like a trojan after 2 weeks, I feel like a wimp. But after this 6 weeks of resting, walking, turning my mind off, etc... I feel great and ready to be able to contribute 100% at work (while at work).
Thank goodness for your supportive, and protective husband. Let him shine here.
Best to you,
Janet

Thank you. You are soo right I feel soo much better.

I felt great and was bored to tears after about post op day #3.  I couldn't wait for my job to call me and ask me questions.  Hearing from my boss, who I love, made me feel connected.  (I like my job and co-workers a lot). 

Whether or not your job survives without you isn't your concern.  Honestly, no one is irreplaceable and I'm sure they'll muddle through somehow.  While I would be bugged if they were calling me non-stop, especially while I was still in the hospital, I certainly didn't need absolute silence to recover.  A few phone calls would be no big deal.