Recovery time??

Hello, All have you have been such a huge help to me this past month or so.  Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have a question..... I have not mentioned ANYTHING to my boss about this surgery.  I will eventually but I wait until it gets closer.  I have a ways to go yet, I have my psychologist appt. tomorrow and see the nutrionist and surgeon again around the 15th.  Anyway, I will be having Open RNY.  I'm wondering about recovery time?  My surgeon said average is about 4 weeks.  Does Short Term Disability usually cover this? I want to be ready to discuss this with my boss when the time comes. Thanks agan for all of your help.  :)

I had an open rny also and I went back to work in 3.5 weeks.  I was good after 2 weeks but then I strained a muscle in my back, I was glad of the extra time so I could feel better.  I went back working full time 40+ hours a week as a programmer/analyst.  Short term disablity did kick in, talk to your hr rept you will need to get the forms completed so they can get it your doctors office.  You don't need to tell your boss what type of surgery only that you need surgery.  I told everyone of course, but thats just me. Hugs Heidi

Hi Joanne - I was like Heidi -  I told everyone in their brother.  I was shouting it to the world I was so happy & proud.  Of course I waited until I knew I was approved before I told anyone other then my spouse.  I had Open RNY and went back to work 2 1/2 wks after surgery w/ a lifting restriction of no more then 20lbs.  Some surgeons tell you less but I went by what my surgeon told me and I was fine.  First week I worked 40 hrs and since then I'm back to my normal 60hr shift.  Short term did kick in for me but I was out such a short time it really did not make a whole lot of since because the first 7 days were on me.

Good Luck w/ surgery.   Christina

 

Hi Joanne, I have completed the nutrition and psych evals and am waiting for insurance approval. I ahve not told anyone about my plans but immediate family, 2 best girlfriends and my sister. I DO NOT want to discuss this with any one at work. There is no way I will tell my boss what kind of surgery I am having. The counselor I saw for the psych eval said to just tell everyone that I am eating less and exercising - that is telling the truth, just not giving all the details! Good Luck! Kim

If you've got short-term disability, take as much time as you can.  I took off 8 weeks for my open DS.  I was starting to feel like myself again after 4 weeks, but after 6 weeks I was feeling really good, and the two weeks for Christmas and New years worked out well. To answer your question, yes -- STD will cover you for your recovery.  The REALLY good news is that the STD starts as soon as you're admitted to the hospital and it's NON-TAXABLE.  With that, it was the same as my regular salary.

Hopefully, your boss will be as supportive as mine was with me.  He was very excited for me and continues to be a great cheerleader for me.  He even kept the option open for me to work from home for a time if I wanted more time at home or wanted to start working earlier but not want to move around much.

I have three months sick leaving coming to me, and I am taking every bit of it. I had lap RNY on 09-19-06. It took me about five weeks to start to feel like myself again. I have a job, where, I travel extensively and cannot have any restrictions on my work.  Lifting, hours, etc. Since I have never used sick leave prior to this, I made a decision to take what i needed at this point.  And while I have had just minor things crop up, "normal" under the cir****tances, I am glad I have taken this time. I told work, why.  I decided there was no reason not to.  My work very much support decisions involving health. Good Luck!

Hi there, Thanks to everybody that replied to my question. Unfortunately, my boss is also the HR person.  She is also the person who covers my position when I am on vacation etc.  I know she's not going to be happy.  So, I gues I HAVE to tell her what type of surgery if she is HR as well.  Especially if I want to use my STD???  I'm more nervous about telling her than I was telling my husband and parents.   I need to snap out of it and start taking care of ME for a change.  What a  nice thought hum? Thanks again. Joanne

Even though your boss is your HR you shouldn't have to tell her what kind you don't give her the completed forms at least in Ca you don't . You turn them in to STD through you DR.  Check with your Disability office first before you say anything.

Joanne, My husband is a manager for a large company in NJ and told me according to the laws in NJ, it is ILLEGAL for your boss to question you.  If you choose to tell them confidentially and they flap their jaws about it to other people...they are setting themselves up for a lawsuit!  You can volunteer it if you wish but by no means are you required to tell them what is going on.  You need X amount of time off for a surgical procedure.  That's it! Rosie