Going Back to Work

[LizAN]

Hi, everyone,

I am going back to work on Tuesday, which will be exactly 9 weeks since my surgery.  I really don't know whether I am ready, but we are running out of money, and, as it is, I won't get paid for another month after I start working again.

The commute is long, in heavy traffic.  I drove to my ENT's office last week and his office is almost as far away, so it should be okay.

I hope I don't feel too overwhelmed when I try to get back into managing a project.  It feels like I've been living on another planet for the last couple of months.  I'm going to have to make allowances for myself and I hope my coworkers will do the same.  I may look much like my old self, but I sure don't feel like it yet.

Thanks for reading my post.  It is comforting to know that many of you share my experience.  It's tough to explain it to other people.

Liz

[Jim Scott]

Liz ~

Best of luck as you return to work on Monday!  I suggest that you try to focus on the work and put whatever deficits you may have to one side but be prepared to be fatigued, at least at first.  To help motivate co-workers to cut you some slack, remind them that you had a brain tumor and will need a little time to regain your stride.  Most of all 'listen to your body'.  It's O.K. to push yourself (I did) but not at the expense of generating setbacks in your recovery.  Please let us know how it goes.  Thanks.

Jim

[dalern]

Best of luck, Liz. I agree with Jim...just listen to your body.  It will definitely let you know what you need to do.
Dale

[MDemisay]

Best of luck LizAN,

Thinking of you and praying that you will do fine if you make allowances for yourself. Remember, as project manager your friends are your personal calendar and your project calendar. Remember to schedule into your day a little time for yourself. Good luck today!

Mike

[leapyrtwins]

Good luck.

Biggest issue I had when I returned to work (2 1/2 weeks post op) was fatigue.  It was overwhelming.

I decided to work half days for a while and it was a tremendous help.  I worked in the mornings and then went home to nap in the afternoons.

I started full days @ 4 weeks post op and felt much better.

You might want to see if working half days for a short time is a possibility.

Jan

[LizAN]

Thanks, everyone!

They would not let me start out part time, so I waited an extra week before returning.  Once I made the commute, the rest of the day was not bad at all.  I spent most of it just trying to regain access to all the different systems I have to log into.  I expected to be far more tired than I was.  My determination not to get stressed out about the little things seems to be helping.

I'd better go to bed now, if I want to feel as good about tomorrow.

'Night all!

Liz

[millie]

Liz-Glad to read that your day went better than expected.  Maybe you can take a nap when you get home.  Keep going to bed early.  I like to go up with a good book-Doc is really good; it is the story of Doc Holiday before the O.K. Corral.  Splurge on a magazine.  Relax.  You are my role model.
Mil

[mojwri54]

Best of luck on going back to work.

I did get tired at first when I went back at first but I was really lucky I had two nice managers and they sat on a different floor then me but they kept a watch on me and kept after me not to push myself to hard. They knew me to much on how I was getting things done for the customers. I do not know where you live but if you are in a area with vanpools or car pools that would be great if you could do that.   I am now in a vanpool and love it, I hate to drive in rush time trafffic on 66 and 495 since I have lost the sight in the right eye (because merging is now harder) wreck once and decided it was not worth it.   

[dalern]

Liz,
So glad all is going well for you. You have the right attitude and that is more than half the battle!
~Dale

[skipg]

Congrats on back to work. "Slow and steady as she goes" and I am sure you will do fine. Thanks for the update.
Skip

[MDemisay]

Congrats on your first day back! Go slow and take it easy on yourself!  You'll get up to speed soon enough!It may take time to get reaquanted with things especially passwords.

Mike

[It is what it is]

Hi Liz!  It's good to hear you are back at work and it sounds like you feel great about it so far.  Did that continue? 

I felt good my first day back this week but by the end of the week I was exhausted and more wonky headed.  Thank goodness it's a weekend and I was able to work a shortened day today. 

Please let us know what your experience is like as you continue with work. 

Warmly,

karen

[LizAN]

Karen,

My experience was similar this week.  The first day was great but the other three were far more difficult.  I arrived later than planned every day.  I did not drink enough fluids and I ate poorly.  I was somewhat bored and disengaged, no longer being used to sitting in a cube all day.  But I got through the week, without a major crisis, and for that I am grateful.  Driving is getting easier.  I am not getting uninterrupted sleep and I'm sure that is part of the problem.  Hopefully I am just going through an adjustment period and things will improve over time.  Needing a pay check is very motivating.

Liz

[It is what it is]

I agree about the paycheck!     The sleep thing is also not happening for me.  I wonder how many of us have that issue?  It's good to hear the driving part is getting more comfortable for you especially with your commute!!!!!  Oh, that would be difficult.

Take good care of you. 

karen

[New girl]

I had a rough time returning back to work after 2 months off for retrosigmoid surgery.  I was sleeping through the night but I was still extremely fatigued.  My job includes making a lot of decisions and answering lots of questions.  I found this rather overwhelming for the first few months back.  I also found that I relied heavily on a to-do list since I could no longer keep tabs on everything in my head.  I would work my eight hours and then go home right away.  Also by the time Friday came I would go home from work and get in bed since I was exausted.  Things gradually got better so hang in there!  I am almost one year out and I feel fine now.  Keep chugging along - just being able to go back to work means you are doing great!