Hi All,
I know a lot of us had surgery in Novemeber. I am just wondering how many of you have gone back to work or are getting ready to.
My surgery was just a few days before Thanksgiving and I am returning to work on Wednesday. I am excited, but a little nervous as I still do have some pain and some leaking problems. How are you all doing?

I had Step 1 of 3 on November 9th. All went well with the surgery then, but have had two additional hopital stays (totalling two weeks) for treatment of recurring infections and an abscess drain. No fun. Yesterday was the two week mark being out of the hosital and I am just getting back on my feet. Hopefully, Steps 2 surgery will be sometime in February, although I am in no rush to see the hospital again. Going back to work can be a huge step. MAke sure you're ready. Your recovery is most important and you don't want additional external stressors interfearing with that recovery. Best of luck.

Had my takedown a few days after Thanksgiving and am going back to work fulltime next Monday, the 7th. It's the first time since August and I"m worried how I"ll manage. I have continence problems if I can't get to the bathroom quickly and find that I have to go back and forth 3-6 times in an hour and a half's time till the pouch quiets down again. Each trip takes a lot of time because I have to clean my skin well and put on barrier cream. Also have throbbing pain in my rectum all the time. How many others are having this?
My employer's been great to hold my position this long, so I feel I have to get back and can't delay any longer.

Hi! I had my takedown November 5th & I was back to work on the 4th week and doing great! I think if your job is understanding & you can be on light duty for awhile then all will work out. I am a postal clerk & work inside & I've been working 6 days a week quite often & doing good. Go to the bathroom 1 to 4 times in my 8 hour shift! God Bless! Danny

I had the first step of my three step operations on Nov. 6th. I will be going back to work on Wed and I cant wait! My Next surgery is around May..my surgen said she wanted a solid 6 months between the 2 surgeries.. I wish you all the best!

I had step 2&3 of 3 on October 26th. I was dabbling with bits of work at home prior to Christmas and plan to go back full time on January 7th. Pouch wise, I'm doing pretty good - on good days I go 4-6 times during the day and once at night. On not so good days, which I just had a couple of, I went a bit more often and was experiencing a bit of leakage when I passed gas (not so nice.... but a cotton swab tucked in my butt seemed to do the trick). I still have some occasional pain in the rectal area, but it is slowly getting better.

A good chunk of my work involves client meetings, so I'm hoping that urgency won't be a problem - I hate the idea of having to excuse myself from a meeting to run to the bathroom - had enough of that with UC!!

Louise

I had my TD on Nov. 8th. Went back to work 40 hours a week on Dec 6th. I stand up and walk around all day and have had a few hiccups(nasty butt burn and itching)
Hopefully you can hold it in for a few minutes until going. It is a little noisy when I go in a public restroom but you know what - a lot of people sound a lot worse than J-Pouchers so I don't stress about it much . I go 2 to 4 times during my work shift. I don't have a problem of running to the toilet anymore. I can hold it in until I can get to the bathroom.
hope this helps
Happy Colonless New Year
David

I had my takedown on November the 6th and going back to work tomorrow ,just like Wendy for the first time since August.
I ve no idea how it will go,,its one thing to be at home and able to empty properly when you like and another to have to arrive on time, spend all day focused on stuff( I work in reinsurance, answering legal and quantum contract queries ). Tiredness factor may kick in.But it ll be nice to get back into a routine and not to have THE POUCH as main focus .
On good days I average 7 trips a day and on not so good ones 10 perhaps. Recently had a cold and output turned wattery for a lil while.
I still have soem leakeage when i walk : swab seems to eb permanently stuffed between butt cheeks. Sometimes i get butt burn,,but its not severe. I hardly ever use the cream.
I feel dull ache in my recal area especially in the evenings and after eating. Its getting better though. Gas is not so bad now either..i ve learned to release it by lying down on bed with legs up to chest.
I sleep through the night now too , but still wear panties and small sanitary pad just in case.
My whole routine will probabaly change after tomorrow when I start work.Slightly concerned how I ll manage. Been a long time out.
The New Year truly feels like a new start for me.!

Thanks for your replies. I made it through my first day back at work! I teach 22 first graders so don't have a lot of time to sit down. I had a great morning and didn't have to use the bathroom once. Then I ate lunch. After that, the pains came back and I had to use the bathroom quite a few times. I sound a lot like you, WendyG. My pouch seems to get "upset" and almost "spasmy". After a while it does quiet down, but takes a lot of trips to the bathroom and a lot of Calmoseptine!
I hope you are all doing great!

I had step 2 ( j-pouch creation ) Nov 13, 2007. Mine will be a 3 step to completion. This second surgery was very hard on me as I was in the hospital for 11 days due to an illus condition.

At this point I'm doing very well as my main incision has finally healed. I am still off work at this time though. If I'm able to have the third step ( take down ) by mid to lat February .. I'll just stay off work. If my pouch still needs healing time I'll return to work by the first week of February and probably wait till April to have step 3.

My job is very labor intensive and I don't need any problems as a result of returning " to early ". My work place only offers " light duty " for on the job injury workers. So I can not return to full duty until my surgeon signs off.