I could have never made it back in 2 weeks after jpouch construction! I was off work through the entire process of the 3 surgeries.

While I could have gone back sooner after the colectomy (surgery 1), I had disability so took advantage of it - however, the jpouch construction (surgery #2) was the most difficult recovery for me. Depending on what you can swing, I'd suggest you take as much time as you can get after jpouch construction - absolute minimum minimum I'd recommend is 6 weeks. Try for more if you can.

The takedown was easier to recover from, but as you said, it took awhile to adjust. I went back to my desk job in about 2 months.

Best of luck!

My doctor gave me some information to read on the surgery months before. That info said 6 weeks.
My surgeon himself told me to let my job know it was 6 weeks usually but could be 8.

Then we found out I was going to have a hysterectomy during the same surgery.
Then I had two different infections pop up which kept me in the hospital an extra 8 days.

I have my appointment the JPouch surgeon on week 8 and with my gyno surgeon week 9. I imagine I'll get both "back to work dates" then and an idea of when I will have takedown.

It's best to plan for the worse, and think of being out for 6 weeks. I was also relatively healthy when I had surgery and was pleased to return to work 3 weeks after surgery.

Sue

I had three stage , was off for a year from work. Was lucky have short term disabilty at work. I don't think I could have gone back any sooner, after one surgery by time I regained my strength I was getting ready for another. Good Luck .

Not knowing if I was going to have a 1 or 2 step surgery , I thought I would initially be out of work about 6 weeks, but I ended up having the 2 step procedure and had takedown at 9 weeks and ended up being out about 4 months total, however everyone is different in regards to recovery time.

Thanks for this info. I am going to be undergoing my initial surgery (2 step) in March. I have been struggling with the recovery time estimates as well. It seems there is a pretty wide range for a "normal" recovery.

Currently on the surgical schedule at UW Madison, but will be at Mayo on Wednesday for another surgical consult prior to making my final decision on where I will have the surgery.

I had the 3 step surgery and the 2nd surgery when they made my jpouch was the worst! My surgeon warned me that it would be the worse too Bc you go in feeling so good and this one knocks you down. I was miserable after mine but I got sick from the anthesia, and then developed an infection.

I have to agree with the folks who say the 2nd surgery was the worst. I had a 3 step process, and the 2nd surgery truly put me down, and I was riddled with complications afterward. I had 17 weeks between step 2 and step 3, and I think it took me about 14 weeks to feel human again. The take-down surgery was more or less of a breeze for me. I was back to running 2.5 weeks post-op, back to work in 4.5 weeks, and started light lifting workouts 8 weeks out. Now, I'm doing anything I want at almost 13 weeks out. However, as was mentioned, and as you've probably read, what is "normal" can vary widely from person to person, so I would err on the side of caution and take as much time as possible off of work. Best of luck to you!

Thanks for all the replies! Although now I'm slightly more nervous about my upcoming surgery.
I'm also nervous about missing so much work during this process. I already took over 3 months off in 2012 for my initial surgery, along with its complications, and a pregnancy on top of it... And now I don't know how long I'll need for these 2 surgeries. Ugh... I can't wait for this all to be over with!

I know what you mean, Isb2719. I know it's hard to read all of the worst case scenarios, but I think it's best to be prepared for the worst, and hope for the best. Hopefully you'll fall somewhere in between if it can't be the best case scenario. There will be an end in sight. Keep your chin up and your heart strong!

I always go in expecting the worse praying for the best. And trust me you'll be happy when it comes to the warnings Bc now you are prepared somewhat and won't be blind sighted. I hate when someone says oh this will be easy! And in reality it's not and I have yet to have that happen each procedure they were right on how I would feel and I was prepared mentally for it. One of my surgeons fellows told me today chip up not down, and I think that is good advice! My 2nd surgery I had on may 17th and then still wasn't me until probably a month after my take down on agust 16th but I had some complications got an infection and lost a lot of weight and had to start school 4 days after being released. So it seems far but soon it'll be over!