Returning to work after surgery | by Louise
I had my last surgery on the 29th of January 2025. I was advised at the time that I would need at least a year to get back to my normal. However, I went back to work in May and landed back in hospital for a month in June thanks to pancreatitis.
For me, it was just sods law that my body decided to knock me out of the work game. It made me realise that I needed a staggered return and needed to learn to say no which can be difficult as I work with my family.
Returning to work
I absolutely love being back on the road and spending time with my clients. Unfortunately, with the nature of my work, the clients need consistency so I’ve had to make sure that I balance both my work and my body’s need to have a rest and break.
I am my own boss, however I have to run everything by the owner as well as having daily meetings to discuss our clients so we are all on the same page as to the level of care they require.
So how did I manage my return to work?
- I made sure that my surgeon cleared me to be able to return to work as my job involves a lot of lifting
- I was rather open and frank with my boss, I only cover one weekend every six weeks, and if I’m working Friday through to Monday then I need two days off before returning to my normal care routine
- I split my clients to morning and lunch calls so that I have a decent break and finish at a reasonable time
- My initial return to work was one day on, one day off. However, now that I’ve been back six months, I now work half-day Mondays and Wednesday and full days on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
- My boss agreed to give me the easier companion calls which are two hour calls, shopping trips and appointments
Now I am back at work, I find that I do get tired quite quickly so on my half-days I finish, get home, have a shower and go back to bed for a couple of hours so we can have family time from 6pm to 9pm and watch a film or do housework.
How was your return to work? Or are you worried about returning?
As always,
Many thanks for reading
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