Hi folks, for those of you who have returned to work…how long did it take to feel normal again?
JustMeRLB
Jan 11, 2024 11:22 pm
Kas
Jan 12, 2024 12:00 am
I went back to work 3 months after my colostomy (had a few small bowel resections 6 weeks before that). I have been back 2 months and still can only manage 24 hours a week, tried 40 but couldn’t do it. I’m a nurse practitioner in a busy family practice. I come home exhausted every day I work.
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Posted by: ejbetty
Geekyjen,
Thanks for the reply. I will be seeing my doctor on Friday and mention Entyvio. I did not remain paralyzed for more than 2 days, but it was terrible and I was so scared. The doctors just used alot of xanax and other drugs like that to UN paralyze my joints that were being attacked by the remicade. Turns out I have been diagnosed with LUPUS. It is attacking my nervous system. I had ulcerative colitis in 1996 and they had to remove my colon. Had a J pouch for 10 years, until it started failing. I then got a permanent iliosomy, and I suffer from severe chronic diareha, and I dehydrate frequently. I recently had a proctectomy, and that is when the new autoimmune disorder, Lupus, appeared. I have had two hospital stays now because of the blisters and the paralyzing incident. I will be dealing with this forever now. I have just been working on acceptance.
I love this website because of wonderful people like you!
Betty
AlexT
Jan 12, 2024 1:38 am
Took about 5 minutes. Going to the bathroom is going to the bathroom, ostomy or not. You’ll get a routine down and it’ll become second nature.
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Beachboy
Jan 12, 2024 2:03 am
Went back to work full time 3 weeks post op. I work 6 days a week, 10-12 hours a day + 70 mile round trip commute in heavy LA traffic. Took me 6 months before I felt normal, and used to my colostomy.
Happy-but-Newbie
Jan 12, 2024 7:29 am
Went back to work 5 weeks post urostomy, back to work in the office 2 months post surgery...
Only difference is...I cannot hold pee at all, so when bag is ready to be emptied...I MUST go, even if it's in the middle of a meeting...
but this is understood, so no issues.
I was more stressed about fear for leaks or similar then actually tired because of commute+work....now getting calmer :-) 4 months post op
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Justbreathe
Jan 12, 2024 12:04 pm
Retired many years ago but KUDOS to all of you who must endure this handicap and continue working. Especially early on after surgery it must be very difficult for most. jb
amymariefred
Jan 13, 2024 8:08 pm
I tried to go back after 6 weeks post ileostomy with light duty but they couldn’t accommodate my request. After 8 weeks I returned to full time work as a teacher in a classroom with students with severe disabilities. It’s been three months now and I’m not as tired but I do need to sit more often than before surgery. Although I am having a reversal soon and know I have a second recovery coming, I know what to expect, or know more than I did.