Returning to Work After Surgery: Seeking Advice and Sharing Experiences

The doctor released me to go back to work 7 weeks after my sigmoid colostomy. I'm literally going crazy sitting around my house all day. I've been exercising and getting out and about occasionally. I mostly pace my house all day.

Anyway, I'm a little bit nervous to go back to work. I have restrictions, and my boss agreed to accommodate me, but I'm nervous about all the what-ifs. What if I have an accident at work? How will I fix it while there? What if I'm unable to stand or sit for hours at a time? Ugh!!

How long did y'all wait to return to work?

Retired. But if I were working, I would take a backpack with everything: clothes, supplies, and anything else you use.

9 months, but only because I had a radiation wound. Otherwise, I would have gone back at 3 months.

I went back 3 weeks after surgery. I have a sigmoid colostomy. I was very busy after returning to the workplace. I worked 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, with a 3-hour commute in the car. The only restriction for me was no lifting. I just had other co-workers do the lifting.

At 5 weeks post-op, I went on a 2-week driving vacation to central California. I had no problems; I was just still learning how to care for Mr. Stoma.

At 3 months post-op, I went on a 7-day cruise. I had no problems. I started eating more of my regular diet. I did eliminate fried foods, cokes, most candy, and sweets. I had lost 1/3 of my body mass, 66 pounds, in the hospital. I had fun gaining back 30 pounds and have maintained a consistent weight for over 2 years.

Be prepared with your supplies at work. I've had to change my stuff in the bathroom at work and then was okay. Take extra clothes.

Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

It was 5 months after surgery for me, but I spent a total of 2 months in the hospital after the surgery and had complications that I'm still dealing with. So I am not typical at all.

I asked for more frequent and longer breaks as part of my accommodations. Take frequent stretch and rest breaks. Don't get overly tired.

I work from home, so that part was easy. I suggest you take a full appliance change and a set of clean clothes with you in a backpack or bag... just in case. Don't forget a plastic bag to put soiled clothes in if needed.

Hi Shona,

Don't just prepare by packing a kit to take to work without.........practice. Try changing your barrier in different places. This way you'll know if you really have everything you need in your kit or not. Nothing sucks more than having a leak, attempting to replace your barrier in a strange place........and not being able to pull it off because you forgot to put something stupid in your kit or ran out of paper towels halfway through your change. Try it at work. Stay late one day and change your barrier before you leave.

Personally, I've never had to change my barrier anywhere except home, but I have practiced. When I've sprung a leak while out and about, I just taped it up with 3M Micropore tape I keep in my car's console and went home and fixed it. I'd only bring a kit with me if I'm traveling more than a couple of hours from home. When I first got my ostomy, I was a bit paranoid about not having my supplies near me whenever I went out. But over time, you gain confidence and realize it's just not a big friggin' deal if you do spring a leak. I'm more grossed out by people who wear clear bags with shirts that are too short.

;O)

Three months, but I worked in an office environment. I had two minor leaks in eight years, and I always had a small bag in my desk with all necessary items for a quick change in the crapper.

When I had my ileo almost 12 months, I had a MRSA wound infection and nurses coming in every day to change dressings. At the 9-month stage, I needed more surgery to remove a non-functioning j pouch. Then, after having a jejunostomy stoma for almost 2 years, I did have lots of complex complications with that one.

Thank you all for the advice. I will definitely pack a bag to take with me! I only live 15 minutes from my job, so I should be okay if anything major happens. I will definitely let my manager know that I may need a longer break sometimes if something happens. You guys are the best!

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I went to work for 4 hours today, taking a break after 2. By the time it was time to go, I was aching a little bit and glad I wasn't staying longer. I'm going to take tomorrow off and go back Wednesday. Right now I get to pick my schedule, so I'm going to go for 6 hours on Wednesday. I made it through today with no issues! I'm going to hope and pray that the majority of the time it is like this!

First step accomplished, well done.

It will get easier from here on; I completely forget about the bag most of the time. Just keep your supplies handy, develop a routine, and all will be good. 👍

Congratulations! The first day is the hardest. You'll get back to where you were before surgery... only healthier!

Got coworkers who bug and bother you.... show them the bag.... it's like ding-a-ling repellent. 😉

Did it a couple of times to pesky coworkers... they stayed away.

Well done 👏  

It felt nice to be back among the people I found.

I think it was six weeks for me, but I'd been in the hospital for more than four months, having many issues and multiple surgeries, and I needed all that time to regain enough strength to go back. What did your employer say when you told him about the surgery? I'm curious because I never told anyone I had ulcerative colitis, and only a couple of people knew about the ostomy surgery because they visited me in the hospital. For some reason, I felt it necessary to keep it all a secret.

I had only been employed for 4 weeks when this abruptly happened. My manager understood as her sister had one not too long before this. I ended up missing 7 weeks of work on a LOA, so when I went back, it was a lot for me. I wasn't ashamed to share what happened to me because, truthfully, if I had drank more water and paid better attention to my bowel movement regularity, this probably wouldn't have happened at all. I like to think maybe someone will hear me when I tell them how important water is and to make sure you poop every day. Back to my employer, I had a few situations where I had to excuse myself to use the restroom to empty my bag as it was overflowing or springing a leak and having to go home to change it. They have been wonderful, accommodating, and understanding. I also try not to abuse my situation as I see a lot of people do. Only when it's very necessary!