?'s about work and weightloss

[Katie A]

Hi there - I would recommend that you try to take off as much time as you can possibly get. I am an instructor at a university teaching students various clinical methods related to the field of speech therapy. Sometimes my job involves sitting at a desk for long periods, walking to client rooms to monitor therapy, and A LOT of talking...not physically demanding like your job, but I wish now I'd taken more than 2 weeks off. When I went back to work I was EXHAUSTED beyond belief by the end of a work day, especially from talking/teaching so much as part of my job. After a 6-8 hr work day, I still had to take a nap at the end of the day, which I rarely did before surgery. I would go to bed exhausted, and by noon, barely making it through the rest of my day.

My OS told me 2 weeks is a MINIMUM, and if I wanted him to, he'd write an order to be off work for up to 6 months......I might have considered at least 4 weeks (I had enough sick/leave time built up), but figured I'd be fine after 2 weeks. I have no idea how you could tolerate 12 hr work days after only 2 weeks. Just like another poster said, you'll be sleeping upright for 10-14 days which is not conducive to quality sleep, and may need to nap during the day. I know I did even before going back to work. And then talking, talking, talking all day on the job just about wore me out completely.

I'm 6 months post-op now and can finally say my energy has returned to normal. It took at least 3 months to return however. Remember...your jaws are bones, and "broken" bones can takes MONTHS to heal and can impact your energy, appetite, sleep, etc for a long time.

I'd recommend talking with your OS about a longer recovery time at home for you. He or she should be supportive of what you need, and not just consider the average. He needs to know exactly how demanding your job is in order to understand that 2 weeks may not be enough for you.

Good luck to you!
Katie A

[ohmyjaw]

I never slept upright. But I used a couple of pillows, so I wasn't horizontal either. I didn't have any trouble sleeping, but I think the drugs helped with that!

I think I was functioning pretty well after 3 weeks, but probably not 100% until 6 weeks or so. I went rock climbing on day 12, but then I slept most of the day after that. So there are ups and downs, and one day you think you're healed, and the next day...not so much.

In short, if I were you I'd try to get three weeks off, and then play it by ear after that.

[Davep]

Hi,
I am a teacher and so its fairly easy for me to get a substitute to take my place. I teach both Geography and Physical education. My own doctor in town told me that after an operation lasting about 5 hours, that the minimum I should expect to be out for was 8 weeks. However my surgeon warned me that up to 12 weeks would be required if the healing of the 6 "breaks" in the bones were to be strong enough to withstand an accident in class. He was thinking that PE would be a real risk, possibility of being hit in face!!!!!!do not even want to think of it. So for me I intend heading back in January.
For first 5 weeks I was shattered by mid afternoon anyway, cannot imagine what school would have been like. Talking is the worst and after about 1 hour chatting my bottom lip feels quite tingly and uncomfortable.
I dropped about 4 kilo in total.

[NCRN]

After hearing my sob story of how difficult my job is; my OS decided 3 weeks off and then return with a couple of weeks of 8hr shifts would be more appropriate. He doesn't want me to take any chances of getting hit in the face by a out of control pregnant lady. (sounds rediculas but you would be suprised!)

Thanks for all the insite.
4 days till surgery