Going back to work after BMX and reconstruction

dmarie71

I had a nipple sparing PBMX with direct implants on Jan 21st. My PS told me that he thought I'd only need to be off of work for 4 weeks...well....that is just around the corner (2 more days) and I am still very uncomfortable with chest tightness/spasms and poor range of motion. I teach a class of 27 first graders....need lots of energy and do lots of reaching, stretching, and bending. I am on my feet all day at work. I am just curious if I'm wimping out???? I thought it might be helpful to hear how long of a leave you all took after reconstruction. Thanks so much!

exbrnxgrl

dmarie,

I'm a first grade teacher too. My dx turned out to be more complicated than originally thought, but had I simply been recovering from my bmx with one step implants, I would have gone back to work after 6 weeks. Since it's been over three years, my memory is a bit fuzzy, but I think I could have managed at the 6 week point. Yes, there was still some tightness and strange sensations but I felt relatively good. I think I tired more easily, but I never had trouble sleeping We are all different, so only you know how you feel, but if you can get another 2 weeks, that might help. Let me know if you have any questions.

PS: do you have exercises to help with range of motion? I saw a physical therapist and that really helped.

dmarie71

exbrnxgrl: Thanks for your quick response! I don't know why I feel so guilty about taking the extra time...maybe it's because he said 4 weeks and I try to be the perfect patient. Don't want to disappoint my doctor...lol. But...I KNOW I am not ready!

Yes, I did get a few exercises to do from my PS but today I watched a Sloan Kettering video someone posted on here with additional stretches and I've already noticed a difference just from doing them several times today. This tightness just feels so odd and seems like it's never going to go away! I'm so impatient!!!!!

Thanks again!!!!!!

debiann

Everyone's job is different, the 4 weeks is a general time frame, but only you know the demands of your job. Your dr. has no idea how hard first grade can be. He probably wouldn't last a day, lol. Don't feel bad if you need extra time. 

I was 4 weeks post chemo when I had a bmx with DIEP recon.  I'm an itinerant special ed teacher, grades 7-12, so my job is very different from yours and not nearly as physically demanding. I stayed home for 4 weeks, then went back 1/2 days week 5, full days week 6. I was so tired! Because I "push-in" to support students, if I didn't show up for a class it wasn't the end of the world, kids weren't unsupervised. My co-workers really picked up the slack for me that first month. I spent a lot more time at my desk, and even had to go lay down in the healthroom once or twice. If I was a regular classroom teacher I would have needed at least another month to recover at home.

exbrnxgrl

I forgot to add that since my colleagues and class parents were aware of my situation, they were all extremely helpful. This was in addition to the meals they'd been providing during my recovery. A school community can be an excellent support system

Janetanned

I had my BMX with immediate DIEP reconstruction mid November and returned to my classroom (high school) after winter break.  I think it was January 2 or 3.  I needed every minute of that time off.  Even once I was back to work, I really took it easy.  Another teacher covered my last class of the day (Yoga) since I was not in any shape to lead it.  My principal was very understanding and let me decide how much I could do.  I began chemo at that time, so I was pretty low energy for a few months.

You don't want to push yourself too much.  Your body has been through a lot and needs time to get back in shape. You will need time to heal physically and emotionally.  Once you are ready, it will feel good to be doing 'normal' things again. 

Mecsmama

I had a bmx with tissue expanders on December 24. I returned to school two weeks after the holiday break. That was four weeks after surgery. I really should have taken an extra week. I made it through the week, but I was very tired and sore and I do not think I was an effective teacher that week. My doc said four weeks too, and I like you wanted to be able to do what my doc said. I never wanted anyone to think I was a wimp or lazy. I am learning now as I am in the middle of chemo that taking time doesn't make me a wimp or lazy. This is hard stuff and luckily I have a great boss and the faculty has helped in so many ways as well. Take care of yourself. It will pay off later. Good luck to you.

roadrash

Hi I am glad to hear that you are recovering so well. Some people need more and others need less time to recover. There is no set time frame. You will see reading all the threads that everyone has a different journey. Many of us have great difficulty sleeping a night which doesn't make for a productive employee during the day. . If you have at least 1 yr at your job and 1250 hours, you could apply for FMLA through your employer. I know that it protects your job but doesn't supply income. My daughter is an elementary teacher and she is exhausted after a normal day of work. You need to do what's right for you and the students. I also have sever AWS cording so the tightness and poor range of motion continues. Have they evaluated you for any cording issues? There are different levels of cording. Did your doctor give you a script for physical therapy? If it was me, I would tell the doctor that I have poor range of range of motion and tightness. I would like to see a physical therapist and get an evaluatin before returning to work. It's just a suggestion.

For me, I had a bmx with reconsrtuction (tissue expanders put in place) . I had started a new job and didn't have the 1 yr or the 1,250 hours so i had to take my vacation days. I used all 6 days ( I only get 10 vacation days) that I had and dragged my butt back to work with drains pinned to my mastectomy bra.I was emotionally spent. I would leak thru my clothes and needed to change them often from the dressings. Our bodies have just gone thru major surgery, along with the fear and anxiety of the disease, our own emotions about our bodies being permanently changed, family dynamics, reconstruction, etc this is all heavy stuff.

If you are asking the question, then you might already know that if you can taking it easy might be the best choice for you right now.

Take care of you and let us know how it goes