just out of curiousity, who here (or if your representing someone....) has been able to go back to work after stokes/surgery??
And if so, how long has it been and in what capacity?

I am quite worried about returning to some sort of job, I just don't feel myself and/or that i'm capable of doing the things I used to do? True surgery was only a week or so ago, and I guess there's some recovering to do... But still.. I'm really really slow(more so than before! which i wouldn't have thought possible), tire very easily and well just generally am not very useful...

any feedback?

Hi Emily,

I wondered the same question, and quite frankly, I was getting a little worried because I didn't return back to work until about 5 months post-op.  I tried returning back to work sooner, but I just couldn't.  My blood pressure shot up like crazy, and my head hurt!    I read how others (like Irene  ) who had her surgery around the same time as me returned to work much sooner, and I got a little worried why I couldn't.  I realized that we are all different.  We had different surgeries, and we all have different medical histories.  I have other medical challenges besides moyamoya which also played a big role in my recovery and the challenges I faced.

I'm now 6 months post-op and feeling better each day.  I do feel a lot better since returning to work though.  It keeps me busy.  (As you can see, I rarely have time to come to this wonderful site!  )  By the way, I didn't return to my old job.  I started a new one, which made me a little worried because they know nothing about my situation and recent double bypass STA-MCA!  I was (still) a little scared about trying to learn a bunch of new things that come with a new job too...but things are working out great.

Truthfully, I think I have short-term memory loss and am a little slower than I used to be.  My neuro feels that I'll feel better after I stop taking Dilantin.  (I'm now taking Zonegran).  

Anyway, Emily, you'll know when it's the right time to return to work.  For now, let your body heal...take it easy.  I've learned that we're all different and so many things come in to play throughout this whole process.  One thing that you've definitely got is a positive attitude...and that is a big plus!  Keep it up, girl!  

Hope this helps...

Take care,
Shan  

Hi Emily!

Don’t get discouraged, you only had the surgery a week ago!  I was back to working 40 hours a week, 3 weeks after surgery and felt good.  I felt so good that I even went out with friends after work but I think I may have over done it a bit because the 4th week I was really tired.  By the fifth week I was great again and I’ve been working ever since. 

I know it is scary post-op because I remember that I was slow at everything, I had major speech difficulties, and I had memory problems.  I lost a lot all of my self-confidence and was worried about being “normal” again.  The first two weeks after the surgery I couldn’t imagine ever being back to work and back to school but I honestly felt back to “normal” by week 5.  I had my surgery on September 29, 2005 and the only lingering problem I have is, my mouth still won’t open very wide which makes eating and going to the dentist difficult.  I talked to my Theresa, my nurse and she said it can take months for the jaw to heal because a muscle was cut during surgery.

The important thing to remember is that every one is different and everyone will have a different recovery rate.  For me my motivation was to be back in my town with my friends and having my life back in my hands.  I was so excited to finally live without feeling “sick” and without worrying about when the next stroke will hit.  I wanted to put this chapter of my life behind me and move on!

I hope this helps 

Monica

Hi Emily,

Though I haven't had surgery.  It was hard for me to go back to work (even if that was what I wanted to do).  I went through physical and occupational therapy and I thought I was good to go.  Once I came back to work, it was a whole new story.  I came back to work 3 months after my stroke.  I'm still having trouble writing, not as neat as it used to be.  My stroke affected my left side of by body (I'm left-handed) and they wanted to try to make me do things with my right hand, that didn't work (that hand does not want to listen  ).   also find that when I get tired, I walk with a slight limp and I slur a little.  Try answering the phones with a slur (I have to take my time and speak so everything comes out clear).  I've been very lucky that my manager is really good to me, almost everyday around 2 pm I get really sleepy, he lets me doze at my desk for 15 minutes for a power nap, then I'm good to go again.  I'm sure glad that I don't have to use dresses and dress shoes to come to work, can you see me dragging my leg if I get tired ?   I work with twenty men, I'm the only female at my job (I work for an electrical contractor).
All I can say is, take your time when you go back to work.  If you can handle a full day, then do so, if not,go back part-time (that's what I should have done).Only you can advocate how much you can take.

That' just my 

jan

Hi Emily,

I had my surgery on June 21st 2005 and went back to work beginning of Sept. cause I needed to attend a convention in NY in OCTOBER....I think I pushed it a little.
The first 2 weeks back to work was HELL, I didn't realize how much ENERGY I didn't have. Then it got easier...
I think the 1st week I went home earlier cause I couldn't make it a full day.

Now it's been over 5 months since surgery ( right side only) and things are a lot easier and better. BTW, I did manage going to NY in OCT. for 2 weeks. 

My advise is DON'T PUSH yourslef but YES, your energy will come back. The body is an amazing thing....thank gaud we have doctors like Dr. Steinberg who can replinish what we could have lost!!!!!!

LOL,
itsme

Hi Emily,

I am so glad you asked the question.  I was diagnosed with MM back in Aug 2005 and I am still waiting to sked my next move.  I'm on LTD with my company & start SSI toward the end of the month.  I wasn't sure what happened after surgery - do MM'ers go back to work?  Will we always have MM or does the surgery take care of it?  How do people w/o insurance pay for the surgery?
I'm sure I'll get alot of valuable information.

Thanks, Lee

Hi, Emily! Im a new poster here, but I believe I can share with you. I was diagnosed in July 05, and since then I have had 2 surgeries, the most recently Dec 9th, so I'm 4 weeks out of surgery. The first surgery, which was on August the 4th ,I felt fantastic after about a month, but I waited till October 27th to go back to work, and even then my Doctor would only let me go back on a gradual scale...4 hrs a day at first, and then gradually increasing by an hour a week until I was back up to 8 hrs a day. Well, I no more had gotten back up to 8hrs, when I discovered I was going to have another surgery!! I work for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association which is based in Charlotte, NC and thank God I Have a decent place to work! They were very understanding... no questions asked, just that they were praying for me. Then I had the 2nd surgery, and it was completely different for me this time....pain, severe nausea, tiredness, everything was different this time. I go back to see my doctor on the 17th of this month, but I still have a ways to go. I won't be suprised  if it is at least a month or more till I am able to go back to work. I think I overdid it during Christmas, and now I'm paying for it!! Just take your time, and let God heal your body...My neurosurgeon told me it could be up to a year before I heal completely!! Take it easy and just enjoy your rest!!! Good luck! Angie

Hi emily,

Hey mate how are you feeling? As you know I had  a stroke a year ago, and i am in no hurry to get back to work at all....... just happy at home. But i think i need to challenge myself , in regareds to my speech, so I will call by boss this month and hopefully go back in Feb. Which will be 4 months after my last surgery. I have had in total 16 months off work since I was first diagnosed, but i never really like work anyway so this was a perfect excuse not to go to work!! he he !!
As so many people have said don't rush it!!!Make sure your ready. I too am nervous, but just tell your boss just a few hours at a time at first and then  built it from there.
Look forward to seeing you when get back form QLD.

see you soon
Love Emma