Community Forum

Have a question, or want to share your own tips and experiences? Join the discussion in the community forum. You must be registered to participate. Our forums are moderated by Crohn's & Colitis Foundation staff to facilitate a safe environment.

Previous Topic Next Topic

Going back to work

Wed, January 02, 2013 1:39 PM

Hello,

I was diagnosed with Crohns back in October 2011. In Oct. 2012, I went to the ER with tremendous pain and vomiting. I had an abscess and other complications, so I stayed in the hospital for three weeks. Before discharge, it was decided that I should have a small bowel resection to remove all damaged parts. My surgery was on December 20th. I was discharged from the hospital on Christmas day. I was discharged on Vicodin. And I resumed my Prednisone but my gastroenterologist tapered me down to 5mg a day. I also take 40mg of Omeprazole until I finish the Prednisone.

I am a high school teacher and girls basketball coach. My question is how soon can/should I return to coaching basketball? Do I need to wait until my follow-up appointment on January 14th? I plan to return to teaching the day after my appointment if my doctor allows it. My recovery is going smoothly and I feel pretty good. I still have some pain from the surgery, but it is tolerable and I am only taking one Vicodin in the morning. I know I should wait at least until I am off the Vicodin completely, but should I wait longer?

eabarwick
Joined Jan 1, 2013

Fri, January 18, 2013 1:55 PM

Reply posted for Eabarwick.

Yup, this is a question for surgeon. I went back to a retail job six weeks after my surgery and I have to say it was rough those first few days. If you can coach from a sitting position, then try it. Otherwise, I would wait a week or two or more. You cannot drive on Vicodin either, so yes, you probably want to get yourself off those pain meds before going back to work. Good luck!!

altman282
Joined Feb 21, 2012

Thu, January 10, 2013 11:31 AM

Reply posted for Eabarwick.

My first surgery I was off for 6 weeks and went back to work at exactly the end of 6 weeks. I had to turn around and go back home I was in so much pain. You don't realize how much you use your stomach muscles for little things like driving! If I was you, I would wait until you see your dr for the follow-up.

raf5712
Joined Jan 8, 2013

Wed, January 02, 2013 7:01 PM

Reply posted for Eabarwick.

I would ask your Dr.. There could be internal stitches to worry about, not just pain. My surgery was an emergency surgery. They thought it was my appendix, but after sedation felt a large lump and was worried it was cancer. I have a long scar. I was off work 5 weeks. I am glad you are healing faster. I just could not take the stairs at work and no elevator.

Honestly though, ask your Dr.. That is a very active job to go back to. You don't want to put back your recovery.

Kathy

katabell
Joined Nov 17, 2008

Related Topics

Small bowel resection

jess123
Joined Jan 9, 2022

Hi, I'm preparing to have an ileocecal resecti....

read more

Flap Surgery

Kwarner1charter
Joined Feb 14, 2023

Had surgery on 10/27 after being in the hospital m....

read more

Jpouch Surgery

guillermo80
Joined Oct 11, 2016

I just had my first surgery out of three stage sur....

read more

Welcome to the Crohn's & Colitis Community!

This website is associated with the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.

Please read our Top 12 Rules before posting messages and sharing stories. Always be courteous and sensitive to others!

Intended audience. The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation Online Community is intended for patients and their caregivers, family and friends. The Community is not intended for industry representatives or advertisers and these individuals are not permitted to participate on the site.

Meet the Crohn's & Colitis Community! Browse our site to see what our community is talking about and find issues important to you.

Join in and share your stories. After you feel comfortable with our site, register to share your thoughts on a regular basis.

Stay secure. Remember that our site can be viewed by anyone on the Internet. With the exception of our registration and personal pages, search engines are available within this site. To guard your privacy, follow these simple rules: do not share your address, phone number, details about your family, or anything else you would feel uncomfortable with others reading. If you post your personal email, be aware that you may receive spam e-mail from spammers who gather addresses off of the web.

Read and react to posts with care. If you don’t agree or are offended by someone’s post, take a step back and think before you reply. Since we can’t talk in-person to each other, we must recognize that we may be misunderstanding stories or posts. Please be sensitive to others’ feelings and ask for clarification before acting out.

Search before starting new topics. To keep our message boards easy to use, please use the search bar to locate topics of interest before starting a new thread. If you start a new thread, please use obvious subject headings and words that will catch the attention of others. Topics will be archived after 21 days of inactivity. To view past topics and posts, click on archive topics within each of the forums.

Stick to our guidelines. To keep this site safe for everyone, please do not post: doctors' names, treatment facility names and treatment specifics, contact information for others without their consent, links to websites with uncertain content or advertisements, requests for fundraising, items for sale, requests for study, survey and/or questionnaire participation or provocative information.

Sharing photos. Please use good taste and appropriate images when adding photos to your profile or personal stories. Photos should be in .jpg format.

Not following the rules? Crohn's & Colitis Community moderators routinely scan the message boards and will delete tasteless posts. If you post inappropriate messages or pictures or use offensive language in a post on multiple occasions, you will be notified via email and your account will be inactivated.

Report foul play. Help the Crohn's & Colitis Community moderators by reporting anyone that posts inappropriate messages or pictures by clicking the 'Report Abuse' button under the message or emailing ccfacommunity@ccfa.org.

Questions or concerns? Please feel free to email us at ccfacommunity@ccfa.org with any questions or concerns. We want you to feel comfortable here.

Terms & Conditions. By posting your story, questions, concerns and other information on the Community, you grant the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation or its authorized agent permission to publish, reproduce, record and use your stories as Crohn's & Colitis Community or the authorized agent sees fit in any medium or forum in a manner which helps to further the Crohn's & Colitis Community mission. You agree to release and hold harmless Crohn's & Colitis Community from any and all liability by any third party that may arise from the release of information to any third party or by any third party and agree that all text and other content made by you, for you or the person for whom you are the parent/guardian, shall be the exclusive property of Crohn's & Colitis Community. The Crohn's & Colitis Community cannot verify every claim made by a third party contributor to our Community and is not responsible for the authenticity of information posted.

Thank you! The Crohn's & Colitis Community is successful because of members like you!

Thanks!
The Crohn's & Colitis Community Team

*Any postings on the Crohn's & Colitis Community site should not replace your physician's advice. Always check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health.