First day back at work after surgery

[redbird]

Going in to work was no problem: it helps that we live at the end of the train line and I can count on a seat.

When I got there, lots of people welcomed me back, some with longer conversations than others. Both my bosses made a point of telling me, in the morning, that if I felt the need I should leave early. My standard answer to all the questions of "how are you?" was "Better. Not 100% yet, but about 90." Wendy (one of my bosses) said they'd be glad to have ninety percent of me. Marilyn (my other boss: I report directly to her) filled me in on what we're working on, and what the priorities are right now; gave me some pages to read over; and helped me carry stuff after I said I would be prudent and take half and come back for the rest.

I gave the HR person my doctor's letter, discussed options for handling the recent time off (there might be some I'm not aware of; she had a meeting scheduled, on another topic, with a relevant person and said she'd ask), and got my Transitchek Metrocards for May, June, and July. Then I settled in to reading over the 1R pages. Tea and lunch came in good season; I figured out what I wanted to eat (cucumber salad and some fish) and realized that there's a deli near my office whose salad bar would supply that.

About 2:30 Wendy came by and observed that I was looking pale. I asked if I was paler than this morning, because of course I can't see myself, and she said no, I'd been pale in the morning. And reiterated that I could leave early. I thanked her again, thinking I should be able to make it until at least 4, but that leaving before rush hour would make sense. Around 3:30 my abdomen started to hurt, despite painkillers. I made myself tea a little before 4, had one sip, thought, and went over to Wendy's office. She looked at me and said "You're leaving?" in a tone that was only loosely a question, and I said yes, poured out the tea, and came home via the drugstore (to pick up the Percocet prescription I'd dropped off yesterday).

The first thing I did when I got in was to take my pants off. Then I lay down and thought about napping.

What I hadn't taken into account earlier was that this wasn't just a matter of sitting up all day: I hadn't tried wearing pants, or anything else with an even vaguely constricting waist, for a full day since before the surgery. Tomorrow I will skip the belt and probably take most of the stuff out of my pockets.

Comments

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're feeling so much better, and that your boss and colleagues are being so helpful and understanding. It really helps a lot that you can ease back into work.

What I hadn't taken into account earlier was that this wasn't just a matter of sitting up all day: I hadn't tried wearing pants, or anything else with an even vaguely constricting waist, for a full day since before the surgery.

Oh dear. *hug* I wish I were in range to bring you a dress. I know you don't like them, but this is a situation that would justify wearing a dress to work. (It specifically justifies those dresses with the waistband nowhere near a person's waist, for which pregnancy was the original excuse, but now they're terribly popular.) Your need for it would probably be over with by the time I could ship it to you, though.

Tomorrow I will skip the belt and probably take most of the stuff out of my pockets.

I expect that will help. Padding between the incisions and the waistband of your pants is also likely to help, either with bandaging or a soft undershirt tucked in smoothly.

[redbird]

Time to rummage through the closet, and see if I have anything remotely suitable. (There's a jumper I bought on whim one Wiscon, which is in a ridiculously bright and cheerful pattern, and that might fit. Slip a plain black shirt under it (there's nothing else in the world it would go with), and it might still look like I was an oversized nine-year-old, but I may risk it.

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

Hm. I don't remember if you wear skirts, but for some reason skirts with drawstring or loose elastic waists seem to be more common than pants with same, especially in styles that would pass muster for work. Still, do you have anything like knit or woven pajama-ish pants in black or a plain dark color with a nonconfining waist? Those might be able to dressed up enough for an office, especially if you have a long top to wear over them.

[aquaeri.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought of pants either!

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, a loose waist will probably be better. They really like you there!

[amaebi.livejournal.com]

Ow. I'm glad they intend to be accomodating: I hope that they succeed in being so. That last paragraph was one of the sadder things I've read.

[redbird]

Sad? I'm startled.

Basically, I'd spent the time I was sick mostly wearing just pajama tops, or sometimes just another shirt, and putting on pants only to leave the house.

For today, I have pulled out a dress I picked up on a whim one Wiscon (near the Farmer's Market, not at the con) because I liked the fabric, and then never wore. IIRC, pameladean convinced me to go with the impulse and get it. Thank you, Pamela.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Go you, and go them, for being understanding.