At the end of September my first pregnancy was confirmed ectopic and following surgery I lost the baby (7 weeks) and my right tube.
It has been a rollercoaster since, being readmitted several times due to ongoing pain.
In total I had 8 weeks off work, mainly due to physical recovery. I have been back at work 3 weeks but I’m really struggling. I work in the hospital where I had my surgery and I have bumped into my surgeon in meetings/the shop more than once.
Has anyone else struggled returning to work emotionally? Any advice?
I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy and loss,
Surgery is an immense ordeal for the body to go through. In general, after about six weeks you should be able to return to most jobs from a physical point of view, however this is an average and some will need longer.
Are there any options to review your role, might there be an opportunity to work reduced hours, increasing them slowly over a few weeks? Perhaps there are certain tasks that you could take on which may entail a change from your usual role or a series of reduced tasks initially? I am not sure whether this is appropriate in your circumstances, but is there anything that you could action from home (which may be different from your usual role but still be of use)?
In addition, it is worth bearing in mind that experiencing ectopic pregnancy is a very frightening experience and many women need to take time to help them deal with the psychological/emotional impact of the loss of their baby, being diagnosed with a life-threatening condition and undergoing major surgery. Please speak to your GP about having further time off work if required.
Sending much love,
Karen x
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
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I am nervous about going back to work it’s been officially 6 weeks/3days for me and I have a follow up with my surgeon on Thursday this week. I am hoping that I get the green light to resume regular duties. Some days I feel fine other days I have slight pain/discomfort that worries me. I have driven and visited my mother a few times in the last 3 weeks just to get my body moving but I am hoping this hasn’t effected my healing process.
I recommend listening to your body and taking it easy (something that was difficult for me at first as I live a go go go lifestyle with work and school) but it is necessary. If work is causing pain I suggest taking more time off.