You may feel all right at home and worry that it will become hard on the way to work or during work. When you plan a return to daily life, it helps to add what your own day is like to the question “Can I go to work?” Commute time, time for breaks, and being able to use a restroom are also part of the recovery plan.
Look at the actual movements, more than the job title
Even office work can be demanding if you have to sit for a long time or travel a long distance. Conversely, even when the job is the same, the return plan can differ if you can rest in between and reduce the amount of work. Rather than setting the date in the same way for everyone, start by checking which adjustments are possible.
| Activity needed in daily life | What to explain to the clinician |
|---|---|
| Seated work | How long you sit at one time, and whether a break in between is possible |
| Work standing for a long time or walking a lot | Shift length, stairs and amount of movement, and a place to rest |
| Work lifting heavy objects | The weight you actually lift and the number of repetitions |
| Driving and operating machinery | The anesthesia you received and the medicines you take, and whether you have dizziness or drowsiness |
Do not shorten the restriction on driving and operating machinery after anesthesia because you appear to be feeling well. For the specific length of the restriction, follow the discharge instructions matched to the anesthesia and medicines you received.
In what order is it best to return to exercise?
First, see whether moving around inside the home, or walking for a short time, feels comfortable. If pain or bleeding increases after activity and you feel dizzy, lower that day’s intensity and contact a medical facility. “Increasing a little at a time” does not mean enduring the symptoms.
For demanding exercise, such as running, strength training, and movements that raise abdominal pressure a great deal, the time to resume is set by looking together at your original exercise habits and how you are recovering. If you were given separate guidance on swimming, sexual intercourse, and similar activities, follow that standard. Another person’s experience of returning does not become the standard for clearing you.
Which warning signs need medical attention rather than rest alone?
It is important not to attribute these symptoms only to having pushed yourself at work. After surgery, complications that need further assessment and treatment can occur, including infection, remaining pregnancy tissue, and injury to the uterus or bleeding. An evaluation is also needed if pain and bleeding do not lessen as expected.
Check three things before you return
- Activities I can do: Ask separately about going to work, driving, and exercise.
- Work to reduce if symptoms occur: Think in advance about whether rest and going home early are possible.
- Where to contact and the schedule for checking your progress: Confirm where you should go if a problem arises at night or on a holiday.
The pace of physical recovery and the pace at which your mind comes to feel at ease can differ. If it is hard enough to affect your work or your sleep, you can talk about that in the consultation as well. Please also refer to the Abortion surgery and recovery guide.
General recovery and warning signs were cross-checked against the NHS recovery guide, the Complications guide, and the BPAS aftercare materials. The number of days until return used by overseas organizations is not guaranteed for an individual.