Life has a way of throwing curveballs when you least expect it. Over the past two weeks, I had to take an extended, unplanned break from work and blogging due to surgery, followed by a bout with the flu during my time recovering. This ordeal was neither fun nor easy, but I’d like to take some time to share this unique journey and highlight some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

The Surgery and the Unexpected Flu

I am a workaholic, often so engrossed in my work that I sometimes fail to notice when my body is trying to tell me that something might be wrong. My symptoms were cyclical—they came and went, starting off minor and temporarily relieved by over-the-counter medication, but gradually progressed over a few months.

It wasn’t until the symptoms began to impact my quality of life that I finally started to listen to my body and contacted my internist to schedule some appointments. After a couple of visits, a series of lab tests and radiological procedures, I learned that my abdominal issue would require surgical intervention. At the time, I believed I could have the surgery, go home the same day, and be back at work the following day, I never came with any questions and simply felt this was not a huge deal. I didn’t give much thought to the recovery stage, the amount of time I’d be out of work, or whether I’d be ambulatory immediately after surgery. My fixation on returning to work the day after surgery caused me to overlook the importance of the recovery process. So, here I am, admitting to how naive I was from the moment I agreed to the surgery until the very second they put me to sleep in the operating room.

Reality finally sunk in when the anesthesia wore off a few hours after being discharged home. I say that I have quite a high pain tolerance but I found myself in significant pain and with very limited mobility the night-of. The discomfort from pain lasted for the few days that followed. I did not log on to work as I originally anticipated because the pain was unbearable.

Just as I was starting to feel better on post-surgery day 5, my son brought home the flu from school and along came the full body aches, sinus pain and pressure, sore throat and the coughs. The sore throat was amplified by the abrasion from being intubated the day of surgery, the body aches amplified with the pain at the incision sites. My body was in a fragile state, and every symptom that came was magnified considerably.

It’s been a little over two weeks since my surgery, and a week and a few days since the onset of my flu symptoms. The pain from the surgery is now 90% gone and the flu symptoms have subsided a bit, thank goodness!

The Lessons Learned

Pay Close Attention and listen to what your body is trying to tell you. Make your health a priority over your work. You know yourself better than anyone else, and if something feels off, do not ignore the symptoms. Never dismiss your symptoms because you need to or love working. Your body sends warning signs when something is wrong, so listen closely and respond promptly.

Seek Advice from a Medical Professional: Put stubbornness aside and schedule an appointment with your family physician as soon as you notice any unusual symptoms out of the norm. During your visits, be open and honest about what you’ve observed and experienced. Providing your doctor with complete and accurate information about how you feel and what you’re experiencing helps them to do a thorough assessment on you and recommend next best actions. Fortunately the condition I went through was easily treated by surgery but there are some conditions (e.g. Cancer) that progress to the point where you can no longer treat it if not diagnosed or treated in its earlier phase.

If Surgery is Recommended:

Ask detailed questions about both the preparation phase and the recovery process. Take notes and be sure to understand what to expect. Key questions to ask your doctor/surgeon include:

• What are the restrictions and recommendations for pre- and post-surgery activities?
• How long will the recovery period be?
• Will you need someone to care for you?
• How long should you be out of work?
• When should you resume working?
• When can you start walking and engaging in physical activity?

Employees: Prepare for Time Away from Work

Plan your leave well in advance. If you are an employee, consult with your supervisor and Human Resources team to understand your organization’s process for taking time off. Understand what’s covered and whether or not there are requirements to fulfill. Be sure to note the forms that are required to be completed, important phone numbers and understand the processes to follow in the event unforeseen events happen that could extend your recovery period.

Follow Professional Advice

Make your health a priority. Work will always be there when you have fully recovered and are back to 100%. Trust the expertise of your healthcare professionals and adhere to their guidance throughout your recovery journey.