Getting State Disability/Going Back to Work

Anyone have to deal with getting state disability after total colectomy? How long did your doctor put you out for on the form? After surgery, how long did some of you stay off of work for? I got an approximate of 3 months from my doctor, just curious about the reality of it.

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Colonic Inertia w/Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Usually it's between 4 - 6 weeks before people go back to work after ostomy surgery. For some it takes a little longer, for some it's less. Three months should be ample time for you to recuperate although you should realise that it can take up to a year before you get your full strength back.

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I have had an ileostomy for 30 years now due to UC.

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I'm not a complete idiot - some parts of me are missing!

Hello There!  Bootynoworky

I also suffered from a Slow Transit Colon and had several hours of surgery correcting the problem (Colonic Inertia w/Pelvic Floor Dysfunction).  However, I had not worked since 09/19/05.  My surgeon sees me every three months to make sure everything is healing and working properly.  In the beginning, I thought I was superwomen when I arrived home from my first surgery, I cooked. cleaned, drove, and even shopped with a cane, etc.  But that all ended when I thought I tore something where the ostomy bag was located then my surgeon told me to relax, take care of myself, and eat properly until my reversal which was done on 12/20/05.  During that three month period, I lost massive weight, run down, no appetite, filling the bag constantly, no matter what I ate or drank, it filled the ostomy bag.  I was deteoriating which required me to have a TPN System for two mos to gain ample weight and build up my strength before my reversal.  After my reversal, I have not overexerted myself.  I take things in stride watching what I lift, push, or even pull.  From time to time, I feel constipated along with a numbie feeling and quite tender area where the ostomy bag was located.  Like everyone else stated in this forum, all of our bodies are different and react differently and will also heal differently as well.  Some take weeks to heal and others quite longer.  Good Luck and hope you feel better real soon!

I talked to my surgeon about it when we met last, since he is the one who will be filling out my paperwork for disability, he said at first he will fill out for six weeks and then go from there. He said it is really easy to get extensions on that and I shouldn't worry about it.
I really want to take advantage of all those taxes I paid out of my pay checks and take my time healing and not have to worry about rushing back to work. But, I can't afford to not be making any money at all. I don't need to make a lot, my husband and I have been simplyfying our lives preparing for the eventuality of this surgery. I just hope my doctor is not a poo-face about extending my disablity if I need it!

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Colonic Inertia w/Pelvic Floor Dysfunction