What did you tell folks at your job?

I had my surgeon provide a general statment letter that I would be having surgery and would be out 4-6 weeks. Anything beyond 3 days requires a doctors note. I whited out the portions on his letterhead that indicated that he was a plastic surgeon.

I am not required to provide them the specifics  and I dont have that kind of relationship with my employer. I am a federal employee and had the paid leave to cover the time off. I told no one at my job when I went. Its none of their business unless I chose to share.

Congratulations and God speed in your journey!

Unfortunately, my office is small (about 35 people) and everybody is so "open" with everything.  I'm sure if I did tell her and ask her not to discuss it any further that she would honor my request.  I just don't even want to confide in her about it either.  She just gets so uptight about EOM close and I don't want her to "resent" me for taking 3 weeks off for in her opinion, "elective surgery"

Do you have the kind of relationship with your boss that she would understand if you say took the 3 weeks and then was able to help for the EOM but then had to take say another few days off or half days as necessary? Is there any of the work you can do at home possibly? 

Is it simply becuase of the term elective surgery? Wow I realize its not life saving in the traditional sense of the word but its important to you so.......is that not acceptable for a small office?

I am really being hypothetical Isuppose. I guess it just annoys me that we have to go through so much sometimes to have PS.

As far as being able to drive after surgery, many surgeons standard is once you are off pain meds driving is okay but of course you have to be comfortable and everyone is a little different. I had a LBL, BL/BA, medial thigh left, and a arm lift and I was able to drive by the 3 weeks. With everything after surgery my motto is always slow and methodical.

Yes, I can and often do work at home.  I will make that offer to her.  I'm sure she will appreciate the effort.  Month end close is a monster for us. 

I scheduled a 2 week vacation and had my arms and tummy tuck done.  A few people said I looked like I had lost some weight and I told a couple of people I am close to what I had done at the time.  A year later I schedule a 3 week vacation and had my breast and butt lifts done.  When people asked where I went I said mostly I stayed home but took a few day trips in our area.  Only one person from work has said anything to me about having my breasts done, she just said "you look different and they look good". 

see, that's the thing, my job is just so "high maintenace" that no one ever takes more than 1 week off at a time.  The president of our company is out right now for surgery and treatment of kidney cancer.  His wife has set up a website where she blogs several times a day about his recovery.  It gets thousands of hit's everyday.  It's more like a family around the office and folks wanna know whats's going on, I just don't feel like discussing it every time I go in the kitchen to refill my coffee cup.

My boss was really the only one in my office who knew.  She was very supportive.  I also had to submit a letter from my dr and all it said that I would need to be out for 6 weeks for surgery.  Nothing specific on it.  I just told folks I would be out on leave (didn't even specify it was medical) for 6 weeks with a date of return and who to contact in my absence.  My boss said that she thinks they all assumed it was female surgery and let it go.  No one asked me a thing when I got back other than how I was doing.   

Since you already had a hysterectomy I would just tell your boss that your are having a medical procedure and that you need to be out 3 weeks.  I really don't think you are required to be specific anyway.  I hope 3 weeks is enough for you since you are having quite a bit done at once.

I'm going with the Baylor Residency Program and Dr. Izandoost (thank you for the recommendation).  I have a very high toleraance for pain and he said that once the drains are out and I'm off the paid meds, I could drive.  I have a desk job and sit mostly all day except occasional trips to the copier, fax and kitchen.  My main concern is that I'm having my thighs and arms done at the same time and hope I can stll drive. 

Dr Izadoost is great.  That whole team is!  Please keep me posted on how you are doing.  As long as you don't have any separations or anything I think you'll be fine. I wish I could do my arms and thighs together but I won't be able to.  I'm hoping to do my arms in January.

P.S.  Tell Dr Iz hello for me.

will definitely give him your "hello" message.  He really is a nice doctor.  We've been emailing back and forth all week.  He graduated back in June and is no longer a "resident", he is a full time doctor on the staff now but said he will still perform my surgery for the price he quoted me back in the Summer.