overworked before surgery bad?

 i'm not doing too well physically and emotionally right now.  it's a bad time of year for me emotionally, and my fibro is killing me.  i work (volunteer) for a wildlife rehabbber who is disabled and is taking in so many animals that i am feeling really run down.  i am her most active volunteer and i had to put my foot down the other day because i was racking up about 8+ hours a day, 5 days a week!  i told her i can only do 5 hour days, 4 days a week, but she keeps telling me "it's baby season, it will end"  or "it's a really hard week".  i have a hard time telling people no, and when i tell her i cant do something, it's obvious i'm upsetting her.  and, it's babies, i mean, if she turns people away, we are putting that baby in danger or death.  we did a singing program yesterday, and i got really dehydrated and i'm still not over it, but she tells me she needs me this whle week.  my car is in the shop, so i am basicly stuck there until someone gets me or brings me back home.  

so, i guess my question i'm really concerned with is, if i am so tired and run down before surgery- this close to surgery- will that mean a longer recovery time after surgery?  

i need to take care of myself!  (but, she just had this surgery as well, so will tell me she had no problem, i'm sure, sigh)  i'm just really tired and was so before this last gig.  we have 2 more gigs coming up before my surgery!  i just dont know what to do.  we need more volunteers is what we need!

You're going to have to keep telling her "no" because you need to be in the best physical shape you can get yourself in prior to surgery.  Push the fluids. Have you had any labs to see where you are nutritionally?

My hubby has been outside all weekend and I give him extra magnesium citrate and potassium to keep his electrolytes in some kind of balance. I know your work is important but you can't help them if you don't help yourself first.

--gina

 thanks, gina.  thats what i thought, that i need to be right on top of my health and being exhausted isnt the way to go this soon before surgery.  she is overworked, too, and had her rny a year ago.  i wish she would turn some away, because it's just gonna get worse!  we have already topped last years baby count!

i'm pushing my sobe 0's thats for sure.  i havnt been tested recently for anything.  my pcp is an hour away... he's really great, but so far away.  i should have my pre surgery testing done very soon- havnt gotten the paperwork in yet.  are you thinking i should go above the pre surgery testing?

i'm just feeling in a bad position here.  it takes hours for 2 people to feed and clean everyone and then we have to go back and do it again.  i know it's not my problem, because it's not me who is taking on all the workload, but i feel pressured and guilty.  the other day i was at the clinic 13 hours, and that was pretty standard before i put my foot down a few weeks ago.  the guilt is creeping in again, damn it!

saying no is so hard for me, but i need to learn to do it, for my health!

Every surgeon's pre-op list of labs is different. I would want to know B12, vitamins D & A, iron and ferritin at a minimum over and above minimum pre-surgery tests. You might ask what the pre-surgery labs are and ask for a few more. Don't know how user friendly your office is.

--g
  

 thanks, gina.  i will ask for those, if they are not on their list of pre-op tests.

Ultimately you have to do what you need to do for YOU first and foremost. If you are feeling tired and dehydrated prior to surgery I think that is only going to make recovery worse...Maybe the first goal prior to surgery is for you to make some "you" time by taking a couple of days off regardless of what the situation is..

 thanks, aspan.  it seems whenever i try to tell her no she argues and tells me she is tired or sore or whatever, too.  she told me i can always say no, but it doesnt work out as nicely as it sounds, unfortunately.  guess i'll be fighting for my health for a while...  literally!

Yep, you need to take care of you first!! I had a difficult time convincing my DH I need time for me!!! Just keeP repeating yourself.

Meg

 lol, thanks meg.  i'm waiting for her to call right now.  stressing about what i'm gonna say to her.  wish i could relax right now, it's a perfect time, but i'm worrying about dealing with someone who doesnt understand me apparently.  i do so much, but i feel like it's never enough.  and it isnt, really, what i do doesnt scratch the surface of what needs to be done, so the whole clinic is a mess because i cant be superwoman and do it all.  i never could, but with more and more animals coming in and needing rides to the vet or feedings, i'm just so overwhelmed.  so i can understand her need for anyone to help, but i'm just one woman!  yep, just repeat myself.  maybe i'll bore her enough she will stop asking  and wait for me to offer when i think i can do more than 15 hours a week ;-)

She is using you with a capital U. She knows you can't/won't let the animals suffer and that is why she keeps taking in more. If you put your foot down and say NO and mean it she will stop taking in so many. Having to do it all herself is the only way she will stop. 

She may even have a bit of a hoarding personality where they are concerned and can't say no. It is her rehab,obviously,so her responsibility. it is wrong for her to guilt trip you or any volunteer. That is one of thre reasons people stop volunteering...overwork and a head person who can't manage their rehab effectively.

You must take care of yourself first. Have you told her you will not be volunteering for a while after your surgery? Notice< i said TOLD her NOT ASKED her if you can have time off? You are the boss of yoiur time here.  I am sure she is thrilled that you are the good person that you are so she can manipulate you with guilt.

Doesn't mattewr what HER surgery/recovery experience was. This is YOUR surgery/recovery experience and you need to be the boss of it ,not her.

She is actually using you,as a volunteer,as an unpaid employee. That burns me up,actually,having been in rescue myself in the past.

Bad as I know you would hate it,you may have to make a complete break with her before she "gets it".  Trust me,if she doesn't have you to slave for her she will HAVE to stop taking in so many. She will NOT want to do all the work herself and really she needs to manage better or she doesn't need to eveh HAVE a rehab.

Keep us posted,
Holly