Surgery Paperwork Stress

Maybe I'm programmed incorrectly, that I will always find something to stress about. This week's stress is over taking time off work.

Initially the doctor’s office said plan to take 6-12 weeks off work. Sounds good. 6 weeks non-negotiable will be confined to a sling. My job is typing for speed, so that’s not going to happen.

Earlier this week the office (finally) got around to completing the paperwork required for me to take time off. They suggested I would only need 2-3 weeks. Ahem. At 2 weeks, I wonder if I’ll still be icing and moping around in pain a lot. I won’t be able to drive, type, and at that point who knows how well I’ll even be at hygiene and getting dressed (thus staying home and moping). I asked them to please check with the surgeon, as this was quite a bit less than previously estimated. They said fine, they’ll submit for 6 weeks. (sigh)

Then they complete the paperwork (due Tuesday, this is pushing it), provided me with a copy and it said 10 days off work. What the ?? I contacted them and politely asked to help me understand where this was coming from. Initial response was “oh, that’s to let work know that I might need to take time off intermittently to go to follow-up appointments or physical therapy. Uhm, ok, that’s not very clear the way it reads . . . They made a comment how this is how they fill it out for people who can’t work more than 3 days in a row. Great. Open it up for them that I could potentially work Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, have Wednesday off, and finish up the week Thursday, Friday. You can’t open the window like that for some places. Don’t give them any ideas implying I can be back to work after 10 days if that’s not what you mean. I’m already freaking out about pain and the arduous recovery proces . . . let's please not add this on top.