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[history_grrrl]

I've joined the Chronic Illness thread but am thinking this might need its own thread for those who have dealt with a timing problem (sort of like sikora's problem).

So, I'm now on a waiting list for open heart surgery. I'll be in the hospital for a week and will have a 2-3 month recovery, during which I can't expect to get much work done. Since I explained to the surgeon that my job is based on the semester, my choices are:

1. sometime between January and March; probably later, but I can't know when. This means I risk sitting out the winter term even though surgery may not occur until late in the term.
2. late April-early May (when grades are turned in). This means I can teach next term.

Here's what I'm thinking:

Option 1
Pros:
* I may get a few sabbatical-like months to work (while not teaching) before the surgery
* I'm recovered by summer and can finish book revisions, do class prep, etc., at a non-frantic pace.
Cons
* It feels too soon and I don't feel ready
* I have a new course next term that I'm excited about teaching
* I don't know what my pay will look like for the months that I'm not teaching but also not in surgery or post-op.

Option 2
Pros:
* I get to teach next term
* I have more time to act like I have a normal life.
Cons:
* I lose most of the summer, so I'll be frantically trying to do book revisions and article resubmissions over winter break, spring break, and right before the fall term, meaning I'll have no chance of a real break until a year from now.

What am I missing? What else should I take into account? Has anyone dealt with a similar dilemma? Thanks for any thoughts about how to make this decision. And no matter what I decide, I think I need a few days in a warm, sunny location over winter break . . .

[alleyoxenfree]

Do travel before the surgery.  If you plan to travel post-surgery, be sure you have a travel partner.  Traveling and hefting luggage can be surprisingly grueling, even more so than usual, after the shock to the body of surgery.

While only you can know when you're ready, having just the summer to recuperate from open-heart surgery does not seem enough to me when you consider that teaching involves standing so much, walking across campus, hefting books and files.  Be sure to arrange things like rooms where you can sit down, close parking, and all those things you will think you don't need.  Really take your time to recuperate.  It might take time for the muscles in your chest to re-knit and feel strong.

IIRC, there might be some considerations about how patients do having surgery at certain times of the year.  That may not factor in with the times you are considering (for instance, supposedly you shouldn't have surgery in late summer when new residents start).  You might sleuth around and see if there is any research on best outcomes and times of year.  And once you're on your feet and getting your strength back, will weather be a factor in being able to go out and exercise?

[msparticularity]

I had one additional question for you: to what degree might you be at risk if you wait until the later date?

And given the possible financial ramifications, I wondered whether you could do a variant on Option 2. I was thinking, perhaps you could have the surgery at the end of spring semester and take the summer to recover, then have a very light schedule in the fall? That might allow you to work on your publications at a more measured pace, while continuing your recovery.

[carebearstare]

Something else to consider:

I had to have surgery last year, and I found the worst part of it was the anticipation--it was majorly anxiety producing and I found that disrupted my life a lot. For that reason alone, I might opt for having surgery earlier rather than later. Also, if there is any chance that your health could deteriorate in waiting for it, I'd go ahead and have it.

Best wishes to you and I hope you are taking care of yourself.

[prytania3]

History, I'm so sorry to hear this. I have no advice. I just wanted to let you know I'd be thinking about you.

[history_grrrl]

Thanks for the thoughtful replies; they are really helping me to think this through. I am thinking about how to make Option 2 work better. (My surgeon thinks that March vs. late April will not make a big difference health-wise, but he is not going to delay any more than that.) While I agree that the anticipation might be stressful, I might do better if I'm able to do more advance planning, which the later date would allow. (It will also be easier for friends/relatives coming from the U.S. to stay with me, because they can plan their schedules ahead of time.) It would probably be good for me to schedule book revisions into the coming semester instead of just waiting until May to get going on them.

And conceivably I could ask for accommodations like having my fall classes in close proximity to the building where my office is located (there are some good classrooms in our building and the one next door, but no one in my department ever seems to get their classes in them).

I guess I will start talking to my chair and then someone in the union and someone in HR. Thanks again for bringing up issues I hadn't considered; that's exactly what I'm hoping for.

[alleyoxenfree]

You might consider putting some of your planning time towards tidying up finances and thinking ahead - paying any bills you can annually, for instance.  Sometimes post-surgery you can be muddle-headed about such things or find it hard to focus, concentrate, or even understand these things.  Get your taxes done early and perhaps line up one of your family members to make sure that in the month post surgery, you get bills paid.  Maybe someone could also go over your insurance and benefits with you so that you are entirely clear on all possible benefits - for instance, could you get some after-surgery massage covered?  Will one kind of room be covered but not another?  It's good to be clear on all this stuff since even with planning, issues might arise (something comes available or is needed unexpectedly) and you'll then be in a good position to make quick decisions.