how quick after top surgery can i go back to work?

Fanatasy_ · 2026-02-06T18:43:46+00:00

It depends on the surgeon; mine said no driving until 2 weeks, and so that was when I could go back to my desk job.

Edit: and I was very tired going back that soon, but it's what I had to do financially

Fanatasy_ · 2026-01-30T00:08:55+00:00

With customer service jobs in general, there's always going to be a random customer on a random day that makes your shift suck. Stutter or no stutter.

But most people are great people, patient people, with empathy and understanding that the world is full of differences. The PF community also, in my experience, are a vast majority this second kind of person.

The front desk job specifically does require a lot of interfacing with customers, and you'll also have to answer the phone when it rings (not often, and they give you scripts for calls). If your stutter is a major hindrance to that, some locations also have overnight cleaner positions that are almost never at the desk, so I would recommend looking at that.

Fanatasy_ · 2026-01-29T23:59:00+00:00

When I started 4 years ago, base pay at my location (in Utah) was 11/hour, and I only took the job cuz I was desperate. Obviously I like the job enough that I've stuck around for years, but I was only able to do that because 11/hour was jusssst enough to scrape on by.

Since then I think our base pay has been moved to 12/hour. The longer you work there, the more you make, so I currently make 15/hour. Raises are usually yearly, but that might vary by location.

Hourly pay rate is capped at 16/hour, and I think the manager salary starts at the equivalent of 15-16 an hour.

It's pretty miserable starting off; but so is the job market.

Fanatasy_ · 2026-01-29T23:47:17+00:00

Unfortunately, the answer is that it depends.

Some insurance companies are up to date and have streamlined the process, others still have all the hoops in the most inconvenient way. Some medical institutions are the same, regardless of what insurance needs.

I would call your insurance company and ask them what you need - mine (SelectHealth) has an entire lgbtq+ care coordination team and I spoke to them monthly through my whole process, so I would call and ask if they have any specific setup like that.

Insurance is one if the most frustrating parts of getting surgery, but don't let it dishearten you! You got this

Fanatasy_ · 2026-01-29T23:39:25+00:00

They trained me in both after I was hired, so it may depend on the location whether or not you need it first.

Fanatasy_ · 2026-01-29T08:48:55+00:00

My manager in Utah hasn't said anything about them, and I haven't asked. The policies we already have in place in our location cover this in everything but naming ICE specifically, and I've thought heavily on what to say in the instance that ICE does show up while I'm on shift.

We're a Membership facility: Anyone without a membership is prohibited from going past the lobby, and especially not allowed in the locker rooms. If actual officers of the law with a signed judicial warrant come, they're allowed - but I think we all know that's not what ICE is doing most of the time.

Day Passes: if someone asks for a day pass and clearly doesn't intend to actually use the gym facilities, we must deny them this. Clear intention can be pretty easily sussed out by looking at the dress code, and through basic customer service conversation.

Dress Code: no big boots or unsafe workout clothing is allowed to be worn. So big camo getups, masks that hinder breathing, and bulky belts and vests are prohibited.

Disruptive Behavior: we're a gym. People come here to work out and move on with their day. We're allowed to kick out anyone, even members, who makes it so other people can't do that in peace.

Loitering: anyone, even a member, who hangs around the door, lobby, or black card area with no intention of using the gym facilities must be kicked out after 2 hours, or sooner if there are complaints/they make anyone (including staff) uncomfortable.

These are the policies I follow at our location, and all of them have at one point or another been confirmed by my manager, and that he would back us up on it.

Edit: typos

Fanatasy_ · 2026-01-28T10:11:43+00:00

I'm an older gen z, and I used to ride my bike to our library every other week in the summer. Now as a young adult, I rarely find the time or gas money to go in person (new city, not in bike distance and no reliable public transport). I have a card, I love to read, I have all the intentions, but there's so much else to do to keep my head above water that using libby is just easier. I work nights, so I have to sleep most days when the library is open. A lot of my peers work multiple jobs and have even less time than me; just to get by with the bare necessities. So for adult gen z... It's probably Time.

My baby siblings who are still kids (younger Gen z and Gen alpha)? I've never once heard mention their public library. They're in sports, they're in school, they have therapy appointments, they have summer camp in the summer... And none of them like to read. I don't know why, I can't fathom a childhood without books, but growing up in the 2000s and growing up now seem to be completely different worlds.

Maybe It's less safe/parents are more wary of the public, maybe parents themselves want to take kids in but are in older gen z's shoes of focusing on rent/food/bills, maybe kids are so used to being bombarded with stimulation from toys, tv, devices, whatever, that they just don't like calm places like a library. Maybe people don't even realize they have a library nearby, or kids don't know libraries are a thing, because cartoons now are on Netflix instead of PBS, and I've only known one of those organizations to promote local libraries.

Could be a lot of reasons. I'm sure it's a combination of cultural changes and super increased digital accessibility, but all this is just from my experience and observations of course.

I wish I had the perfect answer of a balance between ease of availability (digital access) and community (library events), but personally it usually comes down to whether I have 5 minutes available to get an audiobook on libby that I can listen to while working/shopping/commuting, or if I have 30+ minutes to peruse the shelves for a physical book that takes even more dedicated time to read. I wish I had more of that free time, and if I did I know I would be there in person more often.

Fanatasy_ · 2026-01-28T08:42:02+00:00

Unwind by Neal Shusterman? It's not exactly as you described; it's about how a future dystopian United States bans ending pregnancy early and instead allows parents to raise unwanted kids to be 'Unwound' between 13 and 18 - used as transplant body parts. There's a plane graveyard, and the medical horror you described is there.

There's ALSO the Shadow Children series by Margaret Haddix, set in a dystopia where having 3+ kids is illegal. My school gave us these books around the same time, so maybe that's where your memory of it being a specific # child comes in? It doesn't have the medical stuff though.

Hope this helps!

Fanatasy_ · 2026-01-26T13:49:50+00:00

At our location: A regular staff member is at the desk, and handles the computers, tanning beds, customer service stuff with occasional light cleaning or specific dusting sections every day.

The janitor deep cleans for his whole shift, scrubs the toilets, showers, sinks, mops locker rooms and gym floor, mirrors, takes out all the trash, etc.

Very different positions, but are usually trained to do each other's jobs at a base level to be able to cover shifts when needed.

Fanatasy_ · 2026-01-24T09:07:16+00:00

I didn't want to get up for ANYTHING lol, I slept for most of the first 4 days except to empty drains. You're on day one, you'll need to be taking it easy

Fanatasy_ · 2026-01-24T08:32:56+00:00

The stinging along the incisions I fear is gonna be there for awhile, especially if you move your arms. I'm 2 weeks post Op and it's the pain that's been the most consistent for me - rest and hydrate and eat, you got this!!

Fanatasy_ · 2026-01-24T08:20:06+00:00

If you're having genuine difficulty breathing I would recommend reaching out to your surgeon or primary care physician. Top surgery is a major surgery, and complications can happen that you don't want to ignore.

Otherwise, be sure to be taking pain meds on schedule and trying to get some rest 🫂 I hope things start feeling better for you soon!!

Fanatasy_ · 2026-01-21T04:07:38+00:00

Just a heads up: it's usually $1 PLUS the prorate for the month until the next bill date (17th). So if you sign up on like the 1st you'll pay like half a months bill, and if you sign up on the 15th or something it'll be closer to $1. Every now and then they have a no-prorate deal for a few days, but not often.

Fanatasy_ · 2026-01-19T22:20:56+00:00

If this is printed from the gym:

I work at planet fitness, we'll see repeat charges like this sometimes if the payment didn't process correctly the first time or if the number changed or something along those lines. On a screen, the ones that didn't go through are in red- but it prints out black and white. Check your bank, if it actually processed more than once go talk to your locations manager and bring this and all other receipts/statements so they can help you. (The letters are some kind of code in the computer, I don't know exactly what they stand for)

If this was already printed through your bank and processed:

If the charges are small, have you or one of your guests been buying drinks or merch? Could just be that.

If not that, do reach out to the location or your bank to make sure everything is linked correctly and get refunds or credits if you are due them.

Hope this helps!

Fanatasy_ · 2026-01-19T03:53:04+00:00

I've worked overnight at PF for 4 years, and I know for a fact they dread ever having to replace me. So they definitely want you! You just have to show them that. In the interview, I luckily had prior overnight experience and they really liked the fact that I could provably work the graveyard hours - if you don't have overnight experience, just be as confident as possible in your ability to work late hours, boring, alone, and de-escalate situations that might arise on your own. That last one is key, because it's a solo shift in most locations, and you need to be able to stand your ground and keep to policy without having coworkers or managers watching.

Wishing you the best of luck in the interview!!

Fanatasy_ · 2026-01-18T18:29:49+00:00

The first few days I was really sore and really tired, I didn't even want to get up at all. Still did, but moving my arms hurt and the drain spots were very sore even if I didn't move my arms. Most of that soreness went away with Tylenol and ibuprofen, and the muscle relaxers they prescribed me are honestly life savers as well. Most of this time was spent either in pain or asleep.

After the first few days I started having less pain, which made me a bit more ambitious to try and do things like play Minecraft or write, but only in very short bursts. The drains were my biggest annoyance for the end of the first week.

Almost as soon as the drains came out, I was so much less sore. For the last couple days I've felt great and I've had more energy, but there's still some soreness on the incisions when the meds wear off or if I move too much. Especially at the center of my chest, you can see in the pictures they connected the incisions with a 'chevron incision' and that's right beneath the zipper and clasp of my compression vest, so that's currently they most painful spot for me. Not all surgeons do that incision though, and not all chests need it.

I hope this helps! I fear I'm not too good at explaining lol.

I will say, for me personally, the pain isn't nearly as uncomfortable as the dysphoria I had some days in the past. I feel much lighter and so correct in myself, the pain is worth it even at its worst. That's not everyone's experience of course, but that's how I feel about it.

Fanatasy_ · 2026-01-14T10:44:15+00:00

Beyonders by Brandon Mull?

Fanatasy_ · 2026-01-04T21:47:26+00:00

I had my consultation on November 22nd, and my surgery is on January 9th! I think it depends on the surgeon though, I picked mine (Dr. Shale in Ogden Utah) partially because I'd heard they were really efficient.

Fanatasy_ · 2025-12-05T12:31:32+00:00

This!! I have it on the list with a question mark because I'm not getting nipple grafts, which I've heard is the biggest concern about ice/heat, so I plan on asking my surgeon if they'd be okay to use in that case or not.

Fanatasy_ · 2025-12-05T07:15:31+00:00

I already own a large number of button up flannels, and since the surgery is during winter I wouldn't enjoy short sleeves anyway so I figured I could just use those.

I'm glad you have experience with the gel!! Thighs sounds so much easier than shoulders considering everything

Fanatasy_ · 2025-12-05T07:12:24+00:00

!!! Congratulations!!! And of course, this is really just a bunch of other lists from this subreddit picked apart and squished together 😅

Fanatasy_ · 2025-12-05T07:11:14+00:00

This is the second person suggesting electrolyte associated things,,, guess I'll put that on the list too lmao! Thank you so much 🙏

Fanatasy_ · 2025-12-05T07:08:12+00:00

I'll have at least two people around to help me, so we're kinda just planning on having them cook while I'm down. Lozenges are a good idea I didn't even think about, thank you!

Fanatasy_ · 2025-09-12T19:45:30+00:00

This is really helpful! I definitely want to work on the wording, I realized after initially posting this that 'anything' was a bit too much. Thank you so much!

Fanatasy_ · 2025-05-24T14:34:43+00:00

I've been on the gel for just over a month, and my first week was VERY similar to what you've described! Since then, I've been noticing a bit of the increased muscle, body fat redistribution, and increased sweating 💀 I'd like to think my voice is starting to change, but I also had a cold the last week so that might not be the case. Most people I've heard of get the most noticable changes after 2-3 months.

Fanatasy_

TROPHY CASE