When someone is facing brain surgery, one of the most concerning questions is when they will be able to be back at work. Unfortunately, this is another area that varies greatly depending on circumstances. Some are back to work as early as 6 to 8 weeks, many take 3 months off, others need 6 months or even a year. Also, some people find that their former job is no longer the right fit after brain surgery and may end up changing what their life looks like or their career. It can be hard to predict how your journey will turn out, but it is a good idea to take off what you can and plan that it will take some time to be back at work.

My circumstances for work are pretty unusual. I own and operate a family business (3rd generation). In many ways, that creates extra flexibility. However, it also comes with extra pressure and perhaps too much dedication. I went back to work part-time around 5 weeks after brain surgery. I made that choice primarily because it was a time when my business really could use me, rather than out of what was perhaps best for me or my healing. I don’t regret the choice, but if your work isn’t as critical to you, I would recommend maybe taking more time off.

When I went back to work, I started with short days. I was definitely not ready for a full work day. Even with my short days, I took frequent breaks. My brother has a couch in his office, and I took naps on that couch more than once. I would head home when my body told me I was done. I also live close to my workplace, so I did not have a commute to wear me out.

About 7 weeks post op, I started working more full-time hours. I had more energy and felt up to taking on more of a normal work schedule. I did still take breaks in quiet, but needed less sleep time and rest over all.

Even now, years later, quiet breaks are a part of my work life. I find too much time in a loud and busy environment really wears me out. There are times I need to work long shifts in a noisy environment, but when I can, I make sure to include some opportunities for quiet, even if it is just for a few minutes. I also keep in mind that if I have a long and noisy work day, I will likely be done in for the day. I won’t be up for more noisy outings after work, but will need some quiet and rest to recharge.

The other part of returning to work that can be challenging is accommodations. Asking for accommodations can be very scary, creating worries that employers will be frustrated by your needs or assume you can not do your job. I was in a different situation, being an owner. I didn’t have anyone to ask for accommodation. I needed to come up with any changes and implement them also. Thankfully, my supportive family and tech savvy brother helped make this more workable for me. Some accommodations can be large and some very simple but impactful.

Some accommodations I have made over the years that help me succeed at work:

• Reorganizing work stations so the person I need to hear is on my hearing side. (My original station set up had all placed people on my deaf side).
• In situations where there are physical barriers, like when we had plastic screens for the pandemic, I used simple a speaker and microphone set up like a bank teller that we got inexpensively from Amazon.
• I like the shokz opencomm headset for being able to hear the world around me and make calls.
• I really love AirPods Pro 2 for being able to cancel the sound in the world around me and be able to listen to a computer/phone/ Zoom meeting.
• Hearing breaks are a really important accommodation for me and can not be over emphasized. I take hearing breaks in quiet spaces or with earplugs or noise canceling earbuds.
• Captions for video meetings can be really helpful. Especially if there is competing noise where you are listening or the person speaking has an accent.
• I often disclose my hearing loss, especially in a challenging situation. I find it helps people give me grace and lowers frustration. This can be really beneficial with coworkers as well as customers.
• I just got a remote microphone that connects to me bone anchored haring aid, and I am excited to have this option. I am not sure how much I will use it at work, but I think it may come in handy for a work lunch setting.

Everyone is so different. It can be hard to hear another person’s work story and have it fit yours. The accommodations and changes needed for your work environment could be really different from mine. You may need balance accommodations or safety gear changes. I recommend really taking time to think about what helps you be successful, or where the problems are. Approaching your employer with specific solutions can be really helpful, as they may not know what to do to solve accommodation issues. As an employer, I really want my staff to be able to succeed at their jobs. I am also willing to work with my staff to help them keep doing their jobs. Great staff aren’t easy to find. However, I recognize that not every workplace culture is the same.

Sometimes, it is best to look at altering your job after brain surgery. I joke that with running a family business, changing careers was never allowed. However, a realistic evaluation of your life and its changes may be a really great choice for you. I have tried to alter my role to a more comfortable level of customer interactions, with more quiet time in my office interspersing loud work times. Those changes help make my work life more sustainable. You may need to make larger alterations to make your employment comfortable, depending on your circumstances. It can be really scary and overwhelming to look at these changes, but I hope you can be brave and that you can find something that makes your work life sustainable for you.