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After surgery, I was EXHAUSTED for several weeks. If you can get through being tired 24/7, I would say you could go back after a week as long as your job doest require lifting, a lot of physical activity, and you're off the pain medication. You also need to be able to drink your fluids ALL DAY. It really comes down to your specific job and required work. Maybe speak to your management about what work you can do if your job is more physically demanding With that said, to specifically answer your questions. I take care of my home and children, so I don't actually have a paying job, but the work is just as demanding. I couldn't lift anything over 15lbs per my surgical team until 6 weeks post op. I started to feel more like myself around week 3-4.

Yay! Just 2 days away. I’m excited for you. I was out of work for about 3 weeks. Surgery was 4/11, first day back to work was 5/1. I am an admin assistant just doing clerical work so the actual physical part of work wasn’t so much an issue, but the commuting was more the concern. (NYC subway stairs and a mile walk from subway to office plus w laptop and all hydration/protein essentials). When I did return to work, I did so remotely for another couple weeks and then slowly went back to commuting in 1 day, 2 days, then ultimately back to my 3 days in office. I think if I drove to work, then the 3 weeks would have been pretty sufficient time off as it was. I already work hybrid, but I was grateful to have the remote work option available for that extended time.

2 weeks post op today. I am seeing that I am VERY fortunate to not have to have dealt with a bunch of crazy crap from my insurer. I had a LapBand in 2009. Went to surgeon to have removed/replaced discussion, he ordered and did an endoscope, said all clear. His office sent request and a couple hours later literally my insurer called me, 2 days later, I had an approval letter to remove band and do a gastric bypass. Since I paid cash for my initial LapBand surgery, I didn't have to go through it all with the 6 mos trials and psychologists, etc. and there weren't any requirements. Had scope in July and Aug 1 did bypass. I had a 10 day low carb pre-op diet only and 24 hours liquid preop diet. I've been on liquids for two weeks now and he wants me to do a third week! urgghhh.... I cannot imagine doing a 10-14 day preop liquid followed by a 2-4 week post op liquid. This 2 weeks diet has been brutal. Let me say this as well, and it isn't meant to scare you but rather to prepare you: IT HURTS! IT IS VERY PAINFUL. Never had kids but I'd put the pain up against a Cesarean. Don't let anyone try to convince you it doesn't hurt or that it is "mild" because it isn't. The hospital was less than stellar. I was ordered morphene which doesn't work for me. Then switched to Dilautin, which only works about an hour then wears off. Since I have major back injuries (part of why I'm overweight to begin with) I take pain meds for chronic pain. Hospital finally said they would give me my pain pill every 6 hours along with the Dilautin shot every 3 hours. IF you take pain meds, bring them to the hospital. Yeah, I know they say don't but give them to a friend/family member because I PROMISE YOU that you don't want to be begging/waiting for someone to bring you something and honestly, I'd strongly advise you to buy some liquid Acetamenaphen to have in your bag as well. I actually had one old crotchety nurse who thought she would hold my pain meds over me as an inducement to get me up and moving. I told her pretty much that I'd move when I had my shot and was out of pain (otherwise a few obscenities were about to fly but hubby said she could give me my shot now and I'm so very grateful he was there) and other craziness. I rotated my own pain pills in with their meds, some may not agree with this but I don't think I could have stood it otherwise. Given the prescription my dr gave me to come home with, it was exactly it, a pain pill every 3-4 hours. I'm not a lightweight I assure you and I've had several surgeries (tubal, gall bladder, appendix,stents, etc) but this one DOES HURT so I'm saying BE PREPARED FOR IT! IF at all humanly possible, HAVE SOMEONE STAY WITH YOU FOR AT LEAST THE FIRST NIGHT OR AS LATE INTO THE NIGHT AS YOU CAN GET THEM TO STAY WITH YOU! Again, most hospitals are understaffed and I nearly pissed myself one night trying to get out of bed after my sister had left and when I couldn't get a nurse to come help me get up (they remove the catheter after 24 hours or so). Even little stuff is very hard to do when you're in pain. Bring and charge a phone and zip tie it to your hand if need be because I nearly called my husband to come get me. And when I got no answers about when I was expected to get my barium xray, I called to radiology over & over. No phone in the room (ICU) to call out. Yes, I'd do it again in spite of the awful pain but I think I'd have gone to a bigger city. I also was never told that I would come out of surgery and have to wait until the next DAY to get a barium xray before I'd be allowed anything to drink. I thought I would die of thirst so avoid a first thing am appointment if you can bc if you're in a room at 4 pm you have a lot less time to go thirsty. I'm down 23 lbs since my July dr visit. I'm pleased with that. But it hasn't been easy. I do enjoy the support here in this forum. Good luck.

I had my 12 year old lap band removed last week. I was in the hospital overnight and took pain meds the evening I got home. Took no more pain meds after. Wishing you an easy recovery!

It really depends of provinces. For me, in Quebec, I waited about 5 years from referal to surgery date.... which I cancelled... which took me off the list... So now that I'm ready, but not ready to wait another 5 years, I'm going self-paid. 5 weeks. What a difference money makes! (insert rolling eyes)

Was this self-paid?? You really did dodge a bullet there! Imagine the (non-existent) after care, and lack of compasion during the whole process... If it was self-paid, I'm sure you can find better, just a matter of ""shopping"" around for the best fit. I'm self-paid. I had an appointment with the (at the time) #1 surgeon and did not feel a connection or geniune care despite all the good reviews and credentials. When I expressed my doubts (voiced in the fact that I felt anxious and would prefer postponing), I was told I would need to provide a psych evaluation if I ever changed my mind. Okaaayyyy.... If me being anxious over making a life changing decision is a problem for you, then I guess we are not meant to be! Now, 5 years later, I am finally ready and found the (now) #1 surgeon to do it. This one I felt comfortable with right away (on the phone) and will meet in person this week. Good luck!

My last appt for surgery clearance was June 26th. The surgeon’s office called July 6th to pick a surgery date (booked until September) to submit to insurance. My insurance company approved surgery within two weeks. Fingers crossed that you will get a September date as well 🙂

I'm 51 and just got my surgery date last week - Sept 11th. I've lost just at 30 pounds pre-surgery so far. Getting excited that it is coming up, also a little nervous - feeling like I need to make sure I get a few last "solids" I like in before the months of liquid and puree. I feel like I am stagnating right before my surgery, I'm hoping that is not the case, as I have been having very little trouble motivating myself, so far. I think it's more nerves than anything. So far, I have chosen not to tell anyone outside of my household. I am planning to tell my in-laws in the next week. Not sure if I'll talk to anyone else about it before it's done.

Three weeks to go til Surgery. I'll tell you the one thing that is tripping me up BIG TIME!!! I am really struggling with this no drinking while eating... That one is going to be some work back when I'm eating normally for sure

It was, now I know that I am at the point of only losing about 2 pounds a month... and live in an almost constant stall. It's great... 😑

Hi All! After I completed all my testings and blood work, at my followup Friday (Aug 11th) they doctor's office went ahead to put me on the surgery calendar for Aug 28th. All paperwork was submitted to the insurance company that day as well. Today the office called to inform me that my sugery was APPROVED! They nor I expected a fast 1 day turn-a-round! Now my nerves kicked in. My pre-op diet starts the next week 20th. It consists of 3 protein shakes and 1 meal per day. I don't think I'll have any issues as the dietician informed me that I can break the one meal up any way I want to for that day. Thankfully, I still have restrictions from my sleeve surgery in 2017. Has anyone had the revision with success stories? Any tips? Any of you have upcoming revisions scheduled? Additional weight loss success? Has anyone had the surgery with little to no help at home? If so how was it for you? I would love to lose an additional 40-50 lbs. Thanks!

Hello Bari Friends, my surgery is on August 18th and currently on a two week medi-meal (optifast) diet. Three shakes a day and 1 or 2 sugar free jello. Surprisingly doing well- no headaches thankfully. Watching mukbangs tend to help me. Best of luck to everyone :)

Hello Bari Friends, my surgery is on August 18th and currently on a two week medi-meal (optifast) diet. Three shakes a day and 1 or 2 sugar free jello. Surprisingly doing well- no headaches thankfully. Watching mukbangs tend to help me. Best of luck to everyone :)

I'm having a lot of the feels about things and I don't even have a date yet! I think that's normal. Navigating the changes with other humans around is hard. My partner is diabetic too and very, very emotionally attached to food. And while they are very supportive of my choices and willing to change things around a bit, I think there may be some rough spots because food is a control issue and a comfort issue for them. I've had so many problems with food over the years that I'm pretty detached about it now. But I'm still sure these upcoming changes will be hard on us all. I did manage to quit vaping by just packing it all away. Out of sight, out of mind actually works for me for most things. I tend to eat out of boredom or vape out of boredom so putting things away and substituting other habits has been effective. But having conversations with my head hunger is still pretty hard. I'm not looking forward to the liquid phases of this experience. LOL I've fasted on liquids for days before for other procedures and the first few days are always the hardest, but I have never had to sustain it for weeks! I bet most of us are afraid of screwing things up. I had this whole panic thing the other day about possibly having the DS and then a world catastrophe happening and me not being able to get my vitamins and me dying of malnourishment---when my brain panics it does so EPICALLY! I finally reassured myself I could stockpile vitamins for a year once I find what works, you know, kind of like preppers do? I could be a vitamin prepper! 😂😂😂

Thank you so much. I was thinking the same thing about the estrogen. I was surprised the surgeon didn’t have any insight as well. I even asked was this normal after surgery and he basically said I should discuss it with OB. I have the mirena iud. I didn’t have any issues prior to surgery. I’m just hoping for a week of no bleeding, just a week.

Hello! I had my 18-year-old lap band removed because it was causing problems, including pain when I ate. My question is about the pain recovery time. The surgery was August 7th and the little info I could find on the surgery indicates I should be much better off than I feel after a week. I also read that removal would be easier than putting it in. I'm still in quite a bit of pain and I don't have a follow up appointment until August 25th. Does anyone have experience with removal of an old lap band that share your experience?

It’s the right choice, especially if you have come this far. I have two co-workers who have had bariatric surgery, one lost 200 lbs the other 140. A week or so after surgery, things really start to improve. I have heard there are some tough times the first few days after surgery, but those moments are fleeting. Just stay busy, and keep telling yourself pain is momentary, victory is forever!

I have been on mounjaro now for about 5 weeks now. I'm 10 months out now and down 151lbs. Not sure how long I'll stay on it but also pre diabetic. Still not sure what I think about it, but decided to see if I could tell a difference. So far, not really.

So, I’ve posted in this group before about being uncertain about Bariatric surgery but knowing it’s a tool to literally save my life. I had an initial appointment booked with surgeon Dr. David Brandon Williams at Vanderbilt (where all my specialists are), but canceled it again (5th cancellation). Well I’m back in the medical hospital again with erratic blood pressure, severe headaches due to my IIH, and off and on chest pain and today the internal medicine doctor seeing me point blank said “you’ve got to get this weight off you or you may not survive the full life you want to live. This weight is killing you”. So I’ve rebooked the appointment and it’s on 9/18. I’ve got to do it, no matter what. I’m almost 33, 5’1” 271 pounds, BMI of 51.2, (I’ve gained about 5 pounds in 2 weeks). My current co morbid conditions are Right Heart Strain/Heart Failure (just diagnosed), labile hypertension, severely high cholesterol and triglycerides, fatty liver disease, Type II Diabetes that is not well controlled, past history of PE, Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, widespread arthritis, frequent shortness of breath, Sleep Apnea, PCOS. My mom died at 50 of a massive heart attack and lung failure, maternal grandfather passed at 76 of a massive heart attack. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension run rampant in my family. I don’t want to be next in the line of deaths in my family due to weight related conditions. So I’m finally ready to start this.

So, I’ve posted in this group before about being uncertain about Bariatric surgery but knowing it’s a tool to literally save my life. I had an initial appointment booked with surgeon Dr. David Brandon Williams at Vanderbilt (where all my specialists are), but canceled it again (5th cancellation). Well I’m back in the medical hospital again with erratic blood pressure, severe headaches due to my IIH, and off and on chest pain and today the internal medicine doctor seeing me point blank said “you’ve got to get this weight off you or you may not survive the full life you want to live. This weight is killing you”. So I’ve rebooked the appointment and it’s on 9/18. I’ve got to do it, no matter what. I’m almost 33, 5’1” 271 pounds, BMI of 51.2, (I’ve gained about 5 pounds in 2 weeks). My current co morbid conditions are Right Heart Strain/Heart Failure (just diagnosed), labile hypertension, severely high cholesterol and triglycerides, fatty liver disease, Type II Diabetes that is not well controlled, past history of PE, Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, widespread arthritis, frequent shortness of breath, Sleep Apnea, PCOS. My mom died at 50 of a massive heart attack and lung failure, maternal grandfather passed at 76 of a massive heart attack. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension run rampant in my family. I don’t want to be next in the line of deaths in my family due to weight related conditions. So I’m finally ready to start this.

Doctor's offices are often very particular about when they give vitamin/mineral shots/infusions because they don't want to overload the body and have strict protocols to adhere to. Also because often insurance will only pay for them at very specific intervals. A week early could be the difference between it being covered or not. But it is frustrating to go all the way there just to be turned away! I'd call and make them double check the timing next time.

Yay!! That's great news!! The body doesn't like to let go of weight when it is sick or traumatized (like with a surgery) so that stall was probably inevitable. I wish you smooth sailing now and some extra weight loss juju!

Wow really paying the price weren’t you! My hospital stay was not as bad but not good! I was in Hialeah/Miami and I was lucky to have a room by myself, but it barely helped! The staff spoke only Spanish (which I do understand) and keep calling me the Americano. Some of the nurses wore dragon hell perfume that made me gag, and would come flying in the room at all times putting every light on! My blood pressure spiked and a CNA came to take BP, who did not speak any English freaked out when I grabbed her arm when she wouldn’t tell me the reading! An elderly lady across the room screamed all night like she was passing stones, and when her family visited they screamed on the phones and too each other! And then a family member was in my room having a loud conversation with a CNA about her mothers treatment, and was offended after I asked them nicely to lower their voices, leave the room and close the door! After that, I was like I’m outta here! Luckily my surgeon came by right after and discharged me! Day three home and it does get better!

I’m day three post op, had sleeve Wed and came home next day. The anesthesia kicked my butt (1st surgery)! The hospital was a bit whack, but once the pain and nausea under control it was mostly soreness. Didn’t help that some of the nurses wore hideous perfume that would make want to puke! Day one home I was still real tired, constipated and gas in abdomen that was uncomfortable. The issue is stomach learning how to work again and not sure what your feeling. So today up and around fine, only doing light stuff like taking out garbage, watering yard plants, etc. Trying to keep up with fluids, vitamins and protein!!

Oh this is another area where surgeons seem to differ substantially! It will also be influenced by what procedure you had and when OP. I was not told to restrict fruit in any way post op - food was only restricted by consistency/texture for the first 6 weeks. So I could have pureed any fruit at all if I had fancied it 2 weeks out (I didn't fancy it though - was too busy grubbing away at my lovely blended baby food-like dinners, LOL). After that I could eat as much of whatever fruit I liked, and I do. Usually 2 or 3 portions of berries a day as snacks. In fact I like to get those in early before I start my protein/'proper' meal eating. I think they have useful micro-nutrients - for the same reason I eat a small handful of seeds and same of raw nuts every day. And cheese - couldn't do a day without it (although the micronutrient thing may not apply, it's just THE best) 😂