Hi everyone! I recently found out that my insurance does not cover the surgery :biggrin: (darn employer!!). However, last night I received the best gift: my Mom called and said that she is going to pay for it!! :scared2: I'm still in shock that I'm going to be able to begin this journey to a new, healthy me. I can't wait to call the dr and set up my appts/surgery date.

What I'm wondering from all of you, is how much time off you needed before returning to work. I'm a high school teacher so I can be on my feet or sit for most of the day, but do no heavy lifting. I've read where some have gone back after a weekend, where others have taken 2 weeks. Of course, I'll hear my dr's recommendations, but I'm just wondering what your experiences have been. The less time off is best, but I want to do this right!

Thanks for your help!

Hi,

I too am a HS teacher. My surgery was on a Tuesday and I was outthe rest of the week. The following Monday was Columbus Day, so I got an extra day. I would have gone in that Monday.

I was fine except that I was ordered (by idiot principal, who is male) to break up a scuffle during an assembly where I was hit in the incision. Saw stars! He then required me to stand in the auditorium for 2 hours to supervise. When I wrote up the incident report (in case there were problems medically) he was pissed.:biggrin:

Anyway, I would say a good week is fine for healing. I was tired those first 2 weeks, but not in pain or discomfort.

Great that you are taking this journey. BTW SO MANY of my surgeon's patients are teachers. Are teachers obese in general? LOL

Hi Tracy...thanks for your feedback. I think we are all obese because the districts choose not to cover the costs of this surgery! lol

That and the school lunch that is supervised by a nutritionist. Sample: French bread pizza and fries or spaghetti and pizza and fries. It is carbs, carbs and a side of fries. No wonder the kids are so fat too.

I am a teacher too and I am taking a week.

I would like to do an occupation count and see what jobs people have that get this surgery.....Seems like an awful lot of teachers on here too. Stress eating? Nah we don't have stress. We work a half day and have all that vacation. LOL

I used to be a nurse but am now in admin. I am having two weeks off as suggested by my surgeon. My main concern is wearing a bra for eight hours as it puts pressure on my stomach and at the moment i last about 1-2 hours and then have to rip it off.

I took a full week off, and believe me, I really needed it. My gas pains were terrible until about day 5. There is no way I could have worked. Everyone is different, hopefully you don't have gas pains.

My work week is Tue-Sat. I took off a week. I will return to work on Tuesday. I could have gone back Friday but chose to take the extra time off. ( I have paid sick time off :biggrin:)

I had surgery on Thursday 9/12 and went back to work on Monday 9/23. I do work from home but as a corporate recruiter I sit most of the day anyway so not sure whether that makes much difference. The first week I enjoyed having a nap early afternoons. One thing to consider was that Monday 9/16 I was back at the gym. I moved progressively from 30-55 minutes on the treadmill (my mother who came to stay went to the pool). I was careful to not have any incline and was very conservative about speed. The combination of the exercise and the fact that I went back on coumadin (blood thinner from previous health issue) could have led to the need for a nap.

I was doing an hour of moderate swimming everyday pre op so my body was used to exercising.

In regards to pain I had none when standing immediately following surgery and only had pain at the incision when I sat up from laying down.

Hi everyone! I recently found out that my insurance does not cover the surgery :biggrin: (darn employer!!). However, last night I received the best gift: my Mom called and said that she is going to pay for it!! :scared2: I'm still in shock that I'm going to be able to begin this journey to a new, healthy me. I can't wait to call the dr and set up my appts/surgery date.

What I'm wondering from all of you, is how much time off you needed before returning to work. I'm a high school teacher so I can be on my feet or sit for most of the day, but do no heavy lifting. I've read where some have gone back after a weekend, where others have taken 2 weeks. Of course, I'll hear my dr's recommendations, but I'm just wondering what your experiences have been. The less time off is best, but I want to do this right!

Thanks for your help!

Hey Ali! I am returning to work 12 days post-op (thats when my 2010-2011 year begins. I've been pretty sore, but probably could've returned after one full week. I made sure to get a note that says no heavy lifting and that I need to be able to have acess to fluids all day long. One of my AP's is a (#*%( and I wanted to CYA.

Good Luck!

I think you will need 5-7 days. No less.

I suggest you take a full week.

My surgery was on a Sunday morning. I am a hotel General Manager and tried to go in on Thursday just to do the payroll. I was very weak and lightheaded and left as soon as payroll was submitted. I was definately not ready after the 4 days.

I was banded Monday..8/30...and I'm schedued to start back to work Tues 9/7. I did go into work for 3 hours on friday. Probably not best idea but actually did nothing. Sat at my desk.

I'm a teacher as well....I can say I think sitting hurts more than standing but gets better every day.

Hey there! I'm an engineer and (i work at a desk) and I returned to work 14 days post op... I had considerable swelling and had a hiatus hernia repaired at the same time... Unsure if this has any affect on recovery time.

I am day 4 post op and plan to return Tuesday. I scheduled my surgery the Thursday before Labor day to have the extra day. I am salary so pay not an issue, but I am the only one at the mill (sawmill) that does my job so it will pile up while I am away. I buy logs so that means walking and bending to measure logs but no lifting, occasionally have to step over them though. I also pastor a church, and I took this week off from the pulpit. My surgery had to be done twice Thursday, after the Upper GI swallow test the band was completely closed off, meaning my incisions (4 of the five) had to be reopened and the band removed and replaced, during the second surgery the anesthetists told my wife that all of my o2 sats and vitals "fell out" so I had to stay over night in the hospital. I was to try soft food today, swallowing is painful from the swelling, so we'll have to see what Tuesday brings. My boss has called several times asking if I was going to stick with the Tuesday plan. I told him this morning, being the "dreaded day three" I was looking at coming in for a couple hours, coming home a couple, then going back in a few more. I suppose I was naive about the pain that I am having at the incisions, but also allowing for the fact that everything was done twice.