Just wanted to know approx how long it takes to drive back to work at an office job. I'm figuring about a week. Is this estimate correct. I hear some people up and about in a couple of days while others need more time. Just wondering.

I stayed out of work for about a week... I felt completely fine by the next week! I didnt have an office job then.. I was working at a summer camp and moving around with kids and up and down on the floor playing and did fine after the week!

I took off one week, but was NOT ok the next week at work. Two weeks would have been soooo much better. The recovery and fatigue kicked my butt. It sure is worth it though

I went back to work to a physical job after one week and was fine. Felt like I could have even gone back a day or 2 sooner. Started getting really bored at home...lol

I had surgery on Thurs, 2/15/11 and stopped by the office for about 20 minutes Friday on the way home. My surgery was 2 hours away and I stayed overnight.

I went back to work on Monday. It was not easy, and I was not 100%. But I was missed interaction with people . It was a 3-day weekend (President's Day) and banks were closed so I could have stayed out on Monday, too. The truth was i was anxious to get back to work. And I had a business trip Wed and Thurs. and wanted to get caught up before we left. I ended up overdoing it and took Tues AM off. The business trip went fine but I left as early as i could the first night and rested that evening - None of the usual dinner and socializing. Just mashed potatoes and gravy from Bojangles in front of the tube.

My PA told me that this is how most of their working patients have surgery. If you ask me, I would recommend choosing a weekend where Monday is a holiday and you get a bonus day off before heading back. I also recommend naps - It seemed to help my body tremendously.

I, and it seems most of the people of my acquantance, feel OK (not great but not totally bad) after surgery. Some talk about mall trips and family visits - I took it easy. I wanted to maximize my body's healing. ( I am 48 and not 18 anymore, plus, as i shared, I have a demanding schedule). I woke up, ate, showered, walked, made phone calls, read, napped and repeated till bedtime. For those 3 days I felt totally pampered.

Good luck,

Terri

Hello,

I had surgery on a Thursday and went back to work on the second Monday, 11 days including 2 weekends. I have a busy job as a school nurse. I am up and down and walking about a lot each day. I could have gone back at one week but had already arranged the days off.

I was driving the day after surgery and took a 30 minute walk 3 days after surgery. I was tired in the afternoons and happy to enjoy some time at home.

Good luck to you! Joan

I'm a labor & delivery nurse, and work two 12-hour shifts a week. I'm on my feet most of the time, do a lot of walking/bending/twisting, but any hevay "lifting" is mostly pushing hospital beds to the OR (not often).

I had surgery on a Tuesday morning and was back to work Saturday at 6:30pm. I didn't actually take any time off, but scheduled work so that I had a few days after surgery.

I did fine.

I am a stay at home mom, but if I worked, I think 1 week would be the perfect amount of time to take off.

Thank you all for your honest replys. I think one week should be okay......hope I can do as well as all of you. Congratulations on your weight loss. It is really inspiring to see that this lapband really works for most people. Hope it does for me too. I am not a youngster any more and need this done for my health issues. Praying for no complications. Thank you all.

I was banded on April 5th. I am planning on going back to work on the 13th (1 week off) but I'll probably just work from home for the rest of next week. I am still not 100%, which is a little dismaying considering others have bounced back so quickly, but I'm getting there.

My biggest problem is pain in and around my ribs - I feel like I can't take a deep breath and my back is still affected by gas, but it comes and goes. When I'm laying down or sitting down there's no pain at all - even getting up is better. Standing upright, straight, is what hurts.

I think it depends on a few different things!!! Your age for one and what you do!!! I am a nurse and do a lot of bending and lifting (I am a home health wound care nurse). I am also 47 yrs. old. I was planning on going back to work in one week, but that wasn't a great idea. I was still having lots of pain and I was still extremely tired from not drinking a lot. I am going back to work Monday (2 wks. post op), that is more reasonable for me, and seems to be about average for most!

Good luck,

Joleen

At the time I had my surgery, I was on a leave of absence from work to take care of a family member, but I could have returned to work by a week post op. I rested the first few days post op, but by Tuesday (I had my surgery on a Friday morning), I was ready to get back to my normal schedule.

Because of my job at the time, my Dr actually took me off for a full 4 weeks. I was working a job where I lifted 50+ pound bags every shift, and I my Dr said i couldn't lift more than 10lbs at a time. So, I ended up with a lot of time off. Which worked out for me because, as my mom puts it, I am a "sissy la-la" meaning I don't do well with pain. I slept for a good 3 days straight after surgery.

Sara...looks like our starting weights and goals are right on with each other (my starting was 297 and goal is 150)...

My Doc made me take 2 full weeks off. I work construction and was told after I went back I wouldnt be able to lift more than 10 pounds for 6 more weeks! That made it hard but I did other things that werent so strenuous. It worked,,.

Sara...looks like our starting weights and goals are right on with each other (my starting was 297 and goal is 150)...

I wish you much luck in your journey. This was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. I feel so much better than I did, and I am a lot healthier. Remember taht even though it can seem tough, in the end it's worth it.