Hello guys,

I had the band Tuesday 2/19. I'm already making plans to go back to work on or about 2/27. It is to soon? I feel chests pressure and pain on my port but it goes away once I take painkillers. I'm a social worker, so I do a lot of driving, talking, walking. How long did it take u to go back to work?

I would allow a full 10 days before driving and running around all day. You will get more tired more quickly. If you can take even more time I would do it. There is a lot of healing going on, and eating in the car or while traveling around will take adjustments on your parat.

I had the surgery on Monday, Jan. 21 and went back to work on the next Tuesday (Jan. 29). I was tired in the evenings but it was ok. I am a teacher.

Try taking tomorrow and increasing your activity level.. See how u feel! Everyone is different.. I resumed normal activity (minus exercising) 6 days after my surgery cause I felt great.. The more active I was the less gas pains I had.

I can only take off a week. I am a nurse. Is this realistic

I only took 3 days of work off. Everyone is different. You will know when you are ready.

Thanks for ur advice. I'm gonna do more house chores and see how I feel.

No advice here as I'm pre-op but I just wanted to say I'm a Social Work major in college right now! Good luck with going back to work and with your band!

My dr said 2 weeks, so that's what I took off. I personally couldn't have gone back in a week as I was still pretty sore, and felt worn out...but everyone is different.

Gosh, I'm feeling lists of pain where m port is. Will this pain ever go way? Anyone feel pain after months of surgery?

I took 4 days if work off. Surgery on Tuesday, back on Monday. I'm a psychiatric nurse practitioner and my job is emotionally and mentally challenging but physically pretty easy. I went back too soon. Had to leave early on Wednesday due to pain and being an emotional mess. I should have stayed out at least 3 days more than i did.

If your job is very challenging in any arena (mental physical or emotional) talking to you, RNs and social workers, take as much time as possible. It's probably easier to go back to work early than to stretch your time off.

Good news is two weeks after surgery and I'm fine at work.

I was told I could go back to work the day after surgery. Thank goodness I did not listen to that, but my surgery was on a Friday and I went back Monday morning. I was moving around a lot over the weekend and had no real issues, but when I returned to sitting and squishing my swollen stomach, the gas pains began and it was very uncomfortable. Moving around and having enough energy to perform your job is the key. My advise, think of your most active day and take a test run before you commit to going back.

The pain in the side near port will subside as you heal but I was very tender for 6 weeks. I could not sleep on that side until month 3. Now I don't even know its there. I'm at month 6 this week. Best of luck!

I see a lot of ppl going back to work 3-5 days, these is surgery and time should not be an issue. I took Family Leave for two weeks, which does not mess with my vacation time. Or short term disability. Do any if you guys have these at your job. I'm 5 days post- op and still have some pain but I haven't taken pain killers in two days. My sites are very itchy, what can I do about that?

Put ice packs on the area that itches. That is a sign of healing I believe.

I took a week. Everything was going well but today pain at port was killing me. I'm supposed to go back to work next Thursday.