How long did your surgeons recomend you take off from work? I have a fairly physical job. It should be covered by short term disabilty as long as my insurance approves it so I dont have to worry about rushing back. just wonder what the norm is?

Good Question, I was wondering the same thing myself. I have a desk job, and have taken off a week so far, but told my employer I may need more. I may be able to do work from home, but don't know if I will be up to it or not. So I'm anxious to read the replies to this question. Thanks for asking it, I have so many questions running through my mind I don't know where to start. lol

I have a desk job. I scheduled one week off. I went back Monday on week 2, and decided to take the rest of that week off as well, because I had no energy. I returned to work for good on Monday of week 3.

I am fortunate to be able to work from home when I am not on the road, so I was working a few hours a day by Day 3. I was working pretty much full time from home by week 2 and went back out on the road after 3 weeks at home.

i am a icu nurse, lots of lifting and turning patients, i am planning on taking five weeks off.

My WLC wanted me to take 4 weeks off and std approved it. I am trying to use the time to really heal and take care of myself.

i work a physical job, and took 4 weeks off, my friend had it done, she was a mail carrier and took off 4 weeks too. right before i went back i realized i was bored, so 4 weeks was right on for me.

I don't work on a daily basis but felt 'normal' after 2 weeks....If you're doing heavy physical stuff then I'd say take longer as the important thing is you don't risk getting a leak which would mean you'd need more time off anyway.

thanks guys! guess I'll just do whatever the surgeon recommends!

I took 2 weeks off and, for me, it was too much. I was just sitting at home obsessing about healing and getting in water and protein. It would have been better for my head if I just mixed some clear protein drinks and kept them with me at work.

That being said... I have a desk job and don't have to lift anything more than a pencil. It was about 4 weeks before I had any real energy or felt like I could do something like deliver mail all day. If half days are an option that might be a good starting point.

good luck

I would have gone crazy at home for 4-5 weeks : )

I do have a desk job tho, not physical and went back part time on day 4, working 4-6 hours per day. By the end of the week, I was back to full time.

Guess it would depend on what your physical activity level was tho before surgery also. If your job is walking, don't see why you couldn't return to that in one or two weeks. Lifting and using the stomach muscles would need more time off or at least light duty.

Personally, I wouldn't want to use time off for this situation - would rather save it for a vacation : ) If you have insurance that is paying, that is a different story. I am also self employed so if I am not there, it doesn't get done. More incentive : )

For me? Doctor said 2 weeks but I work from home at a desk job. Since I had surgery on Wed, I just had them put through STD as 1.5 weeks. So here is how it turned out for me:

Week 1 after surgery - could have been back at work on that First Monday since I have a desk job at home. Would not have gone into an office though - still needed 1 more week to really recoup. Since STD was already approved, I stayed out that week

Week 2 after surgery - still get tired about 3:30 each day, fortunately I can lie down without issue. Physical job would be a no. Office job would be tough at first but would get easier. Definitely would need a full 2 weeks to really be mentally ready for office job

Week 3 after surgery - this is where I am now. tiredness in afternoon fading - physically feel like I can do anything but doc says to still not lift anything over 25lbs for 4 total weeks after surgery. Mentally, office job would be back on track

i took two weeks, probably could have gone back after one but i was very tired and i'm glad i took the two weeks. Some of the healing is physical but some of it is emotional and you have to wrap your head around the new life you have to live and the changes you have to make.

I have a job that is part desk job with spurts of walking and moving around the office involved, and moving around a large school building as needed. There is no way I could have gone back before 3 weeks. It took me that long to figure out what was going on in my body, get my eating and drinking patterns established, stabilize my Fluid intake, and most importantly to build some general endurance. Obviously, it's sooner for other people.

I think two weeks is a good starting point for most people and maybe 4 weeks for those with very physical jobs.

Interesting enough, my surgeon recommended taking six weeks off because of low energy level in the afternoon and the body becoming adjusted to the low calories. I heard what he said and thought there was no way I was taking six weeks off. I did take two weeks off and am doing fairly well. There are days I get lethargic. I work at getting nutrition in. I usually have protein drink around 5 am then breakfast like cottage cheese and fruit at 9:30 am. That gets me to lunchtime. I am probably going to have to have a protein drink in the afternoon to balance out the long days. I am four weeks out to date.