Hi there...

Sorry if this is a repost, I'm not sure my other post went through (can't find it!)...

I was wondering if you guys wouldn't mind sharing your experiences:

1- How long did you have to wait before your surgery from the initial consult? Did you feel that was too soon, too long?

2- How quickly were you up and around. And just *how* up and around were you? Were you ok to do work or were you lying in bed... Could I be on the computer? What was it like post-op?

Things are busy for me right now but I do see a lull for a few weeks in April, so I could do the surgery at that time. But since May will be stressful, I'm not sure I'll be 100% up to it. I wouldn't be terribly physically active, but I just have a lot of stuff going on... Alternately I could do it in June when things calm down, but I'm nervous as it is and I think the waiting will kill me!!

What's your advice? I'd like to do it in April, but don't want to rush recovery. Any thoughts?

Thanks so much!!!

Sasha

Sasha,

I started with my six month Dr. supervised diet in March 2011 and in those six months I met with the nutritionist, cardiologist, had upper GI test and colonoscopy, met with a psychiatrist, and finished all the required tests by the end of September - I then scheduled my surgery for 10/13/11.

I don't work and I was kind of out of it for about two weeks - just recovering from major surgery and trying to get in my Protein so I had energy, etc. was hard. I was on the computer from the day I came home, and used my phone in the hospital :-) Within a month I was feeling good! I had two weeks prior and two weeks after surgery of a liquid diet, then went to purees for four weeks and then soft/normal foods at six weeks out.

I couldn't have handled kids or a lot of physical stuff the first four weeks I'd say, you do have to be somewhat careful because of the incisions and I wasn't allowed to lift 10 pounds for some time. Everybody's body is different, I know people who went back to work a week after surgery!

I hope that was of some help :-)

Sue

I was self pay for my surgery, so there was no imposed "wait period", it was just a matter of getting the time off from work and the doctor's schedule. As far as return to work, I went back to work 10 days after my surgery. I am a labor and delivery nurse, and work 12 hour shifts (night shift), and I was tired. Some nights I didn't know if I was going to make it through the shift or not. I wish I had had the luxury of staying off work 4-6 weeks, but I am a Travel Nurse, and most travel agencies don't offer sick pay, or short term disability, or stuff like that. So I went back to work cause I had to. But I made it through, none the worse for wear, and today (I am almost 8 months post op) I feel great, and feel sure that I am healthier than I have been for years. I am down about 100 pounds, and thrilled with how I look and feel. Hope this helps you some!