Hello all! I work as an EMT in a very busy chaotic 911 system. So lots of bending moving twisting. My Dr swears all I need is 4 weeks off. That seems like such a short time based on my job. I'd like to hear how much time people got off and if they had any complications after going back too soon. Thanks in advance!

I was sleeved on 4/11/12 so I am 19 days post op. i was released from the hospital with no restrictions. Before surgery I was working out in the gym 5 nights a week with 2 of those nights taking an hour & 15 min. bosu/cross train class. Very intense similar to boot camp. I was back in the gym on Sat after surgery on Wed. & was back at bosu class this past Thursday. Ready for both classes this week. Not sore at all. Was a little more tired than normal. I think you will be fine. Follow your drs orders. Walk,walk walk & sip,sip,sip!!

I'm more concerned about lifting. If my core isn't strong enough it could put my back at risk. And we all know being overweight already puts our back at risk . It one thing being able to take a class (congrats btw) its another thing to be lifting and twisting for 12 hours a day. A class you can stop and go back to if you injure yourself. My job I'll have to go through all that workers comp crap and then have a physical agility test to go back to work. I'd much rather be bored out of my mind, continue my walks and my diet than go back to work too soon.

I was sleeved on 4/23/12 and I should be going back to work 5/3/12. I work in an ER as the unit secretary so I don't have a ton of bending & twisting to do. I work with fantastic people and they all know what I have had done and I'm more than sure they would give me a hand if I need it. You say you're an EMT....then wouldn't that require lifting & patients?? If so, then I think that is too soon, but go by what your surgeon tells you..Good Luck!

I took 6 weeks off. I have short term disability benefits at work and used them. Desk job no lifting or twisting. Alot of people with desk jobs go back after 1 or 2 weeks. I was very glad to have the time to heal, get a eating/drinking system going and experience the emotional roller coaster without the stress of work added to it.

Doctor told me no lifting more than 10lbs for 6 weeks.

You could always go back half days at week 5 and test it out?

Good luck!

I thought 4 weeks seemed too soon. Unfortunately my surgeon is now deployed so I will be seeing a new surgeon. Hopefully he is a lot more understanding than my other surgeon!

Update! My new dr was flabbergasted that my old dr wanted to send me back to work after 4 weeks so he gave me two more weeks off! Whew! What a relief!

I went back after 4 weeks. It took most of that time to feel "myself" again. As a matter of fact I returned on a Wed, and it wasn't until the previous Thu that I felt anything close to 100%. My job is largely desk. I dn't do any lifting (I have minions for that!), just walking to and from meetings, etc. I could easily do my job at 4 weeks out but if I had to lift like a person there's no way. And that's two fold. For one, DD is about 40 lbs and my access incision (left side) still tweaks just from lifting her. For two, my strength/stamina is so low compared to what it used to be... it's now hard for me to lift her, whereas it was not just a few weeks ago.

Glad you got 6 weeks. They "should" ask how you're doing around 4 weeks, and maybe again at 6 weeks. If you don't feel ready to return, they will usually negotiate additional time off. The Drs don't really care, and if you have STD benefits as long as you aren't nearing your 12wk FMLA cap -- take the time and enjoy it. When I had my lapband removed I was given 2 weeks, but about a week into that I developed a pretty decent infection in one of the incisions. I was ready to return to work regardless, but when I went in for a wound check they informed me they'd called in another 2 weeks because it was winter and the nurse didn't want the waistbands on my pants to rub the infected area (it was EXACTLY where my waistband hit).

Sounds like I may get more time off they may have to take my gall bladder out too. And military medicine being military medicine I won't get my gall bladder ultrasound until mid may. And gosh knows when they will take it out. So looks like more time off. Oy.