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Did anyone go back to work part-time at first?



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My surgeon typically keeps patients off work for 3 weeks. I have 2 weeks if vacation time and don't really want to take the 3rd week and deal with disability, cobra, etc. I asked my coordinator about going back to work earlier than 3 weeks (which I know has been done thanks to vst!) and she said it'll be challenging -- due to being somewhat dehydrated and the body learning how to live off such fewer calories, she said I'd be TIRED. So I was thinking I might be able to go back after 2 weeks and just work 4 hours per day for a week or two. My payroll lady said that was definitely doable if my surgeon put that in my release paperwork restrictions...

Thoughts??

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I was off a full week including surgery.. My surgeon said I could have gone back Monday after the Wednesday I had surgery.... went back for 4 hrs a day the 2nd week after surgery...then 6 hrs a day the 3rd week...

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I had surgery on Tuesday, went home on Wednesday at noon, worked half day Thursday and will tomorrow as well, I have a desk job and figure I can sit at work just as easily as I can sit at home and can get up and walk whenever I want to, Made the day go by faster and I saved leave!

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I had surgery on Tuesday' date=' went home on Wednesday at noon, worked half day Thursday and will tomorrow as well, I have a desk job and figure I can sit at work just as easily as I can sit at home and can get up and walk whenever I want to, Made the day go by faster and I saved leave![/quote']

Ahh!! This sounds so scary to me!! I mean, I'd love to save my 80 hours of vacation time that took FOREVER to accrue, but not even one full day at home? Idk, I just want to make sure I'm not too distracted to pay attention to any little cues from my new sleeve. I guess if I feel up to it, it couldn't hurt to get back to work! I work at a library, so it's somewhat calm... Surgeon would probably restrict me from pushing carts and doing too much bending/reaching/squatting. Thanks for sharing your experience so far =)

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I had surgery on a Thursday, back at work following Tuesday , full time . I was tired but it was good to be busy and not thinking about my next liquid or the pain from my incisions . I did not lift or bend .. Just sat at my desk :)

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I had surgery on a Thursday morning, home Friday and worked a full 8 hour day on Monday. Felt great, no pain meds, no need to not have worked. Never stopped after that.

Doc had told me that I might not feel like working that fast but that I wouldn't hurt myself at all if I did.

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I took 2 full weeks off and went back full time. But, since my surgery was mid week my return was also mid week so it was short and do-able. GL to you!

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Yah my weight management doctor told me to expect to take 3-4 weeks. I thought it was very excessive and figured I could be back to work the following Monday (surgery on a thurs) I had back surgery and did that.. Actually that surgery was also on a thurs and I tried to go back on Monday but there was a snow storm and I was afraid of going out in that, falling in ice busting my sutures open :P but I did make it in for Tuesday. Anyway I think why the docs recommend taking so much time off is to adjust to new your diet and you never know what kind of complications could arise so it's better to ask for more time than you need and then just go back early! I was lucky that I am in a training program and my program director told me to take a full month and they would count it as a "reading month" and I wouldn't have to take FMLA so I am super happy about that!

Anyway I would budget for 2 just in case but go in earlier if you are able!

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My surgery was on a Thursday, I was of the following week but could have gone back Monday after. I felt fine.

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My surgery was on a Thursday, I was off the following week but could have gone back the Monday after. I felt fine.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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