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How much time off before returning to work?



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How much time did you take off before returning to work? How much did you need? My doc does surgery as an outpatient procedure with just an overnight stay. He says people have surg on Thurs an go back Mon, but he likes to see them take at least a week. But, if I fill out STD paper for work he said I would have 2 weeks off since it goes through insurance. I don't want to rush myself by going back early, but I don't want to get bored at home either. I get bored ill want to eat or will feel the pain.

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I took 3 weeks. I probably could have gone back after 2, but I was glad to have the 3rd week to get some of my energy back.

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No clue what STD paper work is but it doesn't sound good ;)

Returning to work depends on a a few things. What you do at work, how your recovery is going, if you continue your paid meds etc.

Everyone comes out of this surgery in so many different ways. From absolutely zero pain or issues (me) to some who can't even move for weeks.

It's a toss up on how you will feel and so I would arrange for the two weeks and go from there.

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STD= short term disability. Anything more Han a week and I'd have to fill it out.

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I had to be off for 2 weeks then 4 weeks in light duty. I have a light labor job. My doc said I couldn't lift more than 25lbs until 6 weeks. If I had short term disability I would have just taken the whole 6 weeks off.

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7 days

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No clue what STD paper work is but it doesn't sound good ;)

Ha! Was thinking the same thing

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I'm two weeks out and feel ready to return but found out that I have a 10 pound lifting restriction for another two weeks, job won't let me come back with restrictions so I'll be off for an entire month.

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I was physically ready to go back in about 10 days or so... I hate my job and its really stressful and I still am not mentally ready to return to work. I was sleeved on 4/16. I have a desk job in a call center and I'm not comfortable in a sitting position for eve an hour!! So I can totally forget about sitting for 8 hours!!! And I am very belchy (I burp after eating or drinking anything!! And not just 1 burp and done. No I keep going!!!) and like I said I work in a call center and I'm on the phone all day!!!! I'm gonna have my dr keep me out for at least 6 weeks!!!

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Had surgery on Friday, was back seeing pts in the office the next Wednesday, but I didn't feel very good, and my office manager said I looked "yellow".

Didn't operate on anyone for two weeks, though. :)

Wasn't that thoughtful of me? :)

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My boss made me take 4 weeks because of the 10 lb lift restriction, although I don't lift anything and work in an office. She said my purse weighed 10 lbs lol. *rolls eyes* I could have gone back in 2 weeks for sure.

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I was sleeved on 4/30/13 (a Tuesday) and went back the following Monday. I have a desk job, but I got up SEVERAL times to hit the breakroom for more water! Only real drawback was the liquid meds made me really sleepy. Good luck!!

Sent from my iPad using VST

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Took two weeks off but ended up going back a few days earlier as a meeting came up I did not want to miss. I was fine to return and had no issues. I was flying and staying in hotels by week three.

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I waited til I was eating a regular diet at 6 weeks. Didn't want to be weak at work: take the needed time for yourself...mentally and physically.

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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💪
      · 0 replies
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