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How much time to take off from work for surgery?



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I know a lot of people take off about 2 weeks on average. I took off 1.5 months and I am so glad that I did. I was able to have my family really sit down and listen to my needs and help me as much as possible. Also, by the time I returned I got so many compliments on how much weight I lost.

Yup!! I'm taking 6 weeks off and want to take 8!! I just want to be back to soft foods before I have to go back to the "real world"....

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I was just wondering how much time i should take off from work for my surgery. I would love to get some feedback from others on this. I know recovery time is different for everyone but just a generalized idea would be great. I don't do strenuous work and mostly set all day. Thanks!

I took two weeks off but went back on day 10 as there was a meeting I did not want to miss and I felt fine. I was also going a bit stir crazy at home. On day 14, the day I was due back to work, I had to fly out of town for meetings and was absolutely fine.

I was open with my boss and my personal assistant who was able to structure commitments to allow for flexibility, including finishing early most days to allow for post general anaesthetic tiredness. But mostly, I was fine. The first few catered meetings were odd, but, as with most social events, I soon learnt how to navigate around these without drawing attention to myself or doing something silly.

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Of course, some of us are just no good at being off on sick leave! I write this while off work with a sinus infection and I am going INSANE stuck here and it has only been three days! So personality type may have something to do with how much the to take off as clearly I am not one for resting.

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I took off 5 weeks. Doc did say I could go back after week 2 but recommended I wait until I was on solid foods, energy level got better & to adjust to a new schedule that included exercising. So she wrote me out for 5 weeks which was the best thing every.

Well, the best thing was when I returned, I was 25 lbs lighter & the compliments haven't stopped yet.

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I have my surgery on July 22,2013 and plan to take 3 weeks off. I figure I need two weeks and am taking 3 to allow for a buffer just in case lol.

All the best to everyone that have yet to have surgery and continued success to those who have had the procedure.

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I took 3 weeks too. I'm a hairstylist and 3 weeks was perfect!

I'm only taking 10 days off, and I'm a stylist too. Gonna just try half days.

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One week was enough for me to get back to work at a desk job, but I was still really tired for those first few days. I think the walking during the day helped though and having to stay awake.

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I took a month and made the most of it.

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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.
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      1. LeighaTR

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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. 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.

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        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.

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

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