I know this question has been asked by so many others in the past, but now i am going to ask it.

(i do not have a surgery date yet, im hoping for october) but how long should i take off work? I am a book keeper so i am sitting most of the time but i do some lifting (such as boxes of rolled coins)

Originally i thought of taking 4 to 6 weeks off b/c i am entitled to 60% of my pay during this time. but im wondering if i really need that much time and honestly i am not sure that i can afford to give up 40% of my pay for that long. is it safe just to maybe take 2 weeks vacation time and then come back and perhaps just ask for help for the lifting portions?

Any input is appreciated! thanks all!

I took two weeks off. That allowed me to go back to work on pureed foods instead of full liquids. I took it really easy and rested a lot. I noticed my energy levels were still a bit low the first week back though. It took another week before I felt up to speed again.

How long you need off depends. Obviously, if you have complications you need to be off as long as it takes to deal with them. My experience, without any complications, was that one week would have been enough to return to a desk job. I was tired, but not excessively so and after two days at work, I was good to go. I was off pain medication after my first day in the hospital. Apparently, there is no one standard that applies to being able to get back to work.

Do your body a favor and take 2 weeks. I worked from bed on day 5,6 and after 2 meetings I was worn out. I had a simple recovery, no complications. The first week I felt great! By the second week, the fact that I had overdone it the first week, the low calories and the even lower carbs caught up to me and I had 3 days where I couldn't even hardly get out of bed.

You have to understand, I think I am superwoman. I am full of energy most times, and I am a workaholic. For me to not go to work, something has to be seriously wrong. And for me to not have energy is bizarre.

Well like I said, I paid for my over-working my body the first week. Today is 16 days later and I put in half a day but really my brain is at half-power. But if I had a day full of meetings, I could have pushed through it today.

So take care of your bruised and traumatized body and take at least 2 weeks off if you can.

We'll, I work from home doing medical collections billing/coding so I think I'm good with time off.. Lol

I took off two weeks. My company has a generous sick leave policy, and I could have taken more time. I had no complications, but I am glad I took 2 weeks.

I have a desk job and I took two weeks off. I don't have to lift anything at my job so you'll have to be careful with that and driving was still pretty painful until about 3 weeks out from surgery. But I had no problem sitting all day to do my job.

thanks so much for everyones responses. i think i am going to do with the 2 weeks off then.i tend to go a little crazy if i stay home anyway. the last thing i need to do is figure out if anyone can come stay with me to help with my 2 girls ages 5 and 2. the 5yr old will be in school and the 2 yr old can go to daycare, but ill have to figure out the nights since my boyfriend works at night

I think I should clarify my response a little in hindsight. The official response from my surgeon's office on time off was..."IF you can take 3-4 weeks off to recuperate after the surgery, then by all means do. But realistically people do need to get back to their lives and often can only take a week or two off." In my case I was off work this past spring for over a month and a half due to a DVT/PE. I cannot afford to take more time off than is absolutely needed for this surgery. But if it was an option, then yes I would prefer at least two weeks off. Take what you physically, emotionally, and financially can afford to take would be my advice.

I Think it all depends on how you are feeling and the rate of your success in healing.

It is very important to get your rest.

Secondly, you will have some diareahra and gas. Do you want everyone in the office to experience this along with you.

And you may or you may not be able to drink/soft foods, they may not agree with you.

Do you want to get sick at work? And it is not one of those throw up and you feel better in five minutes.

My Point is: It is better to plan for two weeks and if you feel better, go back early

I had an incision in my belly button and after sitting up - it hurt really badly so I took 4 weeks. I needed it. Also you get so freaking tired really easily. I would absolutely suggest 3-4 weeks. And if you feel better go back early