Hi everyone, I'm just curious how long it took for you to go back to work? I'm a pharmaceutical sales rep & drive up to 6 hours a day, & do some standing & walking & lift about 20-30lbs. Mostly I need to be comfortable driving and have mental energy. I'm hoping to take a week off and avoid medical leave (though I can take 6 months with full pay). Are my expectations within reason or should I get my head around possibly needing more time to recover? Assuming no complications, of course. Thanks!

it's amazing how different each doc is!

i was told to plan for 4 wks off, and he said that even if i felt good, he really recommended i take the full 4 if nothing else but to totally adjust to the new eating changes and challenges.

the good part for me is that at least my co-workers won't be watching me like hawks during the very early and awkward time when i re-introduce foods around 10 days post op!

it's amazing how different each doc is! i was told to plan for 4 wks off, and he said that even if i felt good, he really recommended i take the full 4 if nothing else but to totally adjust to the new eating changes and challenges. the good part for me is that at least my co-workers won't be watching me like hawks during the very early and awkward time when i re-introduce foods around 10 days post op!

Wow 4weeks!!!! That's great.

My dr says 4 weeks but I can return after 1 week if I feel up to it since I have a desk job. Plus I have the benefit if being able to work from home so if I'm feeling tired etc I can just stay home that day. My boss and co-workers are great and flexible so I'll see when the time comes.

My doctor wouldn't release me to go back to work for 2 weeks, even though I have a desk job. I think a lot depends on when your doctor will release you. I'd ask him/her what their policy is since every doctor is different.

My doc refuses to give anyone without complications more than one week :-/

My doc refuses to give anyone without complications more than one week :-/

That's crazy. How long will you have to stay in the hospital for? I really don't think one week is enough time to recover from such a major surgery. Shoot when I had my wisdom teeth pulled my surgeon told me to take off work for 2-3 days to give me time to heal and for swelling to go down. I actually haven't been told by my dr how long i should be out of work for but I know you're not allowed to lift over a certain amount of weight for 6 weeks and I work with a special needs child who I have to lift so I told work I need off for about 7 weeks.

Yeah, your surgeon sounds like a badass! I wanted to take 2 weeks, but being self employed, I could only afford 1 week and I was OK. I'm a vet tech so I had to stick with "light duty" because I wasn't supposed to lift over 20 pounds for 3 weeks. But due to certain other circumstances, I was right back to lifting 60-70 pound dogs by day 18. By contrast, the vet I work with wasn't allowed to lift more than 8 pounds for six weeks after her hysterectomy. Guess removing a uterus and ovaries is more traumatic than 85% of a stomach.

That's crazy. How long will you have to stay in the hospital for? I really don't think one week is enough time to recover from such a major surgery. Shoot when I had my wisdom teeth pulled my surgeon told me to take off work for 2-3 days to give me time to heal and for swelling to go down. I actually haven't been told by my dr how long i should be out of work for but I know you're not allowed to lift over a certain amount of weight for 6 weeks and I work with a special needs child who I have to lift so I told work I need off for about 7 weeks.

I know I thought so too, but he's adamant that you are to and moving and back to work. ??? I am however taking 12 days though, using annual leave so I don't need a note from him. Ha!!! I'll check into the hospital Tuesday at 8:00am and will be out by Wednesday at noon as long as there are no complications.

I took seven days off from work, not including weekends since I work a M-F job. I didn't ask or anything, I just went back. I needed the money and work a desk job. I also take public transit and do not drive.

The company that I work for required me to be off for 6 weeks unless I got a release form from my Dr. To go back to work earlier. I was very disappointed when I first heard this but became very thankful as time went on post op. I have got the opportunity to learn more about my body and how it reacts to food and been able to develop a nice eating pattern so I am sure to get in all the protein and fluids I need to. I did not anticipate being hospitalized for dehydration twice. It's been quite an emotional roller coaster with me also so I am glad I haven't had the stress of work. I know every persons body is different but I know I am very glad I had the time off. I am so excited to go back to work in 5 days, and feel 100% ready to work!

I went back after one week but felt like I needed at least a few more days. (Office job)

The company that I work for required me to be off for 6 weeks unless I got a release form from my Dr. To go back to work earlier. I was very disappointed when I first heard this but became very thankful as time went on post op. I have got the opportunity to learn more about my body and how it reacts to food and been able to develop a nice eating pattern so I am sure to get in all the protein and fluids I need to. I did not anticipate being hospitalized for dehydration twice. It's been quite an emotional roller coaster with me also so I am glad I haven't had the stress of work. I know every persons body is different but I know I am very glad I had the time off. I am so excited to go back to work in 5 days, and feel 100% ready to work!

How far into your journey did you experience dehydration? That scares the heck out of me. Any advice?

I took 10 days and was glad to have them. If forced, I could have gone back earlier but I wouldn't have felt great. I'm a nurse manager so mostly desk/walking.

I needed IV fluids 3 times between weeks 6 and 10. I had severe diarrhea from a Clostridial infection and I just couldn't drink enough to keep up. I was never hospitalized, though. I gave myself fluids 2 times, but the third time none of my EMT friends could hit a vein because I was so severely dehydrated. I ended up going to my PCP's office and they got a line in me after 4 tries. My BP finally came back up after 3 liters and I could go home. That was the only day of work I missed.

My only advice is to drink drink drink, no matter what. You really should be fine. I only got dehydrated because of the diarrhea.

Edited June 3, 201412 yr by Kindle

The company that I work for required me to be off for 6 weeks unless I got a release form from my Dr. To go back to work earlier. I was very disappointed when I first heard this but became very thankful as time went on post op. I have got the opportunity to learn more about my body and how it reacts to food and been able to develop a nice eating pattern so I am sure to get in all the Protein and fluids I need to. I did not anticipate being hospitalized for dehydration twice. It's been quite an emotional roller coaster with me also so I am glad I haven't had the stress of work. I know every persons body is different but I know I am very glad I had the time off. I am so excited to go back to work in 5 days, and feel 100% ready to work!

How far into your journey did you experience dehydration? That scares the heck out of me. Any advice?

I was hospitalized twice in week 3. It was very tough for me to sip sip sip all day long. I felt like I was going to float away lol. It really gave me a nauseated feeling. I now keep a Water bottle/ Powerade zero bottle with me at all times and keep sipping on it throughout the day. I did have a nurse visit me every week at home for the first few weeks and she was a great help and was the one who made me go in to the hospital for the dehydration. Other than that little bump in the road I have been nothing but happy with my decision. I have lost 45 lbs since April 23rd and am feeling better everyday! Good luck to you!