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I'm looking for responses on how long before you were able to go back to work after your surgery. I'm having the Lap Band removed and going to Gastric Bypass all in one surgery. My surgery is next Tuesday and I ball parked a June 23rd return to work date. Feedback and experience welcomed. Thanks, Jen

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I went back two weeks to the day, but was a little sore bending,

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I am having gastric bypass and will be off from the 16-30 so about 2 weeks.

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I had gastric and took 6 weeks off felt good at 6 weeks but I think 8 would've been great for me personally ( I got used to sleeping late)

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I took 3 weeks off but I could have went back in a week I felt great once the gas came out I was feeling great, I had no problems with during the bathroom or keping anything down the only problem I had was a back ached but that's gone now and I'm 20 days post opt.

Edited by Cupcake

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My surgery was on a Monday. The first few days were rough, but by Saturday, I was feeling much better. I was back to work that Monday (one week post-op) and fishing the following weekend. I admit that I was blessed with a little luck.

Be well…

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My surgery was on May 9, I tried to go back to work on May 30, three weeks post-surgery. A few days before returning to work I pulled something and had really intense pain in my abdomen and back, worse than anything I experienced post-surgery. I had to take an extra week off, my doctor sent me for a CT this week to be sure I didn't do any damage that needed to be repaired. The CT didn't show anything, good news, except that there's no explanation for the pain. Ever so gradually, the pain is decreasing, and I plan to return to work on 6/9, one month out from surgery.

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I had laparoscopic RNY and was back to work in two weeks. My co-worker had her surgery a month after me, but hers was an open procedure, so she was off for three weeks, and came back half time the first week.

I think a lot will depend on whether your surgery is lap or open, and how physically demanding your job is.

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My surgery was 5/1 & I returned to work 5/22. It didn't take long to realize it was too soon. I live in AZ & it's really hot here so very easy to dehydrate. Plus I have back, hip & knee problems that I was on heavy anti-inflammatory medication for. Now that I can't take those med's I have to take a low dose of narcotic pain medication which really isn't helping. I am almost 60 years old so I think every one is different with different circumstances. My advice would be to stay out as long as you possibly can. Your body is going through a huge major change & it takes time to adjust. I have already missed three days since I have been back to work :(. Good luck on your journey!!!

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It depends on your job. I went back after a week. Felt like crap but I was in the middle of a semester and could not miss classes. It was only 3 hours in the classroom. Driving to and from was the worse part. I think 2 weeks would have been the best bet for me. I felt much better by then.

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Today was my first day back at work after taking 3 weeks off for my surgery it was an easy day, I ate my Protein first and I was not tired at all, I sip on my Water all day and it was a good day. I am glad that I was ready.

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I'm planning on two weeks myself. I'm one week out right now and feel great, just trying to get my exercising down so I keep that going when I return to work. Planning a very gentle transition to purreed since that's the biggest change for me at the same time. Good luck to us!!!

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I took 6-7 weeks off but then again I was in between jobs. So I took my time to go back to work. I think 2 weeks would be too little for me. 4 weeks is perfect and 8 weeks is even better. Good luck!

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I thought I would be back working from home Monday after 1 week but ended up on a Detour being readmitted to the hospital for pneumonia over the weekend. I worked yesterday (8th day) from home and lasted most of the day but had to take off early because I was just so sleepy! Working from home today and riding in with a friend to the office tomorrow. For me, I just feel really fuzzy-brained so don't want to drive on the highway and Turnpike.

With the complication I had, two weeks would have been great but I have a trip to Belize planned in August and can't afford too many more surgery days off.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
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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
      1. This update has no replies.
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