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How soon did you return to work?



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I was sleeved this past Monday (the 16th) and I have to be back at work this coming Monday (the 23rd).

I feel so weak, I don't know how I am going to manage.

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I am a server and I went back 5 days after my surgery. It was super busy and it was fine. I was actually happy to be at work and out of the house for a couple days.

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I'm an idiot, but I was approving copy in the hospital room the day of surgery! (Fortunately, it was fine.)

I work from home, so I started answering emails and stuff right away. My surgery was on a Thursday, and by Monday I was more or less back in the routine.

I had an event two weeks after the surgery. That was a bit tough…almost 6 hours of a silent auction and dinner, but it was fine. (The catering company heated my Soup. No big deal.) I also had to go down to someone's office for a two hour meeting about a week post-op. I was tired by the end of the meeting, but it was okay.

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I think everyone heals differently, I couldn't imagine taking a month plus off?! I would've gone mental. But I do work an office job so that makes a difference.

I had my surgery Thursday April 17th in Mexico, flew home on Sunday. I was back at my desk on Tuesday morning and I would've been back on Monday but it was a long weekend. LOL! I brought my heating pad and used it for 2-3 days for maybe an hour if I felt achy but I never took or needed any painkillers once I left the hospital. had no issues with energy etc and life went on as normal.

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had sleeve on a Wednesday. went home on Thursday. I went back to work Monday working from home for 5 days then back in office following Monday. I commute to NY 2 hours each way 2 days per week. I work at desk job. yes there was some pain at incision and fatigue but otherwise was fine.

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Cleared to go back week 2 but was ready after week one.

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It should not be much of a problem to go back to your normal life in 7-10 days.But as you say that you have a desk job,for that you will have to sit for hours at a stretch.Therefore you should take it a little easy before you return to work.Walking around and then resting in between is going to be the need of the hour therefore you will have to be very careful in the initial days and follow the instructions given by the surgeon.

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My surgery was on Wednesday and I returned to work 2 weeks to the day after surgery.

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My job pays me for up to 6 weeks. So i took the full 6. The surgery takes more out of you then you would think. My Dr says that he usually recommends nothing shorter than 2 weeks. But listen to your body....it will tell you when you're ready

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My dr approved me for 3 weeks..i had my surgery on a Wed and honestly I could have went back that Monday...i took my 3 weeks to rest, get used to my new stomach and find me a excercise and food routine...I have a desk job and the heaviest thing I pick up is a pencil..

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I feel spoiled, I was off for 4 weeks as per my doctors requirements. It was ideal. Although, I did not have any complications - it did give me the opportunity to get started on regular foods and tracking etc. it was ideal for me

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Returned 4 days after surgery.

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I took two full weeks off. I'm glad I did. I got the flu one week after surgery. I think if all went well I could have gone back after one week. I was on a lifting restriction of 15 pounds for 4 weeks. I felt good when I went back to work and had to remind myself of the lifting restriction. Good luck!

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Mainly desk job for me. I took 2 weeks off, but could have used three. I was just exhausted upon my return more than anything.

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    • Doughgurl

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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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      1. Selina333

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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.

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