Recovery time-when can I go back to work?

[amychar 5]

I am scheduled for surgery July 25. I typically have my summers off (til mid-August) so I wasn't worried about having enough recovery time. I just found out today that I have 8 different days of training, starting August 4. Is that going to be enough recovery time? Stressing just a little

[Comeflywithme 402]

Well, I took 4 weeks off so when I went back to work, I felt FANTASTIC!! However, I did feel pretty good (except for gas and bloating which walking helps) by the 4th day and even better by the 7th day so I think you should be ok, just don't overdo it and walking will be the BEST thing that will help with gas. Good Luck!

[Forsythia 882]

I took seven days off of work. Really I could have gone back to work five days after my surgery but I just didn't want to go back to my job. LOL.

[amychar 5]

Thanks for the responses. I had emailed my surgeon's patient facilitator, Bill, and he called me right away to tell me it shouldn't be a problem Feeling much less stressed!

[HEARTonmySLEEVE2014 24]

This makes me feel a little better. I do not have sick leave or paid time off at my job, so Im having my surgery on a Tuesday, and I'm trying to be back to work the following Monday. I do administrative work at a desk all day so I pray I will be ok to go back by then.

[Rainbow1958 8]

I am glad to see all these responses. I too have very little sick time and need to be back to work within a week. I love this forum! It has been so helpful with all my questions that come to mind.

[HotMessNurrrrrse 1]

Same here! I have managed to waste a ton of PTO time on surgeon consult, nutrition/supervised weight loss appointments and PCP appointments, that I will barely have enough PTO time to take for my surgery. Ideally, I was hoping to have surgery on a Friday when I'm normally off, then take the next work week off. That would've given me 9 days off post-op.

But alas, that was not in the cards. My surgeon only does surgery on Tuesdays, so I will end up with only 5 days off post-op and have been stressing about it.

Glad to see that I am not alone!

[ELPMax 1]

I thankfully have taken short term disability from work. Thankfully I was given 4 weeks off. However, I could have gone back to work a week after surgery as far as energy and pain management go. The only hard part I have found personally has been keeping to eating at set times. I use a lot of alarms on my phone to remind me to stop drinking and preparing for lunch / dinner and meds.

At my job (IT Tech) I would be both seated for long periods of time and then have to move. Moving computers and so forth will be off my table until weight restrictions are removed. Right now at home I am cleaning things and working on personal projects. My only advice would be do not push it.

My plan is at my follow up appointment I plan on asking to be allowed to return to work order (required by short term disability and work).. That would keep me out from June 30 - July 21 and that would be 3 weeks off. Like I said I could have gone back to work this week and been fine.

[kgunchic 16]

Question for the group- I was thinking of taking only two weeks off since I have a desk job but I do travel a lot once I return so I'm wondering how would I prepare for the type of goods at. 2-3 weeks out if I'm traveling? Would I need to be out longer or have restrictions?

[bikrchk 1,313]

I was only in the hospital overnight and never took narcotic pain meds. I went back to my desk job after 10 days and felt great!

[HalloweenBaby24 447]

I have my surgery September 8th outpatient procedure, and I took off till September 17th (the following Wednesday). Seeing as I only work 3 day's a week caring for one child (plus my own) in home I should be fine. The only thing I can see giving me issue is the little boy I watch is none verbal autistic and I get him off the bus, getting him into the carseat can sometimes be an issue.