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How long before you returned to work?



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Hi everyone. I should be getting my surgery date soon and the doc said it up to me which surgery do I want. I am leaning strongly toward RNY due to my already existing acid reflux issues.

Anyhow, I am curious how long after your surgery did you return to work? What type of work do you do? Anyone have any complications from returning to work too soon?

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Honestly, I was wondering the same thing. My surgery is Thursday January 8th and I planned on going back to work the following Monday January 12. Luckily we've come up with a way for me to work from home and be able to recover as long as I need to. I have an easy job where I'm sitting most of the day anyway.

Is your boss aware of your weight loss surgery? I've found it very helpful that they know about. My coworkers are very supportive, thank goodness.

Good luck to you!

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Good luck to you too! I work in Social Services so most of my day is spent in an office as well. I haven't told my boss yet but I plan to when I get my surgery date.

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I had surgery on 12/17 and will be returning to work on 1/5. I think I would have been ok going back today but I'm getting paid so I figured I would get the rest while I can. I work in an office the majority of the time. My biggest issues will be having time to get my fluids in and giving up my naps :).

Good Luck

Mike

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Hi. I had my RNY on 9/22 and took 2 weeks off. I have a desk job so it was very doable. I did come home exhausted and went to bed fairly early.

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My doc will "begin to discuss" readiness to return to work at the 4-week checkin. Not before. The team says to expect 6-8 weeks off work. They don't do this for recovery from surgery specifically, but for getting launched properly on the new path, developing better habits, learning how to eat, getting started with exercise, etc. I am very fortunate to work for a large company with generous leave policies that will do whatever the doctor says without questioning it. I still feel immense pressure to return to work fast, but that's all coming from within me.

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I had my sleeve done on 12/2 and went back to work 2 weeks later. I was fine physically just a little tired. However I wish I would have had more time to get the diet part under control. You don't realize how busy you are at work and how time can get away from you. With your smaller stomach you can't make up missed fluids latter.

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I had my surgery January 14th, 2013 I went back to work January 17th, 2013. Quick recovery and shake back.

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I had the RNY on 12/3/2014, I was able to return to my part time desk job after 2 weeks, due to complications. I have not gotten medical clearance yet to return to my CNA job.

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Anaxila, it sounds like you work for a great company! I also love the approach your team took! The most challenging part about returning to work for me was figuring out what and how to eat at work! That extra time home would have been a God send.

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I took 3 weeks off and I work in and office. I didn't have any complications returning back to work but took extra time off to make sure I was in the right mindset and able to eat more than I could on the pureed phase. I was definitely ready to get back to a little bit of normalcy!

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I agree with staceylc...i took 3 weeks...i couldve done 2 if needed. Energy is lacking afterward so i took my time after bypass.

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I had galbladder removed as well btw.

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      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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      · 2 replies
      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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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