HOW LONG OFF OF WORK?

[heartonmysleeve82 11]

Just wondering...

Is a week off of work ok?????

The oil & gas industry is real shaky right now and I don't want to be a risk of losing my job. I sit a desk the majority of the day except when I get up to go to the printer, restroom, take a break etc.

How long did you take off? If you took off a week were you ok, did it put any type of strain on your body???

[Bonawanabfree 280]

I took 2 weeks. Contact HR and file for short term medical leave. It protects your job.

[Teebaby 27]

Because it is an unknown for me and I have the sick time available, I am taking 4 weeks off. I have had terrible reactions to surgeries in the past and I do not want to take the risk. FMLA should be your protection if your company has over 50 employees. Like @@Bonawanabfree said talk to HR prior to and you should be just fine. Good luck...

[Stephanie Salsera Perrott 85]

I'm taking 1 week off. God willing I don't want to use anymore days off so fingers crossed lol

[JamieLogical 8,684]

I took off two weeks and wish I could have taken a bit more. I wasn't in pain, but I was VERY tired all of the time until I was able to at least start on soft food/purees at 18 days post-op. Going back to work while still on just full liquids sucked pretty badly. I have a desk job too, but the fatigue was a real issue for me.

[alwaysvegas 702]

I took two weeks.

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/336625-question-on-returning-to-work-after-surgery/?hl=%2Breturn+%2Bwork

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/335761-only-off-7-days-from-work-is-this-too-soon/?hl=%2Breturn+%2Bwork

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/324617-return-to-work-from-home/?hl=%2Breturn+%2Bwork#entry3666539

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/313385-recovery-time-when-can-i-go-back-to-work/?hl=return+work#entry3541307

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/310816-2-wks-vs-3-weeks/?hl=return+work#entry3507940

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/286222-going-back-to-work/page-2?hl=return+work#entry3220844

[SmilingBeauty 223]

My surgery is scheduled for April 28th and I don't return to work until June 1st.

[bikrchk 1,313]

I took 2 but only needed 1 really. FMLA will protect your job if you file for it. It's kind of a crap shoot. You never know how YOU personally will react to surgical trauma. Some folks bounce right back, some take a bit longer. Plan for the worst and hope for the best! Good luck!

[OneDollarBill 371]

I was out 5 work days. I had my surgery on a Wednesday. Discharged from the hospital on Thursday. I went back to work the following Wednesday. I honestly think getting up and moving around as soon as I could can AND as often as I could greatly improved my recovery time.

Edited April 8, 2015 by OneDollarBill

[sassycas45 149]

I had surgery on 3/23 and I'm still home as jamielogical said bring on liquids only your tired my nurse just left and asked me if i can take just one more week off I'm really considering it.

[heartonmysleeve82 11]

Does FMLA kick in after you have used all over your days, or is that short term disability? I haven't been with my company for 12 months yet and I was reading where it stated FMA is for someone who has been with the company for 12 months....so I am kinda unsure. I do have 3 weeks of vacations I just didn't want to use that up. Maybe I will take a week and a couple of days.

Thanks for all of your feedback!!!!!

[BackSpin81 350]

I had surgery on 3/30/15 and will not return to work until next Monday. FMLA has me covered until 4/13/15. I was required to use 2 PTO days for FMLA to apply. Short term disability will pay me up until 4/15.

[Aranks 94]

I was off a total of 3 days for my surgery. I work in the garbage industry, primarily at a desk, except to go upstairs for the bathroom and other miscellaneous things. I had surgery on a Friday (so I took that day off obviously) was discharged on Sunday. Monday I went shopping (catch some of those left over black Friday deals), Tuesday I met with my surgeon and I returned to work on Wednesday. I was really pretty tired. But overall it was fine, I just wore stretchy/sweat pants.

[heartonmysleeve82 11]

@@Aranks I am so glad you brought that up. I was wondering how was the scars for people who went back within 2 weeks. What did you wear. We can pretty much wear jeans everyday, so I am trying to figure out what I can buy to wear or cover my scars up with in order to put on clothes?

[Aranks 94]

I primarily just wore sweat pants or yoga pants with a regular t-shirt. I attempted jeans and I was just so bloated from surgery that it was uncomfortable. I came in and my boss was like "Why are you wearing jeans?! I don't care if you come in pajamas so long as you're here." But leggings work, I know a lot of women who had bariatric surgery that primarily wear leggings and sweater dresses, or something of the sort. As far as my scars they seem to be fine. I didn't have staples or stitches or a drain. Just some steri-strips with Band-Aids over them. Steri-strips were removed within the first few days and if my incision was bothering me I just put a Band-Aid to reduce rubbing (mainly the incision in my belly button). I had 7 incisions, being I also had my gallbladder out at the time. Really all was good with the world.