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Really need advice before surgery



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Hey everyone,

I'm new here but excited to be taking this next positive step in my life.

I will be traveling to Mexico for surgery with Dr. Ramos Kelly in November for a VSG. I have only been at my job for 6 months so it is difficult for me to take off much time for the operation. I am planning on having the surgery on a Tuesday or Wednesday then going back to work the following Monday. I am only 28 years old and I am not severely obese. I have a BMI of 33 but several comorbidities, which is why I am doing this. I feel that these reasons put me on track for what I hope is a quick recovery.

Has anyone here gone back to work that soon after surgery? I won't be doing any heavy lifting or crazy activities.

I would love some feedback, suggestions, etc! Thanks so much :)

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My doctor insisted on a full week off. Surgery was this Tuesday and back to work next Wednesday... I was a revision from lap band to sleeve, so that might make a difference.

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I had surgery on a Monday and was back in the office at a desk job the following Monday. I was sitting at my desk at home by Thursday working and I wrote a report the day after surgery from my hospital bed. I was high as a kite and I remember nothing, but in hindsight reading my report, it looked pretty good.

I think you can swing a return to work that Monday, especially if your surgery is on Tuesday. It is not a matter of physically being unable to do it- it is entirely mental. I worked a 12 hour day at 5 days out from surgery at home because the work needed to be done. You will feel miserable and tired and cranky, but in the end, sucking it up and going back to work in 5-6 days is purely a mental thing.

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Hi

Too funny you ask!!! As I finally told my boss today, and asked for a week off. She said she will give me 10 days to 2 weeks off, and is extremely supportive. I have only been at my job for 3 months!, Maybe be honest to them and they will give you a few more days off hon.

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Did anyone use Clinica San Juan? I've read that it's nice but I'm worried about pain management at a clinic vs. a hospital. I just want to make sure I'm not miserable in pain without the ability to get the necessary medicine. Thanks for the advice so far!

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I'm having surgery on a Friday, coming home Tuesday and plan to return to work on Wednesday. Call me crazy lol, but all I do is sit at a desk all day, I mean I'm definitely up and down some, but no real strenuous activity other than carrying a few papers to the copy machine. If I can't handle it I'll go home, I eventually told my boss what I was doing so she is very supportive in my recovery. I'm just completely out of vacation time since I just had a big family reunion and used the majority of what I had. I've heard of others returning to work right away after a surgery. I think each person heals different and so ultimately it's how you feel and whether you think you can tolerate it.

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You should be ok, u was sleeved in a Wednesday, slept alot and took it easy until the next Monday, when my nausea and pain were barely noticeable, I had to take 6 weeks off because of a severe hernia they found and I work in a very intense environment where you have to hold people down, but if my job was more easy going I think I would have been able to go that Monday, since I went back to the gym that day.......

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Keep your Water up, take frequent walk breaks( it will help keep the nausea and pain down), and go home if you have to, you will feel sluggish for awhile

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I used Dr. Ramos Kelly in January of this 2015. I would be happy to share my experience with you if you would like. As far as going back to work I would suggest a full week due to the fatigue you will experience. The pain is very manageable after the first few days.

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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
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