Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

How long did you wait to return to work?



Recommended Posts

I'm have surgery on the 11th and planned on taking the following week off from work. I have a desk job and my boss is every understanding... I just don't want to push it. I'm worried that won't be long enough and I won't be ready. How long did you wait before returning?

Edited by Gemini0621

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I went in after four and a half weeks and was exhausted. I'm in my second week back and feel as if it's okay now. I have a very busy job though so thought it might be tough.

Congrats on the surgery. .. Make sure you let us know how you are getting on ????

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I went in after four and a half weeks and was exhausted. I'm in my second week back and feel as if it's okay now. I have a very busy job though so thought it might be tough.

Congrats on the surgery. .. Make sure you let us know how you are getting on

Congrats on having your surgery! I will keep everyone posted! :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I took two weeks off but the first two days back I was too exhausted to make it through a full day and went home after about five hours.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I took 3 weeks off. I work a desk job too and felt good enough that I could've returned after two week, but like others said I would get exhausted in the afternoon and need a nap. It took me about 1.5- months until my stamina was back in force.

EDIT: Sorry just noticed this is on the VSG board. I had the SADI so my experience might be slightly different.

Edited by ShellMilliner

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@@Gemini0621 I am taking just shy of a month off.

I applied for short term disability through work, so if I need more off I do have the option.

I want my body to have some time to get use to the liquid and mushy diet before I head back into work.

I do also have a desk job, but sitting isnt always the best thing for this type of surgery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have a desk job as well. I took 8 personal days off work because sitting at home was boring me to death. My work was not stellar during the time I came back. I was a zombie. No energy whatsoever. But I also couldn't walk around the neighborhood because of snow and ice. And I had to wait until my wife came home to take me to the mall or bigger stores for me to walk around in.

If you can afford to do it, take off as much time as you can to recover and talk lots of walks outside. Everyone is different, some bounce back withing days, some take weeks. Don't push yourself because of pride.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I took one week off and went back feeling fine. The first day I was kind of just going through the motions with no energy, but come the second day and from then on it has been back to business as usual.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I planned off for 6 weeks. I factored in both the physical exhaustion and mental fog in my decision.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am taking a week. I have a desk job so my Doctor said I should have no issue going back. My surgery is on the 16th, but I will return on the 23rd, but I will be working from home on the 23, 24, 25.

My first time back in the office will be the 28th. I was told as long as I got up every 30 minutes to move around I will be fine.

Everyone talks about how tired they are, but my Doctor is putting me on a B12 nosespray so I will have a extra 'push' of energy.

A lady I work with took a month off, but she said she did that to be safe.

Everyone is different.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I envy all you desk people.. I work for a great company, but do heavy lifting ..50 lb boxes...so I may be out up to 8 weeks or more. I have to be able to lift with no pain before I can go back. I have short term disability so the $$ is not a problem, but its a small department and me being out is an inconvenience for them.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm a stay at home mom of 5 kids. My dr told me and my husband, no driving for 7 days, no housework for

3 weeks bc the bending, stretching and lifting can tear the stitches. He also said if I try to do something and I get pain to wait another week before trying again.

Now I know me, I'm gonna be going out of my mind. I had a spinal tap a little over a week ago and I've had complications from it. I've been down since the tap and I'm going insane!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I took a week off and had no issues.

Had surgery on Monday the 17th and was back to work the following Monday.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I spoke to my boss about it and he was very understanding and gave me 5 weeks off. I'm just not sure that's enough though. I work at cvs/pharmacy and sometimes work the front store and there is some heavy lifting and I bend A LOT not to mention we are extremely short staffed..I'm contemplating whether I should ask for a week more or something. Plus my immune system will probably be all outta whack and ppl come in with all kinds of sickness..I really don't want to get sick right after surgery. /: ahh idk.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×