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How long did the doctor tell you too stay out of work?



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When I was researching surgery it seemed like most returned to work within 2 weeks. When I was scheduling surgery I asked the question and they said expect to be out for 4-6 weeks. I thought that was a long time and asked why, they explained that it wasn't all to recover from surgery, but rather to learn how to eat and exercise again. Basically the time was to help build new habits.

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They told me 4-6 weeks, but I begged to get back after 3 and they signed my release.

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2 weeks, but I went back after one.

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Two weeks, but I needed two and a half before I felt human again. My coworker that also had the sleeve was back to work after 5 days, I was super jealous.

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I took 2 1/2 weeks but then had to work shorter days. Your Dr KS right that if you are able to take more, then it helps give you time to adjust to some of the new lifestyle. Mine said I could go back in 1 week but no way I would have been ready (though many people do that without a problem).

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Mine also said 4 to 6 weeks and that is what I told my boss I was taking. I only work 2 days per week and there are other teachers at our Rehabilitation Center who can teach keyboarding to my blind clients. I am the only teacher who teaches Braille but the one client I had, moved to the State run center. Everything worked out really well for me and my clients. I have nothing to rush back to and can take the time to recover. About a week before I am ready to come back my boss will contact any new clients for keyboarding and Braille and give them their starting day and time. Come 6 weeks I should be able to eat some foods and have enough strength to get through my 2 days a week. My surgery is in 3 1.2 hours.

Wish me good luck. I need it as I am also having my gallbladder and possible umbilical hernia done at the same time as my sleeve surgery. That is why the Dr told me to be off 4 to 6 weeks.

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I work at a office and return to work in 5 days. I could only work half days and my wonderful husband drive me to and from work.

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My doc said 1-2 weeks but I took 5 and was so glad I did. I honestly needed the time to just get into a routine with my new tummy and be able to heal.

Everyone is different though. My doc told me he had one person go back the day after surgery, he didn't recommend it but his patient did it anyway.

I would plan for the worst and expect the best. If you have the time off plan for it and then if you feel great you can always go back earlier.

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Everyone and every situation is different. Depends on what you do. I had my surgery done on a Wed and took off rest of that week. Ended up with a snow day on Monday, so didn't go back til following Tues. The first day back, Tues, I did great. That next day, WEd, I felt like I'd been ran over by a truck and ended up only working a 1/2 day. After that...i was tired, but did okay.

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My surgeon told me I could go back within 2-3 days if I felt up to it. My surgery was on a Wednesday and I went back to work the following Tuesday. I worked half days that first week just because I had no energy. By week 2 I was feeling back to normal. I've never heard of taking 4-6 weeks off.

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I am currently at the beginning of 6 weeks off. I am a Registered Nurse and my job is very physically demanding (12 hours on your feet, lifting, bending, risk of violent patients, etc). It just depends on how physical your job is and how well you heal and adjust.

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How was your coworker able to do this??? I am 4 weeks post-op and just now can go to the gym and feel semi-normal. I am still sore in the abdominal area and weak.

My surgeon wanted me out for 5 weeks but will go back at 4 weeks

Two weeks, but I needed two and a half before I felt human again. My coworker that also had the sleeve was back to work after 5 days, I was super jealous.

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@@dmelectrician

I was out for 4 weeks. I was still feeling weak at the 2 week mark and I'm soooo happy I didn't push it. I used that time to not only recover, but I treated eating/drinking/exercising as a full time job.

I think it's just personal preference, the transition is easier for some and tougher for others.

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Thank you all for the input, I scheduled 6 with work but if I feel better will come back sooner. Hopefully I'm one of those patients that feels better right away and doesn't suffer for 6 weeks. Thank you again and good luck to you all

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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.

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