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How fast can you return to work ?

Natí Beesh

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Natí Beesh    8

Natí Beesh
Posted

Hello! I am getting the gastric sleeve and need to give my work some sort of idea. Ideally, I would like to return ASAP. I work in fashion apparel and sit at a desk 24/7 with travel at different times of the year. I can schedule my surgery to be far away from traveling. But how long did it take for most of you to return ?

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blizair09    3,250

blizair09
Posted

I took 6 weeks off from work (STD at 100% pay). You'll get a variety of responses to your question. Some people went back within a week; others took as much time as me. I'd say the average is probably 2-4 weeks. Fatigue was a real issue for me right up until I went back to work. Speaking for me, I could not have gone back in less than 2 weeks. But that's me.

My advice is to take as much time as your personal, professional, and financial situations will allow. Remember that it is not only about healing, it is also about getting yourself off on the right foot with regard to your Protein and Water intake and your progression through the food stages.

Good luck!

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JamieLogical    8,684

JamieLogical
Posted

For desk jobs it is usually about two weeks. Some people go back sooner and are fine. Some people go back later and regret going back that early. For me, I went back at 15 days post-op and my biggest problem was fatigue. I was SO TIRED by the end of the work day that I would go straight to bed after dinner. I think it depends some on your food stages as well. Those who are allowed to advance through the food stages more quickly are able to get more calories in and won't be as tired. Check with your program to see what your post-op food stages are. If you are back on at least purees or soft foods by the time you return to work, it will be easier than if you are still on liquids.< /p>

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Malin    470

Malin
Posted

I had my surgery on a Tuesday and was back in the office on the following Monday. I worked a couple of half days that week. I think 2 weeks is the average though. Don't push it--you'll be tired anyway.

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Rebecca66    13

Rebecca66
Posted

I had surgery on a Friday and was back the following Thursday. I have a desk job so it was pretty easy. I was tired but took a nap in my car during lunch!

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Natí Beesh    8

Natí Beesh
Posted

my work basically wont let me take off two weeks until September. Which is really frustrating. is that illegal ?

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blizair09    3,250

blizair09
Posted

my work basically wont let me take off two weeks until September. Which is really frustrating. is that illegal ?

Are you entitled to FMLA benefits?

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Natí Beesh    8

Natí Beesh
Posted

don't think so. I mean I was very successful with my pre weight loss, lost about 30 pounds and i'm just afraid that I will loose momentum for surgery or become to small to qualify.

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sonkat5355    70

sonkat5355
Posted

I am taking 8 weeks. I an an art teacher that travels to 24 classrooms a week pushing a cart. Stressful....I have the days and my internist who approved my surgery will give me as long as I need. I have 10 weeks of sick pay left. My surgeon on the other hand said he wouldn't give 6 weeks to a construction worker. He gave me 6 but I bypassed him by my internist. I told him teaching and traveling is very hard. Plus kids run in the hall and I don't need someone running into me. This has happened before and my cart has hit a rough patch and fell over hitting me in my leg. I will go back for the last 9 weeks then retire. I'm done!!!

????sonkat5355????

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msjessy323    184

msjessy323
Posted (edited)

Im taking 6 weeks off as,per my surgeon and that is on short term disability with 100% pay. I'm fortunate at that plus my bosses are very supportive and want me to rest and heal properly. I'm also having the sleeve. My surgery is on Jan 30th

Sent from my SM-J700T using the BariatricPal App

Edited by msjessy323

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#BirdDog    604

#BirdDog
Posted

I have a desk job too, took two weeks off and was quite ready to return to work when I did.

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genn    460

genn
Posted

I had bypass I own and run my own daycare and went back to work after three days. And no complications. Dr said if I felt up to it I was fine just to watch when and if I lift.

HW 289 CW 230 bypass 11/22/16

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Go To Topic Listing Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums

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    • Aunty Mamo

      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. 
       
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    • BeanitoDiego

      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.
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    • BeanitoDiego

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      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! 🤣
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    • ChunkCat

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      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.
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      · 0 replies
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    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
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