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

How soon before you went back to work after surgery?



Recommended Posts

I am having surgery on Thursday, 10/11/07. I am anticipating going back to work on Tuesday (after my husband's surgery on Monday, 10/15). I work at a desk but have the flexibility to get up and move around, if needed. Is this a reasonable amount of time to give myself?

I will worry about work getting done if I take off longer so I really want to minimize the amount of time I am gone.

:)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm a floor nurse and I'm getting banded Oct. 5th. My doc says 2 weeks because there is no light duty for nurses on my floor. I have to lift people and do a lot of running around. thank goodness my manager just had bypass 2 months ago - she said take as long as I need. Beth

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am a kindergarten teacher. My surgery is the 11th and I will return to work on Monday the 15th. My doc said that will be just fine. He told me he had a patient go back to work the same day as surgery...that is just nuts to me, that patient must have been self-employed!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my surgery in Mexico on the 25th of Sept .. I am now 4 days post op and feeling better- -- I believe I probably could have gotten by at work if need be but am very happy for the extra days -- For me anything before 4 days would have been too much -

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm having surgery on oct 3rd a wednesday and I plan on going back to work on friday-- I work in a call center so I only answer calls and I can stand or sit hopefully I wont be too bad.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my surgery on a Friday and I took Monday off and returned back to work on Tuesday. I could have gone back to work on Monday, but I took it off just in case. I think it will depend on what type of work you do. If you do any bending or lifting I think you will need more time.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

<p>

I'm a floor nurse and I'm getting banded Oct. 5th. My doc says 2 weeks because there is no light duty for nurses on my floor. I have to lift people and do a lot of running around. thank goodness my manager just had bypass 2 months ago - she said take as long as I need. Beth
</p> <p>wow i myself will be getting banded on oct 5th at 1:15pm .i also work in a hospital ,but i do enviromental services. i plan on taking one in a half to two weeks off because there is no light duty. are youas nervous as i am i haven't been able to sleep. its driving me crazy i just found out i was approved from my insurance last thursday. this is all happening so soon. let me know how your feeling. good luck</p>

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I do have a day job--and I took 2 weeks off. I return to work on 10/2, in fact. Kind of bites that I wasn't able to write during my recovery time after being banded. I was hoping to be "more alert" but man....I needed naps and "down time." An author friend of mine told me to consider it a "vacation" from one job and medical leave from the other.

Darr

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I really think a lot of it depends upon your starting weight. I really needed 9 days to be back to regular activity. Day 6 was difficult for me as I had a horrible stomach flu and diahreah every 20 minutes. (that made my recovery longer). I found that prior to 9 days I was too uncomfortable to sit at my desk.

-Leena

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Everyone is different and I had heard stories about people going back in to work the next day, well let me tell you, that was not the case with me!

I am only 29, and I have a generally high tolerance to pain (I have had surgery before and refused morphine & the pain killers and only took tylenol). So I was quite surprised when this surgery had me down for so long. (in my mind, I thought I would be back to yoga, running and step classes on day 3, but was surprised when I still couldn't get out of bed by myself by day 4).

I think that by day 6 I felt that I would be able to go back to work. I went back to work on day 7, but it was still hard for me, so I worked from home most of that first week back.

The most pain I had was around the port area bc they stitch it to the muscle, so I had to be really careful about getting up from sitting and sitting. I couldn't sleep in my own bed until about day 6 (slept in a recliner).

Good luck!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have to agree with Tulipstar. I was banded on Wednesday, Sept 26th. I usually have a high tolerence of pain. I am experiencing alot of pain at the port sight. I am off of work until Monday but I think I will try and see if I can work half days for the next two or three days.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am 12 days post op, and am going back to work tomorrow (Monday).

I planned on going back after 1 week, but I am glad I gave myself a few extra days to feel like myself again. Each day you will feel better and better. It just felt right for me. ;)

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

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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
      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

    ×