recovery How long were you off work?

[alli.wakefield 16]

Hello everyone! I am in the process of converting from my band (2012) to the sleeve. I had minimal success with the band and seemed to have an extremely tiny "green zone" where I could feel restriction but not be overfilled. I'm talking about .5mms! So I spent the majority of my banded time feeling extremely frustrated and like a failure. None the less, I am waiting on my insurance to approve me for removal so I can get sleeved. My doctor submitted everything earlier this week so I'm hoping to hear by early next week! My doctor wants to wait a few months before I get sleeved, which I am okay with.

From what he's told me, the recovery from the band removal is easier than getting the band in and I had an extremely easy recovery with getting banded. So, I'm hoping to take a simple Friday off from work, get my band removed and be back at work on Monday. (I have a sedentary desk job.) I don't want to raise flags that I'm getting surgery with the removal because within a few months, I hope to be getting surgery again in order to get sleeved. So I'm anticipating on missing at least a week of work so others are definitely going to notice. But I'm wondering what other's experiences were? How much time did you plan to take off and how much time did you actually end up missing from work? My company is very nice and will allow me to miss as much as I need but I only have so much PTO so I need to plan ahead for budgeting purposes.

TIA!

[kimgrapevine 3]

I had band removed and sleeved ona Thursday morning home that afternoon; went to the grocery store on Saturday and back to work on Monday......I was a little tired but didn't have any issues getting fluids and Protein down! I am 2 weeks post op today!

[Introversion 1,876]

I took 2 weeks off work, but could have taken just 1 week off due to an uneventful recovery.

Back then I worked a partially physical, partially sedentary job as an RN supervisor at a specialty hospital, so I was able to spend a considerable part of my shift behind a desk.

I drove myself home from the hospital (45 miles on the interstate). I was off all pain meds by the 4th postoperative day and grocery shopping on the 5th postoperative day.

[Stephanielp 120]

I work 12 hours on a psych unit I took 2 weeks off but after week 1 I think i would have been ok... but I also had sleeve and hernia repair not the removal of the band

progress starts in the mind

[hmills653 365]

I was sleeved with hiatal hernia repair on May 31. My doctor told me at least 4 weeks off but I work on a med surg flor and they don't allow light duty. The first week I was miserable and couldn't get fluids in. I couldn't imagine trying to do that at work. However if you have a desk job where you can have a drink to sip on frequently that will help. I'm feeling better this week but I'm not sleeping well and everything I do drains me. I still haven't been a nkle to meet my Protein goal yet but getting close now thatI just started soft food yesterday. One of the girls that had surgery same day as me was out at the store 2 days out and said she felt great and went out to eat and had Soup. It all depends on the person. We're both in our 40's, so it's not an age difference. I fell like if be fine to go to a desk job this week. I wish they'd let me fill in as secretary, but they won't.

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[Redo2017 247]

I'm glad this question was asked. I'm getting sleeved on a Monday and hope to be back to work the following Monday. I have a desk job but my commute involves about a mile of walking each way. I'm hoping that will be doable.

[Melissa315 54]

I am a head start teacher. I planned my bypass surgery to take place 3 days before our 1 week spring break. I had my surgery on 3/15 and returned to work on 3/27 (the Monday after Spring Break). It was more than enough time. I spent 2 days in the hospital and on the way home from the hospital stopped at Target to get meds and walked around the whole store! It was extremely easy for me to get back to work!! Best of luck to each of you and hope you recover just as quickly!!

[Jess55 97]

I had a band to sleeve revision on March 6th. I was in the hospital 2 nights due to nausea. I didn't take any pain meds after the first night. I took 11 total days off of work. I probably could've gone back after less than a week. I am an LVT in the emergency department at a specialty veterinary hospital. I was fine on my feet 10 hour shifts. I just didn't lift any dogs over 40 lbs my first 4 weeks (my doc gave me the 40lb limit, I know for most it's less). I think I was in less pain for this sx vs the band. It hurt only when getting up or getting down

[mustanglauri 15]

I'm glad this question was asked. I'm getting sleeved on a Monday and hope to be back to work the following Monday. I have a desk job but my commute involves about a mile of walking each way. I'm hoping that will be doable.

I was able to. Just walk as much as you can right after surgery. The first time I walked around the floor I did 2 laps. The next time was 10. Everyone is different. There was no way I could have sat home any longer than 1 week.