Hi all! I’m in the pre-op stages for gastric sleeve - I’m wondering how long your surgeons said your recovery would be? My MD said 2-3 weeks, but I feel like that’s a lot of time... I also realize it’s all dependent on the type of job, etc.
So how long were you told for your recovery / out-of-work restrictions?

Well, the recovery itself for me was about six weeks, BUT if you're talking about going back to work, I was up and walking around a few hours after surgery, and I was back to work (albeit, I have a desk job so I had to accommodate a little) after about five days.

Everyone's pain tolerance is different, but I was on no pain medication except what they gave me during. You just can't do any heavy lifting or anything for a few weeks to give your muscles time to heal.

I had surgery on a Tuesday and was out the rest of the week as well as the following week. I felt like I could have gone back the Thursday of that second week, but I'm glad I took the whole week. I'm a teacher, so the first few weeks back were pretty exhausting.

I have a friend who ended up taking 6 weeks off because she was healing slowly and had little energy.

Everyone is different.

Hi all! I’m in the pre-op stages for gastric sleeve - I’m wondering how long your surgeons said your recovery would be? My MD said 2-3 weeks, but I feel like that’s a lot of time... I also realize it’s all dependent on the type of job, etc.
So how long were you told for your recovery / out-of-work restrictions?

As the people above me have said, everyone's different. I work from home so I only took a couple days. I was also pretty fit and healthy, had no complications, and was cleared for the gym in 2 weeks. I was traveling at 3 weeks. Energy level was definitely lower until calories could catch up around 4 weeks. I'm a mover. I would have lost my mind with too much time. But again, everyone is different

I have a desk job as well and my dr has me out for two weeks. I think it’s the perfect amount of time for me. I’m day 8 post op and go back to work next Tuesday.

I took off three weeks but could have easily gone back after two (I had a desk job at the time -- I'm now retired)

I did bypass, but it's probably similar in terms of recovery. I initially took two weeks off and went back to work on Monday of the third week. I was so exhausted by noon that I went home and took another week off. I was okay for my desk job by week four.

I had the duodenal switch, and my program allowed for 4 weeks off for it. I was very active after about a week, though, and restless, so I went back to work after 3 weeks. My girlfriend, however, had the sleeve done through the same program. They gave her the 4 weeks off as well and she took the whole time. She was a little slower on healing, though, and getting active, so she didn't really get more active for about 2 weeks. We both have desk jobs.

I took off three weeks and this time I feel I really need the time. Starting to work again next Thursday. A two day week is nice to have for starters.

I planned 13 days, but the school district has now given me a month with the mandatory closure off if my surgery happens as scheduled.