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When will I be able to return to work post-op?

betrthnever

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betrthnever    107

betrthnever
Posted

:confused:My surgery is on Feb 14, 2008 (yes!!!!) but I don't know how long I'll have to take off. It is on a Wed. Trying to determine how much time I'll need to take off. It will be inpatient as I have BCBS of AZ and apparently that's they're policy. Can I have input from those of you who have already had it? Thanks much!

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betrthnever    107

betrthnever
Posted

THanks, the sooner I can return to work the better. Luckly, this all falls under FMLA so if it takes 2 weeks thats ok. But then I might not have enough sick leave so I just might not be paid. I'm so excited!!

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shortgal    5

shortgal
Posted

Hopefully, you'll feel well enough after one week, but everyone is different. I'm a little older ( 56) so my recovery was probably slower than someone that's under 40.

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rkj123    0

rkj123
Posted

It is so important to remember that each person is so very different. I had my surgery on a Monday and was back at work on Thursday (could have gone back on Wednesday but had a lot of sick leave). Good luck with your band!!

Robin

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socaldixiegal    0

socaldixiegal
Posted

I had surgery on Friday and was back on Wednesday, but didn't work a whole lot (office work). Moving around was still difficult (i.e. getting in and out of the car as I have a coupe). Some people will take only a few days - others much longer. Just remember that you're still not to lift over 5/10 lbs for several weeks after surgery.

I had a business trip the week after I went back to work (10 days post surgery) and it was exhausting. the walk from the gate down to pick the rental car bus nearly did me in. Would have to stop every so often and rest.

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Lethy912    0

Lethy912
Posted

Mine was on a Wed. to and all I did was take the rest of the week off and went back to work that Monday. I was still a little sore but as long as your job doesnt require much you should be just fine. Good luck!:nervous

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tonya66    13

tonya66
Posted

I took off 3 weeks - mainly because I could - with pay. I wanted to be on mushies before I returned to work.

I could have returned at about 10 days with absolutely no pain. Sooner, I think I would have had a little discomfort in the port area.

Best wishes.

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4mykidzinVale    0

4mykidzinVale
Posted

I recently had my surgery (Nov. 29th) and I took a full week off of work. Just remember, everyone is different. I healed quite quickly and could have gone back a few days earlier, but I had a one week post-op appointment and it is a 4 hour drive for me to get to my surgeons office, so I just took the entire week.

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antsmith101    0

antsmith101
Posted

I had my surgery on a Monday but went back to work Saturday (2nd job), I couldve went back to my main job around Thrusday. As long as your job isnt like lifting stuff and alot of moving then you should be fine. What helped was holding my port area at times when I felt uncomfortable... i shouldve wrap my stomach with bandage.

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munchkin392    1

munchkin392
Posted

I had surgery Dec 5th and was supposed to go back last Friday, but couldn't because my tummy still hurt too much. (I am an ICU nurse so my job is pretty lifting/moving patients around intensive)...I will definantly be going back this Friday. If you have a desk job I imagine you could go back fairly quickly, but like other posters said, it is different for everyone. Take as much time as you can!:)

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Totallytater    1

Totallytater
Posted

I think you will be fine going back on Monday, assuming you do mostly office work. My surgery was on Tuesday and I could've gone back on Saturday, had it been a workday.

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jmschnapf    0

jmschnapf
Posted

I just got banded Thursday the 13th, and went back to work on Monday the 17th for about 2/3 of the day. Worked over 1 hour on Tuesday, and worked 10 hours today. But, I work at a desk, it makes a huge difference on what you do. I also had a textbook surgery, no problems. I didn't have alot of sick time, it is a fairly new job.

If you have the time, take it to heal as best you can! Good Luck!

Jodie

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Longhorn    1

Longhorn
Posted

I was banded on a Thursday and returned to work on Tuesday. I get no sick leave -- another couple of days would have been nice but it was definitely doable. Good luck!

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Cota129    0

Cota129
Posted

I went back to work in 6 days. I am a therapist in the public school system, so I'm on my feet alot. I was tired, but I hated sitting at home

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Go To Topic Listing POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

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      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!
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    • Doughgurl

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      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!
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    • Alisa_S

      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

        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

      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

        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

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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