I know it will be different for every person, but help me understand how you felt 5-7 days out.

I am a teacher and finally got my surgery date. I will be banded August 13th. I will be returning to work on the 18th for a week of teacher workdays. That is surgery on Wednesday, return to work on Monday. Could you have swung that?

Also, I will be starting my first day teaching after 12 days of the liquid diet. The first few days of school are very demanding. How weak were you on full liquids?

jack&kota, as you prefaced everyone is different taking into consideration a persons age, job, physical demands etc. Personally, I took a week and 2 days vacation (my surgery was last Thursday) and I am praying that I have the energy to take on a full day of work next Monday. I was told that my energy would come back but I had no idea. Couple that with no caffeine! one-two-punch (I did have a cup this morning because I needed it bad). You know your body better than anyone but I would take no less than a week to recuperate.

I'm in the same boat. I'm a teacher and my surgery is scheduled for Monday, August 25th. My first official day back is two days later on Wednesday, the 27th for a fun full day of meetings and workshops. I don't have to return until the following Tuesday, September 2nd for my first day with students.

Right now I am not planning on missing work. If I have too I will take the 27th off but I hate to take the day if I am just going to be sitting there. I will only be sitting at home so I might as well just go and sit there and listen. A co-worker last year had the surgery on a Wednesday and was back to teaching the following Monday. She said she was sore but she took it easy in the classroom. I plan to have my classroom ready for the first week of school before I have my surgery.

Perhaps I'm crazy and I may have to make adjustments to this plan once I have the surgery. But I will do my best not to miss any work.

I had it done on a Monday and went back to work on Thursday with no problems... felt completely normal at 5-7 days. The worst part was the uncomfortableness from the gas they put in to open things up, it makes your shoulders hurt a little. Never was in any "pain".

I had my surgery on a Thursday. If I had to, I could have returned to work on Monday, but I'm glad I didn't have to. I took that whole week off. On Thursday, a week after surgery, I was so restless that I decided to go shopping. I felt fine, but just running into Target and Costco for a couple of things, and then the grocery store, wore me out.

If you think not having caffeine will be a problem, you may want to wean yourself off of it before surgery. I stopped drinking caffeine a month before my surgery so I wouldn't have to deal with that as well. I stepped down from Diet Pepsi to unsweetened tea and then to decaf tea.

I felt a lot like myself after one week, but didn't feel horrible before that just achy and tired. I would definitely make sure if you go back to work that you are able to rest after work.

Good luck!!

Suzanne

I had surgery on 7/8/08, so today makes me 9 days out. I felt much better than I thought I would, but still was sore so sleeping was difficult. I am starting back to work this Monday, but had initially thought I would take only about a week off. Sure glad I took the extra time, mostly because a trip to the grocery store, or even doing some cleaning around the house really wore me out. Just don't push yourself, and if you do go back earlier rather than taking the extra time, make sure you are prepared to need breaks to move around and you will be wiped out the first few days once you get home. Good Luck!!

I had my surgery last a week ago today and was back at work Monday. I had no problems returning to work on Monday. I've had no pain other than being a little uncomfortable at times from gas.

Good Luck!!!

Waynette

What about the recovery (the first week) was the most troublesome for you? Also, what was the easiest?