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

Time Off From Work



Recommended Posts

Hi all, my surgery is scheduled for Sept 17, 2008, how long was it before you went back to work after surgery?

Thanks, in advance!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It depends on what type of job you have and how quickly you recover. I had surgery 8/29 and was back in school that next tuesday. Many people take a week or more if they have office jobs. Of course something more strenuous requires a longer recovery time.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi,

i am being banded a day after you and I am a nurse and I took 2 weeks off just in case. Just wanted a extra week to give me some time before I go back taking care of sick people since have a 2 week lifting restriction. It will be up by then also.

Renea

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have a desk job. The type of work you do is important to note.

Had surgery on a Friday and went back to work 1/2 day the following Thursday and 1/2 day the following Friday. Back to full time the following Monday.

Edited by Jodi_620

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I took off 1 week then went back to work and worked 1 week on light duty! Now I am back at it. It has been 3 week since my surgury and I still get tried easy. Take it easy!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi there, I had my surgery on August 7th and went back to work on the August 18th. Make sure after your surgery you get up and walk around the gas will need to come out. I wish you the best of luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was a slower recoverer I think.. I had the surgery Monday, Aug. 18 and took a week at home. The following Monday I went to a computer training for work, and was sitting most of the day but felt AWFUL! By Tuesday I was better, but still sore. I had a difficult time until probably Thursday or Friday of that week sitting for too long, as it hurt my port site (I found out later I had a slight infection.) However, it was also one of my busiest weeks (because I had a lot to catch up on) and had 12 hour days every day that first week back.

I was told 4 to 7 days and was expecting myself to be a four day person, as I am pretty young and have few health problems! Nu-uh! I would say it was at least 10 days before I felt really well.

At the hospital, the nurses were calling me a "superstar" because I was walking around so much and becoming very active, but that was not at all a prediction to how long it took me to feel good again!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have a desk job, but I am up and down all day and walking. I took 2 weeks off and it seemed just right. I was sore and had a lot of shoulder pain the 3rd week after surgery (my first week back) but it wasn't too bad.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My surgery was on the 8th, and I was only supposed to take a week, but at the post-op appointment, my surgeon wrote the return to work letter for this Wednesday because I still can't drive and was having problems getting around. I'm an attorney for the government, so I can (and will) take the extra time off ... it just doesn't make sense to me to go back to work at 60-70%, so I'm going to wait until I can be truly productive and then I'm not lifting, pushing or pulling anything other than a desk calendar :embaressed_smile:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I originally took one week off, but ended up staying home a second week. I have a desk job, but sitting up all day would not have worked for me. Last week was my first week back and I was still sore and really tired.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Since I am a nurse, my Dr made me take 6 weeks off work until my lifting restriction was over. I was able to do light duty after 3 weeks, but I work in the ER, so there is not that much light duty to do. Employee Health at my hospital would not let me work until I have a note from the doctor clearing me. This was really bad, because my dr told me originally that I could have surgery on Wed, and go back to work on Monday. Then, after the surgery I couldn't go back, so thankfully my boss is working with me and my unexpected 6 weeks off..what a nightmare it has been! I had to take a temporary leave of absence!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm having surgery on a Thursday and going back to work the following Monday (fri sat sun off). My employer isn't exactly thrilled about me or anyone taking unpaid time off, and I don't have much time saved up. I've been trying to save it but it just seems like one thing after another. I'll have just enough vacation time to take off the day of my surgery and the day after... BARELY.

Luckily I have a desk job and I'm 24, so the doc says I might feel pretty crappy but I should be able to hang.

Wish me luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It's funny. I'm a nursing student and my doc told me "I've had quite a few nurses who go back after a week". Of course, being in school is grueling but NOT as grueling as "working the job"...so I had surgery on Friday and class on Tuesday. I felt marvelous, actually! But I badly bombed a simple math test. And I'm good at math. My problems were that I rounded every answer off incorrectly. I remembered what she told us to do. I understood exactly what she wanted. BUT I didn't do it. DUH? So it would've been better if I could've had more time. My caveat...even if early on you feel great, you may not be operating up to speed. Fortunately, since she IS a nurse, after quizzing me my teacher "passed me" anyway. So take as much time as you can. Even if post op you are quick to recover (like I was) it's hard to function well on only Water and broth.< /p>

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you all, I took a week and a half off from work and i feel pretty good like i can return now 7 days post surgery and i lost 13 pounds I don't know if thats slow or fast but it feels good to see the numbers on the scale go down finally.......:girl_hug:

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!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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

    ×