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How long was your leave from work for surgery?



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I am torn. The doctors office says they will give me 4 weeks. I know recovery isn't that long but I want to get use to the eating so I am not throwing up at my desk. Just curious as to how long folks took from work? I get 13 weeks of short term disability at my work. So torn :crying:

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I am torn. The doctors office says they will give me 4 weeks. I know recovery isn't that long but I want to get use to the eating so I am not throwing up at my desk. Just curious as to how long folks took from work? I get 13 weeks of short term disability at my work. So torn :crying:

I was 52 when banded - I was back to work day 6 - Desk Job

You most likely aren't going to be throwing up at your desk... You aren't suppose to throw up - You should be practicing small bites, chewing and eating slowly now - Heck with most docs you are on liquids for the first week if not longer (every doc is diff) then mushies and soft - you don't want any pbing during the healing stage - could affect your band - truly any pding can cause problems..

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Surgery Friday took off until the following Thursday, worked 1/2 days Thursday and Friday and back to full time the following Monday.

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I was banded August 28th (Thursday) and returned to work on Tuesday September 2nd. I should have maybe taken another day because I was tired from the medication by like 2pm but I finished out my day. I have a very high paced desk job but I was able to maintain the pressure even when I started to doze.

If you have the short term disability, you should at least take advantage of it for 7-10 days so you can see your surgeon for the post op appointment without rushing like I did.

Good luck to you! :crying:

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I had oodles of vacation time, plus short term disability, and when the surgeon said take 4 weeks, I took 4 weeks. Probably only needed 2, but I was pretty much off pain med by Sunday (surgery was previous Tues) and wanted to drive so I could go to my favorite park to walk. It is nice to take the time to get used to eating differently and you would likely just be ending the mushy stage, so if you have the time, take it. The last 2 weeks I ran errands, did stuff I would normally have to take off work to do anyway. My neighbor put the trash out for me (I have cats so I had to dump the litter once a week and put in new, so she did that for me so I wouldn't have to lift anything heavy). I went to the park to walk every day, and had my post op visit before I had to return to work.

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I was out three weeks and needed that much time. I have a hard time with anesthesia so it usually takes me awhile to get my energy back after having any type of surgery.

Everyone is different. There is absolutely no way I could have gone back to work in less than a week. I was still sleeping probably 18 hours a day at that time.

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surgery on a friday afternoon, back to work on following tuesday. floor job in factory. i was tired by the end of the day but nothing major. everyone is different but i can't imagine needing 4 weeks off for this. as far as pbing at work...you won't be eating mushies for 10 to 14 days so it won't be an issue. up to you but being home that long with not a lot to do but rest will drive you nuts. at least at work you stay busy and don't really think about not eating.

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I am so glad I found this forum. You folks are great and thank you for the quick responses. I have a wife that is a great support system and this forum gives me even more of a support because its the same folks that had it done. I cant wait for my surgery.

sleep study 10/3 and 10/10 2 weeks after that I should hear my answer from insurance.

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I had the surgery on Tuesday, Sept 2nd, and I went back to work on Wednesday, Sept 10th with no problems. I could have gone back 2 days earlier, but I wanted to be sure I could be out for several hours at a time without getting tired or feeling sick.

I am almost through the mushy stage, and I haven't gotten sick once. I am following the post-op diet carefully and thoroughly chewing my mushies!

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Thanks, everybody, for the info - I am starting to plan my time off and all the replies have helped me immensely. :thumbdown:

Depending on what day I have the surgery, I'll take the rest of that week and then a full week after.

I.E. Surgery on a Wednesday, take Thursday and Friday and the following week.

Surgery on a Monday, take the remainder of the week, maybe 1/2 the following week.

Thanks again for all the great info - I have a desk job, no heavy lifting. The most strenuous thing I do at work is walk to and from the train station when I'm getting there. Since the walking is good for me, I think I'll be good to go!:thumbup:

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I would take atleast 1 week and a 1/2.

I felt like my recovery was longer because I had a hernia repair, but 1 and a half weeks was fine for me.

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I have a very active job and I took 1.5 weeks. However, I then went to a one week conference where I sat at a table. So, it was almost 3 weeks before I returned to work. I really struggled that first week back and probably should have taken 4 weeks. I am 32, relatively healthy and expected to have a quick recovery, so I was sort of surprised it took me so long to recover. I should also mention I had a hernia repair at the same time...

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    • 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.
      · 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. 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💪
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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