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How much time off work?



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How long should I expect to be off work after banding? I was hoping for 2-3 weeks. I don't want to go back to work on liquids. I am a nurse who works on a very busy unit and don"t always get breaks on a regular schedule.

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Im lucky to have off until Jan 5th. I have read people going back to work 5 days afterward surgery. But like you, my job keeps me on my feet all the time! I was banded Wed 18th and even though I feel mentally good, I do have pain at port site (feels like muscle pull) however I get relief when I sit to rest. So, I would not be very good on my feet all day if I was back to work now. I would try to get as much time off as possible.

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Very funny you asked this question. I think that 2 weeks would be good maybe even a week. If you are on your feet all the time. The surgery really isn't that bad. Every day gets a bit better. Well I had my surgery on the 18 and I planned on taking untill today off which is 4 days. I work at geico and sit all day so I didn't think that would be a problem. However I woke up today and couldn't imagine going to work for 12 hours answering the phones. So I called in. I do have to go tomorrow and wednesday but then I have 3 more days off.

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Yikes! Maybe I underestimated the procedure. I will be banded (hopefully) on the 31st. (I say hopefully because the liquid pre-op is killing me. Its all I can not to take a bite of something. I hope my liver does not give me problems). Anyway, because of the holiday, and the fools on the road here in Florida on New Years, I convinced my dr. to admit me for the night, I check out on the 1st. then I planned to go back to work by the 2nd. Is that an unrealistic goal? I'm not worried about the eating, I can drink all day..but will I be in pain? discomfort? I work at a school district office and most employees will be out until the 5th. It will just be my secretary and myself at my desk all day. I was hoping to sit in my office at my desk with the door closed. Is that a possibility?

~jackie~

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u shouldnt go back the next day-u really need at least a week.

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I went back after a week and a half. I should have taken the full two weeks but did'nt want work to pile up. I'd say if you have to be on your feet for 12 hours plan on two weeks plus. Keep in mind you will be on 10 lbs restriction for 6 weeks so if you can't go back to light duty then it will be longer before you can return.

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My doctor has told me that as long as the work doesn't involve heavy lifting, we could have the surgery on a Wednesday and be back at work on a Monday. That would be 5 days off total. This is what I'm planning on doing.

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What's the recovery? Are you in pain? Or is it the inconveinece of the liquid diet? It seems as it is a case by case basis. Some will recuperate more than others faster and your line of work. If I can sit all day, or walk if I need to, work might not be too bad?

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I was banded on the 10th and went back to work on the 15th. I'm a Xerox sales agent but I kept my schedule light. Wish I would have taken more time off, but I didn't want things to pile up. Hope that helps.

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I didn't go back to work on liquids either. I took two weeks off. On my first day back to work I felt awesome and still do! Two weeks was just the right amount of time off for me.

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Im an RN in a busy unit was going to go back after 10 days md told me to take 3 weeks , so Iam , that way get 2 weeks state disability and will be on soft diet when I go back. Was banded a week ago 12/15 and feeling ok now not on narcotic pain med anymore. So I think for a nurse 2-3 weeks is probably right

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I can't imagine going back to work after one day. I was in pain until about the 5th day. I tried to go back to work after 2 weeks off and my Boss made me go home because my note from the DR had restrictions. I was mad and felt good enough to go back to work but had to take another 5 days off before my DR would release me with NO restrictions. I also work in a hospital as a Respiratory Therapist.

Edited by rikye1

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I was out for two weeks. The whole first week I was in a lot of pain and then made the turn in the second week, but was really tired. I was still pretty tired when I went back and glad I took the two weeks!

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Hi Kathi!

I was just banded on the 22nd. I work for the Fed Gov't and have about 15 wks of sick leave accumulated. ( I've been there almost 20 years, and very rarely use much time) I also work part time for a printing company, which requires standing and doing a lot of heavy lifting of boxes of paper. I know I won't be able to work there for 2 months, due to the weight restriction. I was hoping to take about 3 weeks off from the Govt.

Also, I ended up having 3 procedures done...the band, had my gallbladder removed, and repaired a hiatal hernia ( that I didn't know I had). So..with the added procedures, I am waiting for my first post-op visit to discuss with him my return to work date. I don't really want to go back to work while still on all liquids. I am very busy, and often don't get my scheduled breaks in, so, I don't see a lot of opportunity to sit around doing a lot of sip, sip, sipping...if you know what I mean.

By the way, Kathi..you're not to far from me...Fayetteville is about 20 mins from me in Hagerstown!

Good Luck!

Di :thumbup:

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I took more time off due to traveling to and from Mexico then I actually needed for the surgery and recovery. I was off of work Thursday, Friday, and the following Monday. I had to fly over to Mexico on Thursday, had surgery on Friday, and then flew back on Sunday. Took Monday off mainly to recover from getting in at 11:30pm the night before. I was back at work on Tuesday. Really I think 2 or 3 weeks turns this into a vacation and not really recovery. On Friday it will have been 3 weeks since my surgery and I am doing fine. BUT, I have a desk job so it's not very physically demanding. The surgeon had told me no lift over 15 lbs for 3 weeks after surgery so you should take that into consideration with your nursing job depending on what part of nursing you are in. Best of luck!

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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
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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.
      · 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.

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