How long did you take off work

ThinGwen

I have a job that I really enjoy, that isn't physically demanding, and that I can telecommute to for a while after surgery. Just wondering how long I'll really need to be out.

tat2cookie

I only had 5 days off. It sucked.

readallday

I had the sleeve. My surgery was on Wednesday and I went back to work the following Wednesday for a half day. I was bored at home and feeling good so it worked for me. I do a desk job that isnt physical.

denicejo

I took 2 weeks total but I could have used a few more days. I just felt really weak and tired the first fe days back at work. Luckily I have a desk job and I work in healthcare so my boss was understanding if I was foggy and off my game a few days. If I would've known, I would have taken 3 weeks.

ThinGwen

Thanks. I'm getting the sleeve, so I'm hoping that my recovery is quick. What did you find unexpectedly challenging?

cmchandler74

I took two weeks off from work and then worked from home for a week. Luckily, I have the type of job that involves meetings that I was able to do via conference call. It was a good setup for me because I could be in a relaxed environment and was able to just take my pain medication (if needed) immediately at the end of my work day. I used that week to wean myself off the stronger meds like Lortab into Tylenol.

From what I understand, my surgeon now uses an almost pain-free technique he created nicknamed "catfish." Basically, they cut the removed stomach portion down into smaller pieces (like catfish filets) so that they come out of a smaller incision site and it causes a lot less trauma and pain. There's a guy in my support group who had the surgery a month after me with the new technique who said he barely used his pain pump at all and was back on his feet starting to get active in less than a week. So it really depends on who your surgeon is and what techniques they use as to how much recovery time you will likely need.

blairmundy

I had the sleeve on a Thursday and was back to work on monday. I telecommute. I will say the first week or so I was groggy and not totally on my game. I'm a programmer, so that's not good. But I had purposely set up a bunch of menial tasks that had been on the back burner for a while - data entry, editing html, easy stuff - and took some short naps during the day. If your job is flexible like that, it can work out. If not, I'd say try to give yourself a full 7 days at least. The drugs and the healing just make everything kind of slow motion for a while.

anbrdr

With my rny on 7-8, I feel like I could have made it to work yesterday 7-15, but I'm taking 1 more week off, to spend some time with my family

garber6th

I took two weeks off, but I started working from home after three days because I felt fine and I was bored. I am glad I took the full two weeks though, I did have a lot of fatigue, and it was good to have the time to adjust.

sinderstorm

I would take at least a week. I'm a SAHM and postop went to my parent's house instead of going home to allow me to rest. I went home at the 1 week point, and was better but still glad to have my MIL stay with us for another week. If you can, take 2 weeks to have time to rest and heal- I was still needing naps most days during that second week postop.

Athollass

I took 4 weeks off as I had enough leave built up. I am a wound specialist for a 350 bed hospital my work is stressful, hectic and physically demanding with a lot of lifting. I needed the time to rest and heal. It helped me with adjusting to the post-op diet phases, as well as meeting the fluid and protein requirements. Something that, for me, would have been difficult at work. A lot depends on the individual, the type of job and the surgeon.

RENAEJAE

I had RNY on a Monday 6-15-15 and went back to work the following Monday. No one at work even knows I've had surgery. I could have used a second week to rest but I made due. I have an office job with lots of flexibility. My long lunch time walks became long lunch time naps along the river trail. There are some really great flat rocks along the river that I would stop at and snooze in the sun for 20 minutes. Taking things at your own pace is key. You will have very low energy for a while. I'm a month out and still have some low energy days. Keeping up on the protein is a full time job. Best of luck to you. Lots of support here!

denicejo

ThinGwen wrote: »

Thanks. I'm getting the sleeve, so I'm hoping that my recovery is quick. What did you find unexpectedly challenging?

I think the most challenging thing was how weak I was. You are taking in so little that your body is functioning on so little that you just have NO energy. I still felt hungry at first so that was weird, most people say they never felt hungry again after vsg...well I wasn't that lucky. So it was frustrating to be starving but could only take in an ounce at a time at first. I think over all the one thing I wish someone would have told me is that 80% of this whole journey will be mental. I've had 3 friends have vsg after me and I pretty much tell them to brace themselves for the mental aspect of it. I don't regret one second of it at all but would have like to have the heads up. I mean I knew things would change but I just wasn't really ready and I think no one really talks about it.

ThinGwen

denicejo wrote: »

" wrote:

. I think over all the one thing I wish someone would have told me is that 80% of this whole journey will be mental. I've had 3 friends have vsg after me and I pretty much tell them to brace themselves for the mental aspect of it. I don't regret one second of it at all but would have like to have the heads up. I mean I knew things would change but I just wasn't really ready and I think no one really talks about it.

What do you mean, 80 % mental.

ThinGwen

Ok, so that was a failed try at quoting. Question remains / what do you mean, that it's 80% mental?

terimorena

I took 4 weeks off and even after that it's been a struggle to get back. I work in a busy clinical setting where I am on my feet all day and in front of patients so u have to be on my game. The first week I had to get reacquainted with being at work while trying to get all of my protein and water in. I was so exhausted my first week that I didn't go to the gym once last week. The kcals I burn while walking are more than I can consume right now. Be patient w/ yourself and remember that you are amputating your stomach. Your body will need weeks to heal completely. And then there's the mental aspect.

anbrdr

I think by mental, it involves a lot of things. Being ready to give up, and avoid your former ways of health and nutrition. Completely examining and reinventing your relationships with food, body image, and actual relationships.

The surgery gives you the rewards first, then expects you to put in the work to maintain our new body size. But if you don't make solid mental changes and don't have dedication, it will all be for nothing, and you will regain the weight.

sinderstorm

ThinGwen wrote: »

Ok, so that was a failed try at quoting. Question remains / what do you mean, that it's 80% mental?

There is a HUGE habit/mental switch that has to happen with any of the WLS. You can no longer walk up to the sink, slam 8+oz of water 8x a day to get your water in, you have to sip constantly when you aren't eating, especially in the early weeks/months. Same with food, you're never going to get your protein in if you don't eat until noon and then try to down a cheeseburger and salad in a 10 minute span. It will not work, and you will likely throw up what you ate.

The foods that have been your friends can no longer be there for you. You're eating/sipping all day long, and in very small amounts. At first you move through the full liquid, then pureed foods, then soft foods, and then diet for life stages over several weeks. Foods that you used to be able to eat you may not tolerate anymore, and your portion sizes are itty bitty in comparison. It is a huge mental thing to come to terms with, even if you think you're prepared.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to have my VSG, and have no regrets about doing it. But there is far more to this surgery then just waiting for a few surgical sites to heal. That is part of it, but you will also need to climb the mental mountain of your new relationship with food and drinks for the rest of your life.

cabennett99

Everyone is different. I had RNYGB, and I took two weeks off which was about right for me. Some do it in less, some need more time.

pattycakes726

I took off 2 weeks after sleeve surgery. I have a desk job and felt fine going back after 2 weeks.

pawoodhull

I was off 2 weeks. I have a desk job so could have gone back earlier but really wanted the extra time to get my food and drink routine set in my head before adding the job back in.

CEK0220

I had gastric bypass in March, and took 2 weeks off. I am so glad I did, too. I was able to focus on healing, getting in a routine, and resting. Not sure of the others, but I was pretty worn out for about 2 months.

QuilterGirl3

Three weeks.

Ultima_Morpha

I took the full six weeks that was approved by my short term disability insurance...I also had an umbilical hernia repair, hiatal hernia repair, and part of my esophagus removed at the time of my RNY.

I could have easily gone back to work in the office after a couple of weeks but I developed pancreatitis and pneumonia about 10 days after my surgery and spent nearly 5 days in the hospital. That recovery was much worse than the surgery!

I'm happy to have taken the time to recover. I've been able to establish a good selection of foods that I can eat and get a lot of exercise in.

nilklynn

I would not have been able to go back for at least 4 weeks after my sleeve. I had unexpected issues and the recovery was ROUGH! I'm great now, but it was a really tough month. I'm a teacher, so fortunately I was able to do it during summer vacation.

loveshoe

I took two weeks off and returning to work put me back in my normal routine. I took my lunch and a back up lunch incase I had problems with my first choice. I also stocked my fridge at work with yogurt and protein drinks. If I couldn't eat my pureed lunch then I new I could eat the yogurt or drink the protein shake. I didn't have any problems and my energy seemed to return after the first week back. Sitting around all day zapped all my energy.

greenbaymichk

I took 5 weeks off - I could probably have gone back at 4 weeks. Don't skimp on recovery time - it takes awhile to adjust to the new eating/drinking regimen.

rpyle111

I took 4 weeks off, covered by generous short term disability coverage. While I was up and around after a couple of weeks, I still took a bunch of naps and was glad for the extra time to get lots of walking and other exercise in and get accustomed to the eating rhythm. When I went back, I was pretty much back to full energy. Another reason to expect a longer recovery is that if any complications happen, you won't be rushed back.

1triciakae

I was sleeved 7/20/2015, I took 2 weeks off. I honestly could have went back after 1 week. I work a desk job. The second week I did enjoy taking my kids and hubby places. That was nice.
I am 5 weeks out right now and on pureed foods. I do not get hungry so the one thing I have noticed is that I am disliking food because I am never hungry so I force myself to eat.
Also your sense of taste and smell changes a lot after surgery. For me personally everything tastes to sweet or too salty.

RENAEJAE

I has RNY on 6-15-15 and took 1 week off. I work in an office and didn't share with anyone that I was having surgery. They thought I was on vacation. No issues going back to work other than the fatigue. You'll have low energy for several weeks so just listen to your body. Good luck!

JamesAztec

I had the sleeve and took off 13 days from work. I'm a bus driver. Even though I'm sitting there are some demands on the body to do the job. I was driving my own car a week after surgery. My guess is that if you have a desk job 1-2 weeks should be fine. If it's a more physically demanding job than 2 weeks plus.