i am pre op also my doctors absolutly stress a minumum of 2 weaks because not only are you healing, but it takes some adjusting to sip on water all the tine and the liquid only portion of recovery, also to adjust to the vitamen scheduale.....just thought id give you the point of vew from diff doctor

I was back to work after a week off. I probably could have gone back after a few days considering no pain and no problems with mobility, but definitely got very tired by mid afternoon and needed to take naps. So a week was good for me and I have a desk job.

I had the RNY, however my surgeon prescribed two weeks off for both RNY and sleeve. I work in IT, and I'll be honest, I probably could have gone back to work after just a week, however even after 2 weeks off I was thoroughly beat by the end of my first couple of days at work.

I took two weeks off and needed them, even for my desk job. I was still exhausted and just needed to focus on getting my fluids and protein in. Even for the first three days that I did go back to work, I only made it until about 2 or 3 in the afternoon and then went home because I was too tired.

I had the sleeve done on a Tuesday. I was suppose to have a work call from home on Friday but had to cancel. I went back to work part-time on Monday (teaching a 2 hour class where I was on my feet.) I was still a little sore while driving and I was tired in the afternoon, but it was very manageable. If you can, I would take a week and then work half-time or reduced hours for the next few days, and then back to full-time after that.

My doctor wouldn't let me take less than 2 weeks, I ended up taking 4. I was healthy and off pain meds and feeling okay at 2 weeks, but I am glad I took the full 4 to re-train myself to eat at specific times and figure out how much liquid I could handle at once, etc.

I was back at work in two weeks and only had a little discomfort and soreness. I have a desk job so had to get up through out the day and walk around discomfort was from sitting to long.

I have a desk job and was off 2 weeks. Physically I could have gone back sooner, but a friend, who also had WLS went back early and felt he really didn't have a handle on the food and water requirements and how he was going to make that work with his job, so he told me to take my full 2 weeks. I did and when I came back I knew what I needed to do and how I was going to get it done.

Pat.

I just wanted to put this out there. Why do we all find the need to rush back to work? Do you not have short term insurance or time accrued and do it because of financial pressure? I do have insurance to cover my time off, so I plan on taking as much time as I need. This might sound lazy in today's culture, but I look at it this way. We are making modifications to our bodies basic functions, and huge mental and physical changes. I want to return to work, strong, not weak. I want to be prepared to handle those first days back, not feeling like I need to take a nap or am completly miserable, because I still havent figured out how to balance my food, water and work at the same time. Please, for all us upcoming WLS patients, take your time. I think the more we push, the harder it is and this is already a huge undertaking.

For all you veterans, please include in your answer:
Did you return quickly due to money
Was your return seamless or did you struggle

Thank you all

Good points. As I said in my response, although I could have gone back sooner, I took my full 2 weeks for just the reasons you stated. I wanted to be sure I totally understood what I needed to have food and water wise and make sure I knew how I was going to work that around my job.

I agree wholeheartedly. If you can take the time, have the insurance and leave to provide the income, take your full amount of time. It makes it so much easier to work our plans when we are really comfortable with what we need to do for our new tummies and new lifestyle.

Pat

Hello
I assumed based in everyone's comments that two weeks was sufficient. While I'm not in pain anymore, I am still off work on week three and not intending to rush back full time until week five, which is what my Dr. Gives. My job allows for work from home flexibility, so I am doing about 2-4 hours a day starting this week, but it find that I am very easily fatigued and am not ready to be back at my desk job all day. I typically work ten hours at work and working at home I am still finding that by mid- afternoon I have no energy. So I would be pretty useless sitting at my desk with in concentration. I am still on purée food for a few more weeks, so I hope that my energy comes back as I eat more. I fully expected to be back to work after a week or two, and had to be convinced to take the extra time I need and not rush back. There is something to be said about giving yourself a chance to adjust to changes and get your strength back even if physically you aren't in pain...

I went back to work after the staples were removed. But I could have been back in the first week. But the dr wanted me to be out the whole 6 weeks. I was back at the gym, just walking, within three weeks.

I have a desk job, and I took off 3 weeks. I needed every bit of those 3 weeks too. I had an awesome recovery in the fact that I was never sick and had no complications. I found that just sitting up sometimes was too much, and I needed to stretch out. It really does suck up a lot of your energy, and you find yourself tired after not doing a lot.

I have a very physically demanding job, so I took 5 weeks off FMLA (I'm currently in week 4), and then I have to do a month of desk duty. Better to be ready to go than try to push it.