Question:
How soon can I return to work after Lap RNY?
If my surgery is sheduled on a Thursday, is it unreasonable to think I will be able to return to work (at a desk job) the following Monday or Tuesday? Thanks in advance for all advice. — lasias (posted on July 21, 2006)
July 21, 2006
Are you wanting to return to work that soon????!!!!
I would give your body some time to heal, you my also be in alot of pain.
Our work we had two weeks off... and I was glad for ir all.
— jackie B.
July 21, 2006
This is major surgery even if the incisions are small. They are re-routing
your insides. It is totally crazy to think you can go back to work so
quickly. My surgeon recommended a miniumu of 4 weeks and preferably 6. I
took 5 and I am glad I did. I was very tired for the first 3 weeks and
very uncomfortable for the first 10 days. I have a desk job too. Give
yourself a break. You also have to adjust to a new eating regime and that
takes some time and thought. Don't set yourself up for failure. Give
yourself a little healing time. If your employer wants to know when you
will be back - tell him at least a month to 6 weeks. Then if you are
superman or superwoman and feel up to it sooner, they will be impressed and
happy when you return. If you try to go back too early and then have to
take off again it won't make them happier. This is about getting healthy.
Give yourself the time you need.
— patgels
July 21, 2006
This is major surgery even if the incisions are small. They are re-routing
your insides. It is totally crazy to think you can go back to work so
quickly. My surgeon recommended a miniumu of 4 weeks and preferably 6. I
took 5 and I am glad I did. I was very tired for the first 3 weeks and
very uncomfortable for the first 10 days. I have a desk job too. Give
yourself a break. You also have to adjust to a new eating regime and that
takes some time and thought. Don't set yourself up for failure. Give
yourself a little healing time. If your employer wants to know when you
will be back - tell him at least a month to 6 weeks. Then if you are
superman or superwoman and feel up to it sooner, they will be impressed and
happy when you return. If you try to go back too early and then have to
take off again it won't make them happier. This is about getting healthy.
Give yourself the time you need.
— patgels
July 21, 2006
I have my surgery scheduled for this Tuesday the 25th. I told my work that
I want at least 2 weeks off, and I have a desk job. I will be put on short
term disability. I will still get paid, which will be nice, and I don't
have to take vacation days. I would ask your doctor and see what he
recommends and then tell your employer what your doctor says. I am sure
they will work with you. Good Luck.
— danals24
July 21, 2006
Hi Hoping - I guess it depends on your work situation. I did not have a
choice, I had to go back to work, I also have a desk job and it was
difficult and tiring but I did it. If you have the opportunity to stay home
for 2 weeks than definittely take it! But if you don't you will survive :o)
Just take it easy and slow.
Hope that helps,
Kim
— kimmy
July 21, 2006
My surgeon says we need 2-3 weeks off with lap surgery. Now, having said
that, I have read many posts from people who return to work after a few
days. Expect to be very tired ... But as long as you are careful, it
probably won't hurt you. Listen to your body ...
Annette
— peacefuldaizy
July 21, 2006
I was given 4 weeks off from my surgeon (1 week vacation, 3 weeks
disability - California). I was in the hospital for 4 days and was in bed
for an additional 4 days being really weak and barely able to get my food
in. And I had no complications! I knew a girl who had been in the hospital
a month and a half because she had complications and leaks. If you don't
have the time off, I would wait on the surgery until you have accrued the
time off or can afford to take time off. It is imperative that you allow
your body the time to heal. If you don't allow yourself the time to heal it
could cause complications that could cause you to go back in the hospital.
Good luck and remember to not sell yourself so short as to worry about your
work over your own health!
— [Deactivated Member]
July 21, 2006
I had my surgery on Friday, December 9th. I did not get out of the hospital
until the following Tuesday, the 13th. I went to work on Monday the 19th
and worked 4 hours a day that week. I went back full time on Tuesday the
27th (We were closed the 26th for Christmas). My surgery was done LAP and I
had no real complications. You are not 100% guaranteed that you will have
it done LAP when you go under. Sometimes you wake up have had and open
sugery. I woke up having had a VBG rather than a bypass. There is NO WAY
you can go back to work on Tuesday from a sugery on Thursday. At least wait
until the drain has been removed.
— WMKaisla
July 21, 2006
I guess the answer to this question depends on you.
Now, I had open RNY, and I was in the hospital for 5 days. Lost a lot of
blood during the surgery. Afterwards, I was pretty sick, and couldnt even
think of work for two weeks. Then it was two weeks of half days from home.
When I went back to work full time, four weeks after surgery, it was still
all I could do to get through a whole day.
I dont think I would plan on going back that quickly.
Chris
— CChappell
July 21, 2006
If you are totally healthy going into a surgery as major as this, then
MAYBE you could go back that soon. If, as I suspect, you have some other
problems as you are "hoping to be healthy", then only taking off
a few days is going to be a problem.
I was hospitalized three days and spent another day in a hotel because I
was too ill at discharge to make the 2 hour trip home. It has taken me a
good 3 weeks to start to feel better and be able to function at all. I had
some minor complications with medication tollerances, as what we can
tollerate pre-op isn't the same as what we can tollerate post op. I was
horribly weak and could only function for an hour at the most if I had to
run an errand and that was if I was using an electric cart to get around
somwhere. That was an hour from the time I got in the car until I had to be
home.
It was only once I got past my third week post op that I started to feel
able to even sit on the computer for more than a few minutes at a time. I
also had issues with hydration and nutrition because of the medication
problems.
So, to really answer your question... most likely you are going to have a
rough time if you are going to try to return that fast.
If this is a financial issue, is it possible to save a bit so you CAN take
the time off? If it's an issue of an uncooperative employer, if you've been
there over a year look into the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Most
employers, unless it's a super small company, have to abide by this which
allows you to take up to 12 weeks off in a one year period for care of
yourself or a family members medical issues.
Remember that this IS a major surgery and complications can happen so you
need to be prepared for them.
— oceanrayne
July 21, 2006
I'm 1 week out, and I took 2 weeks off of work, with the possiblity of a
3rd week. I have a desk job and trust me even after 1 week, i'm glad I have
another one to go, your body needs the time to heal and you need to get
your rest. trust me it's worth it. take as much time off as you can, if you
are concerned about income, see if you qualify for the family leave act or
state unemployment if you won't be getting paid. Good luck!
— Jenney
July 21, 2006
I was at work 3 days after surgery and even though it is a sit down job I
found it was just too much. Give yourself at least a week and a half. Your
body is adjusting to your new nutritional intake and you will be a little
weak and tired for awhile.
— shannonwaycott
July 21, 2006
You must give yourself time to heal. My doc told me to expect to be out 4
to 6 weeks. I took six weeks of sick and vacation time. I was glad I did.
Even when I returned to work after the six weeks, I was very tired the
first week back. My employeer was very supportive and would send me home
early. Don't be in a rush to return to work. Use this time to heal and
regain your strength. God bless you on this new and exciting journey.
— KEB
July 21, 2006
I think it's a bit unreasonable. I had mine on a Friday, didn't even get
out of the hospital until Monday. I took two weeks out and definitely
needed that first full week. I MIGHT have been able to go back the second
week, when I was feeling quite a bit better, and getting bored, but I still
tired pretty easily and was glad to have the two weeks. I really think you
need to give yourself at least a full week. Even though it's lap, the
first few days after you get out, you're going to find it very hard to do
simple things like standing up and sitting down!
— sandsonik
July 21, 2006
As you can tell by the plethora of responses, EVERYONE is different!
I had a gastric bypass laproscopically done and NEVER felt pain, just
discomfort from the gas (like I had just overeaten at a buffet or
something). I was up and walking the first hour out of surgery and went
home the next morning feeling great! I "could have" gone back to
work as soon as you suggested, but I'm glad I didn't have to! Feeling
tired is natural...enjoy your time off! And, most importantly, listen to
YOUR surgeon, not anyone else! :O)
— zoeysgrami
July 23, 2006
Oh heavens no! Forget it! You will most likely kill the boss if he even
called and suggested it. No give yourself time to heal. It takes some
longer than others but none of us were super humans....good luck with your
surgery!
Robert - [email protected]
— RobertMiller
July 24, 2006
I had Laparoscopic Roux en y almost 5 years ago and was back to work (full
time) as a Nurse on a busy Medical/Surgical floor within 2 weeks. It all
depends upon your motivation. Best of luck to you!!
— anyce
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