Need Some Advice

I was convinced that I was getting the Lap Band Procedure until I attended the information meeting at my hospital the other night. Now I am heavily leaning toward the RNY procedure. I don't have any qualms about the procedure just the recovery time. It is feasible to think that I could be back at work (desk job with no physical requirements) within three weeks. I know everyone bounces back at a different rate and from past medical situations (pregnancies, gallbladder surgery, etc) I tend to bounce back fairly quickly. Any thoughs or advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hi! I just had surgery 6/26 and was back at work 7/5/06. Week and 1/2. I am an accountant and sit in front of a computer all day, so it's not physically stressful. One week after surgery I was ready. I do get tired, but I will be starting back on vitamins next week and start with the B12 shots and I should feel peppier. No problems here. I think three weeks is plenty of time if everything goes OK. I also tend to bounce back well after surgery. Best wishes to you! Also to let you know, I am so happy to have had the opportunity to have this surgery, and no regrets!!! Michelle

I had the RNY surgery on May 31st and was back to my desk job by June 12th. So I basically only missed 7 days of work. I bounce back fairly well my self, I think the biggest thing for me was being a bit more sleepy than normal due to not in-taking that much food. But im 6 weeks now and feeling better then ever! Good luck to you! Becky

P; I was back at work full-time 13 days post-op. I started working part-time from home the day I came home from the hospital. As long as you've got flexibility to take breaks as needed, you should be ok. The worst pain I had once I returned to work was at my incision sites from sitting up. A 10-15 minute walk around the building always resolved it. Blessings, Jennifer 253 / 161 / 137

I had surgery Tuesday 6/20 and was back to work Monday 6/26. The first week back I only worked 5 hour days. After the first day back I definately could have worked full days but didnt want to push myself and it was also gorgeous out so I went to the pool every day after leaving work!!! I was out of the hospital Thursday 6/22 and on Friday was out running errands. I work 2 jobs so on Saturday I went in a helped my dad with some mantience that we needed done for a few hours and felt fine. Only issue Ive had to deal with is at 2pm everyday it seems like I "run out of gas". I am EXHAUSTED all of a sudden and could fall asleep where I sit. I make it thru the day - leave work - go exercise and get home around 7pm and can barely keep my eyes open. Lack of energy in the afternoon has been quite the struggle but its doable!

Well, I did not "bounce back" as quickly as the others that have posted here. I had Lap RNY 9-24-04 and was "planning" on taking off 4 weeks of work. I ended up taking almost 5 1/2 weeks and was glad that I did. I COULD have come back after 4 weeks, but was VERY tired and glad that I did not have to push myself. I was able to drive after only two weeks, but just short trips to the store and then home for a nap!! I am almost 2 yrs out now and have lost 138 lbs. and look and feel GREAT!!! Hope things go as well for you!!! Hugs, Pam

I also took advantage of my full 4 weeks off, and my employer was very understanding and let me start back at work with shorter hours for as long as I needed (about 2 more weeks), because I was really really tired. I didn't necessarily have complications post-op, but it's hard to jump back in with both feet after having your insides completely rearranged. Not to mention you are eating a fraction of what you were pre-op, and you're still lugging your big fat body around with zero food energy. ;) WLS is a major change to your body and your life and you really do need to ease in to every phase of it. Don't worry if it takes you longer than a couple of weeks to get your full strength back; you'll get it back and then some! The most important thing is to take care of yourself and let your body recover at its own pace; if you rush or force yourself you may regret it.

I bounce back quickly also, in general. My RNY was two weeks ago yesterday and I went back to work today. My job is quite active, I am a speech therapist working with 2 to 3 yr olds. and I have to sit in small chairs and on the floor and change tasks alot so there is alot of reaching and twisting... If you don't have any major complications, you should be fine going back in two weeks. The only thing I noticed is my "scrubs" rubbed my incisions, and by afternoon I was a little sore...I would get an undershirt to wear under your clothes or wear tank type dresses that aren't fitted around the abdomen. Good luck! Aramat

I don't know about all of you, but I am looking forward to the time off. To get myself acquainted with my new life; going through all of the eating stages, clear liquid, liquid, puree, and dont want to go back to wor****il i'm on soft foods... I want to be past the stage of possibly gettig sick, etc.. while trying new foods. I want to take the recovery time to start an excercsie program, get my life in order. Don't rush to go back to work, if you have the time coming to you, take it, and spend every moment of time focusing on yourself... it's taken me a long time to get to that point and understand, it's all about me for the first time in my life.

AMEN!! l -o