Return to work?

I just thought of something else I wanted feedback on. My manual from the doctor's office said most patients return to work in 2-3 weeks. I returned Monday, 3 weeks post op and felt just okay. Have been off work Tuesday and today with diarrhea and weakness. I am wondering if I went back too soon. I'd love to hear from others with their return to work times, so I could get a better idea of what the average is. Or, if it varies completely by the individual. I am anxious to get out of the house but my work is very brain-intensive and requires a great deal of concentration and travel. I'm just drained of energy, especially in the morning. Help!

I took off three weeks as well, and just felt okay the first couple of weeks back. It can be difficult, because we are trying to act "normal", yet figure out how to live our new lifestyle at the same time. It gets better - I promise! Can you do half days for a little while? Maybe that would help with the fatigue... Nicole 6/7/05 Lap RNY 312/264/150

I also was off three weeks, this is my first day back, and I am absolutley drained and seriously contemplating going home early, I know you have to go full swing again but I'm exhausted. I know how you feel, try to do half days for a little bit, maybe that will help. Good Luck!

I had my surgery on June 14th which is over 4 weeks ago and I am just beginning to feel well enough to consider going back to work. I still have "weak days". Thankfully, I have 2 more weeks off. I know that everyone is different, but for me it would have been terrible to go back at 2-3 weeks. My body and my emotions were just not ready. I have heard that some people go back to work quickly while others take longer to heal. If you just worked half days at first, I bet that would really help--if that is an option for you, but I have heard lots of other people say they were totally exhausted at the end of the day, and eventually it got better. Hope you can take it easy and feel better soon. I think that you are completely normal. But, I would definitely tell your doctor so they could rule out being anemic or some other problem, just to be on the safe side. Sincerely, LMW

Thanks, surgery buddy! Even our weights are similar. I started out at 226 and am now 207. My goal is 110 (very small boned, and that's what I weighed all my life till a series of foot and back injuries kept me on crutches for a year). I had the surgery so I can get a hip replacement by December. Weight loss is slow because I can barely walk with my hip. Your info was very helpful, the getting up early to drink water. I hadn't thought of that as being the cause of my weakness. But of course, if I've gone all night long without fluid, my poor little pouch is all shriveled up and thirsty. Maybe that's why mornings are so much harder... Here I am in week 5, still home with weakness. But by late afternoon I feel pretty good. I think I'll try your suggestion tomorrow, and if that's doesn't work, maybe I could work half-days in the afternoons. Thanks so much Shannon. I wished I'd logged in earlier and seen this msg.

Hi Sharon, I had my surgury on 6/23 and my surgeon told me I'm not going back to work for 4-6 weeks, and thats with an office position in the city. Fortunately I've brought my work home with me. Like you there is no way I can sit around and do nothing. The first week and and half was pretty miserable as I was laid up in a chaise chair pretty useless. Like people keep telling me do what your body tells you. If you can't handle it stay home and rest. Good Luck!!! Nick

I been haveing a bout with the runs once a week the last few weeks and what im now finding my pattern is the day this occurs i didnt get enough water intake in! COULD that have triggered your bout? i have had this for almost 3 weeks now in a row for one evening.... As far as back to work i was naughty and went back to work in 12 days. BUT my day allowed nap time the first 2 weeks i was back to work. I run a family daycare business in my home. My work picked up for summer now that i have non napping school age kids but im doing fine. THose first 2 weeks i needed the naps! And doing much better without them. THEY were 1 hour power naps! LISA

Okay, well after reading everyone else's postings, I've decided that there must be no way that I am normal. I went back to work 13 days after surgery and I have been working 10 hour days ever since and I feel great. Of course I do have a desk job also. I walk 15 minutes, 3 times a day while I'm at work too. i started playing softball again too, right at about the same time. Of course I was playing before I had surgery also, so maybe I was just more physically active. My doctor told me if I felt up to it, then do it, just don't over do it.

I had Surgery 6-27-2005 and am scheduled to go back to work on 7/26/2005. Which will be 4 weeks post op. I see the doctor this Friday and I will ask to have the additional 2 weeks approved. I to travel and have a mental job and I definatly do not feel like I can handle going back to work this Tuesday. I am taking an online college course and I have a work laptop that I try to keep current on e-mail. This keeps me occupied besides my new lifestyle changes. I feel that if your cituation will allow you to stay home and heal a few extra weeks that it is a good idea. We had alot of work done internally. God Bless Joni.RNY.6.27.2005

I had my surgery on the 21st of June and I am still off of work. I am off till at least the 7th of August and am thinking it might even be a little longer. I dont have a desk job, I work in a mine and do very heavy labor. I lift things that are very heavy, run loaders, shovel, etc.. I am very concerned about going back too early and doing damage. It is also very hot in there and I dont think I get enough fluids in me to work in that heat and do all the physical labor on top of that. I will see what the dr says, but knowing the the job i have, I don't personally think I am ready to do it. I would rather take the extra time off than to work and feel terrible..