RNY RECOVERY TIMES

i have a very physical job, standing, bending and lifting. i was off work for 2 months and felt fine. i have the ryn done in may. i'm sure i could have gone back earlier but enjoyed my time off. i myself had no problems. guess alot would depend on how active you are before the surgery and what kind of shape you are in.

Hi Giselle,

Wow no lifting for 8 weeks.  That must be hard at times yet in other ways it would be nice to let someone else do the lifting. 

Thanks.

Mel

Hi!

I had my surgery (open RNY) just over a year ago (November 8th, 2010) and I was off work for a total of 3 weeks.  One week in the hospital and two weeks at home.  Since my job was strictly sitting at my desk and working on my computer I wasn't too concerned about hurting myself.  My first day back, I only worked until noon.  The next day until 1:00, then 2:00, and so on... by Friday I was there all day.  I moved slowly and lifted NOTHING heavier than a file folder... but I was glad to be out of the house!!

You have to listen to your body and do what feels right.  You will know right away if you've overdone it!! 

Hi.

Thanks for the info.  I must say you look great.  One year and all that weight.  Congratulations.

I appreciate the advice because I always have a hard time leaving work.  I will definitely have to slow down.  Thankfully I have a desk job so maybe I won't have to be off for more than 3 weeks but I will take the time for me.  This is the year of me where I focus on myself.

Mel

 I felt ok to lift after 6 weeks.  I think the dr means no heavy lifting for 8 weeks.  Lifting bigger kids, 40 lb file boxes etc....  I also had my surgery done laparoscopically so I didn't have the big cut down my abdomen.  So recovery for me was quicker and easier.  I'd go by how you feel and just how heavy the thing is you want to lift.

Giselle

I had an open RNY at the end of March.  I had some minor complications so I ended up in the hospital for 12 days.  I stayed home for 2 weeks and tried to go back to work as I had an office job.  I ended up with an infected incision due to all the moving I was doing and was off for an additional 6 weeks so I had a long recovery.  I know someone who had the same surgery through laproscopic and she was raking leaves in the yard the next week and back to work 3 weeks after.

At the end of the day, dont ru****  It is worth it.  I have gone from a size 24 to a size 7 in less then a year and have never been so healthy.  Felt like crap the first couple of weeks after that all was good with the world.  Make sure you do the research, RNY does have side effects with vitamin deficiency that lasts your whole life.  With this surgery you will never look at food the same way so you really have to be willing to give it up.  Good luck.