How much time off

Hello,

I am going for my surgery on the 21st.  I plan on taking two weeks off.  I am a kindergarten teacher and only wor****il noon.  I hate taking time off because I just don't do well at home by myself, I need to be around other people.  How much time did you take off?

 

Angela

I had 5 weeks off and then went back full time.

Can you take longer if you need it?  How will you cope if you suddenly have to run to the bathroom early out?  Is that an option with a class full of kids?  I generally spend 20+ minutes if I need to go for a number 2.  I tend to go once or twice a day now that I'm over a year out, but the first month until you're on the full dose of vitamins is a different thing.

I would suggest longer.  Working with small children is physical, and you will need time to heal.  It will also take a few weeks to get your bathroom routine sorted out.  You probably don't want to have to run out and leave your kids unattended when an urgency strikes.

I had open surgery.  I started working part days on the computer at home at 2.5 weeks, but I was tired easily, had difficulty concentrating and needed naps and bathroom breaks.  Even with my sedentary job, I could not have handled full day wor****il 4 weeks.  And driving to work adds to the strain.

consider

the risk of hernia/complications (lifting weight before 2 months out)

bathroom schedules while still sorting out your new plumbing

getting food and hydration in, in a classroom setting

the tiredness of anesthetic and a major surgery on your endurance

 

four to six weeks seems to be more the norm.  Perhaps longer with a more physical job, or if any complications arise.  Plan for longer then, if all things line up well, you could consider returning earlier.

4 weeks.  Minimum.  I took 6, probably coulda returned at 5, but was glad I had that extra week.  The fatigue is the biggest issue, and you will be figuring out your bowels just around the 3-4 week mark.

I took 6 weeks off!! Needed every bit of it. Fatigue when you are losing weight is the problem you are not really in that much pain. Dizziness etc...

Take care

Amanda

Thank you all for your responses.  The doctor told me that I will have two weeks off,  I am not that big to begin with 225 pounds at 5'4" so he didn't think I needed that much off.  If I need more I promise I will take it off.  I am having it done laproscopic so hopefully that will help.   When I had my first sleeve I only took four days off.   Was  a little tired tired the first week but nothing too bad.  I am worried about the bowel issue though, but I do have a kiddie bathroom in my room if needed lol.

Angela

I took 5 weeks off and needed all of it.  Maybe could have gone back at 4 but glad for 5.  I had mine open, my concern is that at week 3 and 4 I was really nausous.  Maybe this doesn't happen to everybody but I am not an isolate person.  There is no way I could have gone back then.

I took 8 weeks off and aside from the physical challenges, I found that learning to eat again and progressing through the stages (and my bodily reactions) were also a challenge and one that I would rather experience at home rather than at work.  Ensure that you have access to a bathroom if needed.  Hopefully you have an aide in the classroom in case you need to leave quickly?  Best of luck. 

 

Susan

I took a total of three off - one week was basically in the hospital, and the next two were recuperation.  that was plenty for me.  I  was tired when I went back to work, but kind of took it easy.  Mine was laproscopic, so that made recovery easier.  I didn't have any bathroom problems when I came back to work.  Guess we are all different, but for me it was no problem to return to work so soon.

I asked for 2 weeks off, but ended up taking 3. My doctor recommended 6, but 4 at the very least. I have a very laid back desk job, so 3 worked out fine for me. I could have even came back after the 2 weeks, but got and infection and was put on home health for wound care. I was kind of glad though. Even though I could have went back to work, I still pretty much felt like death. After 3 weeks, I was considerably better, but still not 100%. I am now about 4 months out and feel great, but still have a major lack of energy. If I were you, I would make sure that you have the option to take longer if needed, or push your surgery back to a couple of weeks before you get out for winter break. That way you are only taking 2 weeks off, but will have an extra couple of weeks to recuperate if needed.