HELP!!! Time off?

HELP!!! I have to go into work tonight and fill out my schedule. I am having the LAP RNY the 5th of August. I need an idea of how long to take off from work. I am a CNA in the OB department. Basically I take care of the babies. I do most of the care for them such as vitals, diaper changes, bathes, etc. I only do vitals on the mom's. I don't have to move any heavy furniture but I do have to mop the delivery room floor twice after a delivery. How long should I request off and how long should I be on "light duty"? My surgeons nurse told me to take 4 weeks off and 2 weeks of light duty. I think this sounds rediculous as I don't do anything strenuous. There are nurses available if anything comes up that I can't handle, such as a mom who can't get out of bed by herself.~~~Amy

Amy, I had an open RNY and took 6 weeks off and I have a desk job. Even though your job is not that strenuous, you will need to give you body time to heal. Eating will become a chore, plus you will have to think more about what you are eating and how much protein, water, etc. your are getting. The first few weeks I got tired rather quickly so I had to take a hour nap in the afternoon. I did feel guilty being off that long, especially when I felt fine, but I realize that sometimes my head and body aren't necessarily in synch with each other. If your employer has a good short-term disability plan, then I would go with what the nurse recommended. If you can't afford to take that much time off, then maybe look at cutting it back a couple of weeks. Ultimately you have to make the decision. - Janine