Off work?

Anyone who has had an open surgery, how long were you off work? We were just discussing this at work and the girls all think that I am way off. I was thinking about 8 - 10 weeks with an open and like 4-6 with lap. Please let me know how long you were off. I know that this varies by surgeon and he is the one I should be asking but how long were YOU off? Nancy

Nancy, I had open RNY(11/30/04).I was off work 9 weeks to the day of my surgery.My incision didn't close till 7 weeks out.I'm diabetic,so I don't heal like everyone else.I think it also depends on the kind of job you have.I work in health care.I take care of patients.I do some lifting,and some behavior techniques(physical interventions).Your surgeon will advise you on time off in your specific case.This is how it was for me.I hope this helps. Paula

I went back after two weeks... but my job entails sitting at a desk and paging people if there is an emergency.

Nancy, I vote with your co-workers, 8-10 weeks is way off. I was off only 3 1/2 weeks. And that was a little long, but I stretched it with the Memorial week-end holiday and because I had my surgery on a Wednesday. I stretched it a little so I would go back at the beginning of a week instead of the middle of a week. A lot of open surgeries now many doctors say 2-3 weeks if you have a desk job. I had a lifting restriction up until 8 weeks. I have a desk job with a lot of typing, filing and some walking around. Now, a doctor may say more time off for you if you do factory work.

I had lap with no complications and was off for 7 work days.

Okay, I guess I was way off!! Thank you everyone for your responses. I guess I was hoping to be off 8 - 10 weeks, especially because I THINK that I am going to have an end of July, beginning of August surgery and then I could be off when the weather is nice. I do take a train an hour each way to and from Downtown Chicago, maybe the doctor will have some sympathy there and let me be off a little longer Nancy

In light of the train, you may get a little more time off. Climbing up off of the platform into the train's first step may be tough and you may not be able to sit that long for the to and from ride. How long is your walk downtown? Walking won't hurt you but too long of a walk may be too much for the first couple of weeks you go back. Who knows may be the doctor will buy it if you talk up the train part and give you more time off of work, like 4 or 6 weeks.

I have a little over a mile walk when I get off the train to get to my office but there is a bus I can take (and do when the weather sucks). I can not really use the walk as an excuse Thank you for your help