LOA or PTO...?

Just wondering...


             I work in a multi practice office (how i met my surgeon) but im a receptionist so although my job is mentally stressing its not overly physical. Im in school also and was hoping to have the surgery in August before school starts since im not sure I will be able to handle both intially... I wanted to know, how long after surgery did you feel up and ready to resume normal activity???

                                                                                       
 
***also my surgeon wants me on a 12wk liquid/mushie diet post-op and i was wondering if that would drain my enegry... so basically i need help deciding between taking a leave of absence or just using a few days of paid time off.*** Thanks :)

Is 12 weeks normal?

according to my nursing coordinator... she explained that while the lap-band information from the sight say you can go back to regular food after 1week, the surgeon highly advises his own program... so I really cant say.

12 weeks is the longest post-op restricted diet I've ever heard of, but if your surgeon finds that it reduces complications and improves outcomes, I guess you gotta go with it....

I was on clear liquids for 3 days, full liquids for 11 days, purees for 14 days, then soft food carefully transitioning to solids. My problem (in theory, anyway) with staying on a restricted (liquid/puree) diet so long is that it's solid food that provides early and prolonged satiety.

I thought that was in the range of normal... guess not


Thats what I thought... no way eating  liquids and mushy stuff would fill me up... thats another reason y im thinking ill be pretty drained during that time... my schedule is hectic enough.

Your surgeon sounds like he's making band patients follow rules more applicable to more involved surgeries.

I was back on soft solids in two weeks.  Two years out and no complications whatsoever other than a slight overfill a year ago.

I think 12 weeks is a bit of overkill. I would be very weak and not able to do much on such a restricted program.   I also think I would be looking for a second opinion.. but that's me.  I'm kinda hard headed and rather opinionated when it comes to my body & health.   I even fired an oncologist because I didn't like their treatment plans for me.. LOL.  

Best of luck on whatever you decide to do.  :)

P.S.  Oh.. and I agree with Jean on the solid foods providing satiety.  I didn't lose any significant amount of weight until I was back on solid foods.

I was self-employed at home doing a sedentary job when I had my surgery, so I could take breaks whenever I wanted. I had planned on a 2-week break to recover and was bored and ready to work again after 3-4 days. My energy level was fine once I got into the puree food phase.

It's so hard to predict how each individual will react to the anesthesia (that's what knocks me for a loop, whatever the surgical procedure), pain meds, the new band, the incisions, the gas pain, sleeping with healing incisioins...plus keeping yourself supplied with the right food substances.

I'd probably take off a week, but how many days of PTO are you allowed to take? Can you talk to the office manager or whoever's in charge of benefits about your concern and see what they recommend, since they know the pace of the office and the nature of your job?

Jean

well im allowed to use all the PTO i have i earn 2 days a month... now if I were to take a leave of absence they STILL use all my PTO however once thats dried up then disability will kick by paying me 75% of my current salary... so its really my decision. i just dont know which to make. blah!

I was on clear liquids for 2wks, full liquids for 2 wks, pureed/mushies for 2 wks & soft food for 2 wks, then solid foods.  It really wasn't until I was at least at the soft food stage that I had any real energy.

As Jean said, the doctor is the one you need to follow.
~ Barbara

I am still new to this so I was just asking. I am going to be 2 days clear, 2 weeks full liquids, 2 Weeks mushies 2 weeks soft transitioning.