Calling All Lap-RNY - ers

Dr. Moen's patients in particular.  I am 3 months into my 6 month weight loss program and am trying to get a realistic idea of the amount of time I will need to take off work after surgery.  Having Lap RNY.  Im thinking 3 weeks before I can get back to work (no complications of course).  Please let me know how much time you were out of work.  All input is welcome no matter which surgeon.  Thanks!!  C

Hey C!  I think everyone is a little different, but for me 3 weeks was MORE than enough time off.   I anticipated being out for 5 weeks, however at my 2 week checkup, Dr. Moein cleared me to go back to work, if I felt up to it.  At 2 weeks, I was already walking the track and being very active, not just home sitting water.  At the end of my 3rd week off, I began to go stir crazy.  And personally, I craved the idea of getting back into my "normal" life and adapting all the new things (vitamins, water, protein) and making new routines.  So, 3 weeks was plenty.  I returned to work and worked 1/2 days for 1 week and then it was back to the grind.   Good luck!

Just as a frame of reference, I had open RNY and went back to work completely healed in two weeks!  I believe a lot of it has to do with your mind set regarding your recovery.   I did a lot of protein prior to my surgery and had my body and mind set on a quick recovery and I did. Best wishes as your WLS journey continues. Hugs, Mo

that is so great to hear!!  I am a very active person, love to move around and not looking foreward to being laid up very long.  Thanks for the input  C

As a matter of fact, my Doc was filling out the short term disability paperwork for me today and he has me out for three weeks......since I hate my job, I'm taking it!  LOL

Physically, I could have gone back after less than a week. I was very active from my first full day home from the hospital. Never really sat still for very long, and never laid down except to sleep at night. I went back to work after 11 days off . My only issue was that it was hard to keep up the new routine of meals, and fluids. I feel that if you "practice" and get into a groove with your meals and fluids pre-op, you will hopefully find yourself ready to go back in 2-3 weeks. If you have the time off, and you feel like you want to use it, then you can judge. Dr. Moein will clear you as soon as you ask him to. I saw him on day 8 post-op for drain removal, and he wrote my note to go back, at my request. I work in retail, and  he knew I would be on my feet for long periods of time. He left it up to me.

2 weeks

Three weeks was what I took and It was plenty:  The only good thing was that I was past the clear liquid and  full liquid stages.