Average Time Off After Surgery

My boss knows that I am going through this journey and is supportive. We obviously know I won't be able to go onto a construction site too quickly but I was trying to get an idea of how long people in an office type job are off work? I will have to hand over the projects that I am managing for the duration and my boss just wants to make sure that we have a plan. Also, our HR is fantastic and is giving me info for short term requirements and what information I will need for everything to go smoothly.

Needless to say they have been away of time spent in the ER and doctor's office with the complications from the band so they are hoping my quality of life improves. We also tend to spend more of our life with those we work with than our families so it is good to have the work family as a support system.

Hi! My surgeon said two to three weeks. I work a desk job though. I opted for three weeks lol.

I don't blame you! Did you go back full time right away?

I actually haven't gone yet! My surgery is the 25th! But my work said they'd accommodate me if need be. My surgeon stated that after two weeks, you feel pretty good. And if I'm just sitting, I think I'll be fine. :)

So exciting! Please keep us posted on your progress.

Which center are you out of?

My job insisted I needed two weeks, but I was bored to death and went back after one.

Wow that is super fast! I went back after a week with my Lapband but had some issues with my lower incisions and ended up off for another week after a couple days back. The Lapband is obviously less drastic of a surgery and I have seen some people saying they were off almost 2 months but I was assuming they were not at a desk job.

I had surgery on Tuesday, was home and on the treadmill on Thursday, driving and doing light housework by Friday.

My sister-in-law called on Sunday and expected me to be in bed recovering. When I told her I was cooking dinner, she said she had to see that for herself.

After coming over and seeing that I was fine, she called to schedule her first appointment on Monday. She had needed surgery for years but was terrified of being very sick afterwards.

She went through her surgery with flying colors too.

yay on getting surgery soon, you will feel like a different person after that lap band is gone. Lots of the menu posters over on the RNY board are revisions from lap band to RNY. Good luck!

I also have fabulous HR & awesome short term benefits. I had surgery 3.5 years ago at Toronto Western Hospital and I had looked into how much sort term I get at work and I can get 17 weeks. So when I went in for my "meet the surgeon & get a date" I knew I could take as much time off as I needed. I also had trained someone to do my job while I was gone. I have a mix of desk job/standing/walking around a lot all day. So when I saw the nurse at the appointment when she gave me my surgery date I asked for a doctors note to give to HR/Occ health and she said to me "well how long do you want to me off?" I said what is the average, she said any time from 4 weeks to 8 weeks. So she wrote me a doctors note for 6 weeks off.

Now I want to stress that EVERYONE is different. I did not heal well, I STRUGGLED with drinking liquids and figuring all this out post surgery. I needed the 6 weeks as much for my mental & emotional healing as I did for my body to heal. For sure my body was more ready to go back to work than my head and heart were. I had a hard time after surgery, its a lot of changes and I struggled to adjust. I have made friends here on OH who had the surgery around the same time as me and they were back at work in 1 or 2 weeks. They sailed through this, no problems, no issues, no adjustment. Its truly individual. You do what feels right for you. You can always get a note from the Centre you are going through for 6 or 8 weeks off and if after 2 or 3 weeks you are ready to go back then go back to work, its really up to you.

Best of luck!!!

Thank you! I think I am okay with pain... We shall see!