Questions about Surgery Recovery

Good morning everyone! As my surgery date approaches I'm finding that I have a few questions that all of you can probably answer better than my surgery center. 1) I just heard about the WLS for Dummies book.  Is it still worth buying even though I have decided on a surgeon and a type of surgery?  Is there enough post-surgery info in there to make it worthwhile?  Also, what, if any, cookbooks do any of you use post-op?  I'm trying to be careful about buying cookbooks because right now I love them, but I'm not sure that cooking will be a passion that I continue to have post-op. 2) At the consultation with my surgeon he made very clear that he ONLY does lap RNY and will never convert to open (he believes that 99% of conversions are because of a failed LD and he won't operate on someone that didn't follow the LD).  Anyway, he said that because he knows I will be having a la*****thing that I only will need 1 week off of work post-op.  I'm scheduled to have surgery on a Thursday and plan on taking off the whole following week but then returning to work on the next Monday.  Is that too soon?  What is it like going back to work?  I kind of need to get back because a lot is going on, but as I am the boss, my work environment can be as flexible as I need it to be (partial days, time to go out for walks, etc.) 3) I haven't been home much in a long time because I work full-time and am working on my master's degree too so my house needs a lot of work.  Anyway, while I am recovering - like the middle of the weeks off that I am taking (so about 6-7 days post op) will I feel up to having maintenance people in my home (like carpet cleaners and vent cleaners, etc.)? Sorry that this post is so long, I'm just trying to get a feel for what I can expect as far as my energy goes post-op!

Good morning! 1. I didn't read WLS for Dummies, but one book I got is "Before and After" by Susan Marie Leach., her story was good, but the recipes are wonderful! I still use them to this day. The vanilla egg custard saved me when nothing else wanted to stay down, and my family still loves and requests it. 2. I was back to work a week and a half after surgery. I don't feel it was too soon (I have a desk job). I was tired for the first few weeks but it did get better everyday. I too was the boss so I think it made things easier. Just remember to take lots of drinks with you, and sip, sip, sip and walk, walk, walk as much as possible! 3. I see nothing wrong with getting stuff done around the house as long as your not doing it yourself. Best wishes to you! This has been the roughest road I've ever traveled but I do it all over in a heartbeat to get where I am today!

1.  I had my Bible from the doctor's office and the Obesity Help forum. I bought Carnie Wilson's book but I didn't care for her style of writing so I never finished it.  As far as recipies,  the blog... www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com    has some awesome recipies and great protein shake options and helpful hints on there.  I visit her site every few days or so. 2.  I took my 3 full weeks off and enjoyed it.  I did go in 10 days post op for a board meeting for a couple of hours and was still sore .  Later that night I did a gallery night for only a couple of hours and felt like I overdid it and I know I did.  I think if you are careful and make sure you are drinking enough and getting your protein in at least through shakes you should be fine, but listen to your body.  This is all just speculation now as no one knows how their body will react to major surgery, anesthesia, etc. 3.  I didn't want anyone around me (strangers) but that was me.  As long as you don't have to lift a finger, it may not be too bad.  Don't schedule it all in one day though.  Spread the work out over a few days.  You may find yourself not needing all that much work though.  I've seen other people including myself go through this catharsis of total house clean out before surgery as if we were preparing for a new baby or something like that.  My house was in tip top shape before surgery and I'm not a good housekeeper!  Boy it felt good to come home to a clean house after surgery too! Good luck with everything and welcome to this forum.

Thanks for all of the great ideas and information.  I'm going to tell my employees that they shouldn't expect me to be 100% even though I am back to work and I'll make sure that I plan in lots of extra time to walk and move around and leave early if need be.  I'm a terrible housekeeper right now, but I am cleaning to keep my mind off the liquid diet and so my house will be clean for when I return from surgery and I'd just like to get these couple of maintenance tasks done as well so that they're out of the way before my life kicks in to high speed again.  I'd appreciate anyone else's advice on books and recipes though.  I've been to eggface's site several times and I'm sure that I'll use it but I usually read tons and tons of recipes now and then use what I learn to make up my own. 

I didn't read any books about it except my doctors very large binder of information, which I read several times.  It was very thorough about all aspects of the upcoming experience and nearly every question I had was answered.  As for taking off work, I'd play it by ear.  I planned for two weeks and ended up more like 2 months, working from home off and on.  Plan on the week like your doc suggested, but then see how you feel and consider half days or something like that for another week.  I got pretty bored but felt great during my early recovery, read and walked and sipped and scrapbooked a lot.  I felt really good, had a lot of energy and probably could have handled my work fairly well.  Then I had complications and a second surgery that knocked me on my butt for a good 6 weeks with zero energy or interest in work or life.  It was a very tough recovery at that point.  Some people are up and 'atem right away feeling fantastic and others really struggle for energy for a while.

Thanks for all of the information.  It sounds like I can hold off on buying any books for now.  I get so obsessed sometimes and want to know *everything* about what I'm doing. I'm going to let my employees know too that I probably won't be 100% when I return to work.  They'll understand and help me out.  I need to be here at least some of the time though, but it sounds like that should be OK barring any significant complications. I guess I'll try to schedule a few cleaners to come in toward the end of my recovery period.  I know I won't have to do any work and it will feel good to have a "new" house to go with the new me. Again, I appreciate all of the advice.  I'm really starting to get excited even though I still have 2 weeks and a day!