Recovery time?

My surgery is on the 15. I took off from work from the 15-25 and return on the 26. Will this be a sufficient amount of time to recover? That's a total of 10 days. 2 days in the hospital and 8 at home. My job is pretty easy. I'm a private nurse so I just check on my patients and cook for them but my job won't let me take off more than that or they will take away my medical and I definitely need that! Lol. Anybody needed a significant amount of more time to recover? If so, I'm screwed. -.- 

As im learning, there are different meanings of the word "recover" lol. Will you be able to do your job after 10 days? Probably, you just might not be very comfortable and may feel like crap after work. Barring any complications, you should be okay. I tried to go back to work after 10 days, and i had to be up and walking around a little and I got wiped out very quickly. I only worked about 3 days before my boss decided I looked too miserable to work so she told me to take a week off. Obviously, that was a luxury I could afford, but I could have kept working if I *had* to - i just would have been miserable. 

A lot of it for me had to do with lack of fluids/nutrition because I just had plastic surgery that was much more extensive but I would have been better off going back to work after 10 days of that more than the VSG - make sure you work hard at getting into a good routine of getting fluids and protein in - it will make a big difference in how you feel. If you head toward/hover around being dehydrated, you will feel much worse. 

Most people seem to take 2 weeks off after RNY, but one of my close friends had surgery on a Thursday and went back to work on Tuesday. She was completely exhausted, but she made it through. I think you will be fine. Just prepare to be wiped out and to go to bed super early, at least for the first week or two.

Also, you may want to stick to protein shakes at work or at least not introduce anything new while at work. You do not want digestive issues.

If your job is not physical you should be fine!  Make sure you rest a LOT when not working!

you might have to take a couple of days off before the surgery unless its the weekend , because you may be on clear liquids and laxatives

You will be fine. I went back to work after 7 days and except for the incision under my left breast I was ok. When I sat, my boob rested on the incision and it was difficult for about a week. Other than that, I was fine.

I made myself a huge vat of beef broth from meaty bones and lots of veggies and put it in a thermos bottle to sip all day while working. It gave me lots of energy and was very calming to my tummy. I also used the premier protein shakes that are pre-made and easy to store and take along with you. Try to rest at your breaks. The first 2 days I went to my car and napped at lunch-time..

I am so excited for you.

Sharon

Are you in the US?  There is a law called FMLA...they can't do anything.  I'd talk to HR.

happiegirl is right, if you're having surgery and it's deemed as medically necessary by your doctor, that qualifies for FMLA.  That means up to 12 weeks.  You should discuss with HR and determine if you can take FMLA and what their policy is regarding using  your sick or vacation time. If it takes more than the paid leave time that you have then you'd have to take unpaid leave but they cannot punish you or discharge you.

It is such major surgery and you will have to adjust to eating differently, I just hope you gave yourself enough time.  I struggled the first year tremendously, thank God I had a wonderful boss.

Good Luck,

Michele