Another post-op question

Hey, I was wondering about down time after surgery. I know the hospital is a 2 to 4 day stay, but how long is the average time away from work or other regualr activities? Any comments are really appriciated!

Christy,the recovery time before resuming work is 4-6 weeks(depending on the type of work you do),driving can be done at 3 weeks(although I did it at two).Light housework is also at 3 weeks.Teresa S

I live in the Dallas Fort Worth Area.... Do you have the number to Fort Bliss? Thank you Gretta

Greta, Here are the phone numbers to the general surgery clinic at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center on Fort Bliss: (915) 569-1837 (915) 569-2245 (915) 569-2282 Here's a link to their website as well: http://www.wbamc.amedd.army.mil/Services/GeneralVascularSurgery/GeneralVascularSurgeryServ ices.asp

Christy, I had open DS and was out of work for 5 weeks. I was still tired the 1st 2 weeks back to work, but now I am back to full speed (actually even better, since my knees and heel spurs don't hurt anymore and I can walk around without being out of breath). Cindy

Hi Christy - Good luck on your procedure! I had an open DS on 11/25/02, in fact today is my 7 months anniversary and I'm down 95 lbs. which is 53% of my goal ... ANYWAY Dr. Simpson here in Phoenix gives 3 weeks off work then that's it! He kicks ya back to the work place whether you THINK you can do it or not! (He loves giving us a hard time about that, Dr. Simpson is great but does NOT allow us patients to "dally"!!) I thought I would DIE the first week back I cried ALL THE TIME cuz I was sooooo tired!! So I don't know what your Dr. allows BUT that's my story ... Again, GOOD LUCK

It really depends on the work you do. On your feet all day is not easy. The main thing is being tired, oh so very very tired.....and then one day you wake up and feel downright PERKY! This happens somewhere between 4 and 8 weeks, and then you're ready. Forcing patients to work at 3 weeks is cruel. If you can start out part-time that would be best, 4 or 5 hours the first week, then full time. I had to go back full time; the first week was rough and I would just eat and crash the minute I got home, but after that I was OK. I felt ready after 6 weeks but had to postpone (for non-related reasons) till 8. Chris, 55, 1 year post-op, 378-230 lbs, sz 38-18. No more sleep apnea, arthritis, hypertension, pre-diabetes, depression, meds, or fat-lady stores. Life is great!!

Okay, I admit I maximized my time off. I got 100% paid medical leave for 8 weeks, so I took the full eight weeks. I really, really needed the time for the first 6 (I was still taking afternoon naps through week six). I didn't feel completely normal - like fully recovered - at the end of week 7! I figured I had to be able to sit at my desk and run errands equivalent to a work day, before returning full time - and that was at the end of week 7. So... if you can, why pu**** I had friends come by at lunch from work daily, and / or after work. But some days, I had to send them back early as I just wasn't up to having company... I can't imagine being forced to sit at my desk for 9-10 hours (everyone here works overtime consistently) any earlier than I did. But maybe I'm a whimp. I will say that I was getting in my walking for 30 minutes or more at a stretch twice a day for those last couple weeks... and the recovery time really helped me heal well. I figured it was similar to taking time off with a baby - you could come back sooner, but adjustments to the new lifestyle and complete healing were really important to me. I'd had time to add new foods, one at a time, to my diet and see what I could tolerate (or not) and adjust my habits. Just my experience.....