How long off work for LBL?

How long did you take off work? I'm wondering how long to tell my employer. Four weeks? Six? Three?

You know, I'm not having an LBL and I work at home, so I am probaby not the best person to answer this question... BUT, that won't stop me!  Haha!

I'd say to take as much time off of work as possible - as much time as you are allowed.  You can always go back early if you feel ready, but on the other hand it can be difficult and cause drama if you decide you need an extension on you previously agreed upon leave.   If you have the option to work from home or return part-time, there migh be ways you can kind of slowly ease back into work once you are ready.

Just my two pennies.

I'm nervous about their reaction at work. When I took off for RnY four years ago, I had MAJOR complications and was off three months. I could have used more time off but FMLA ran out. Praying things go 'normal' this time!

I'm sorry to hear that.  How did they handle it at work when you needed that extra time?   How much time is available to you now?

Yes, praying that things go smoothly this time.  Prayer is really all you can do, assuming you picked a surgeon that you are completely confident in....   (((HUGS))) I'm sure having had complications before just makes you even more nervous... but hopefully you've already met your your lifetime complication limit. ;)  (if only such a thing existed!!)

How long can you take? I would take at least 4, if possible. I am a teacher and off for the summer. I had 7 weeks off and was exhausted when I went back.

I had a LBL on January 24th.  My job allows teleworking, and I figured I'd be able to telework by week 2.  WRONG!  Between the discomfort, the drugs, and brain fog from the anesthesia, I was useless for the first 2 weeks.  Week 3, I was able to telework.  Week 4, I was back at work, but on a part-time basis (4-6 hours a day), and ended up taking a day off in the middle of the week.  Week 5, I was able to get back to work full-time and feel good.

Like everything else, your mileage may vary.  But you certainly aren't going to want to go back to work with the drains unless you absolutely have to.  They don't hurt, but they're a flipping nuisance.  I didn't get my last drain pulled until Week 3 and, oh, the liberation!

I'd ask for 6 and then come back early (and part-time) if I felt up to it sooner than that.

I would take six weeks off minimum.  I had hernia and a TT surgery and had drains for 4 weeks.  on the fifth week I worked from home and on the sixth week went in for half days.  I have heard several ladies say that they took off 8 weeks for a LBL and was grateful that they did.

I was off for 4 weeks and did OK other than being very tired when I got home. I have a desk job so didn't have to move much and did get others in my office to do a lot of the running around for me.

Thanks everyone. They were good w/ my complications after bypass because my life was at risk. Almost didn't make it a few times. It was scary. I know this will be different. It's skin, not my bowels and intestines getting mutilated.

So, I'm looking, and I have 4 weeks of sick days to use up plus 2 extra days. Cool.

I have one float day and two personal days. So far that's 25 1/2 days. Then if I add two weeks of vacation onto that, I'll have.... 35 days.

So if my surgery is June 5th (which it is!!!), that gives me seven weeks paid. Anything after is unpaid and I'm a single mom raising two teenagers alone. No room for unpaid days unless I have a complication. I think I can do seven. It'll be summer and life will be easier in Michigan.

I'll just chalk the summer up to recovering when I'm not working.

I think it depends on each individual.  I took off 1 week completely, the 2nd week I worked from home, and then went back full time week 3.........with no issues. I have an office job, and I am also historically a very fast healer, and tolerate pain extremely well.