How long after surgery to return to work

Hi, My name is Janice and I have been approved for the laproscopic gastric bypass. I am planning to have my surgery on a Friday and be out the whole following week and return on Monday of the week after. I guess that is about 10 days. I was wondering if there is anyone who went back to work after surgery in a week or so. My job is not strenuous because I am sitting most of the day. So if anyone can tell me this, it will be of much help to me. I am just wondering if it will bother me physically to return to work so soon even though I only have about a week of leave time. Thank you, Janice

Hi Janice, My name is Lisa and I have been approved for laproscopic gastric bypass. I am still waiting to hear from the doctor's office on what my date will be. I am not far from you (Millington). Also, I have been wondering once I have the surgery when will I be able to return to work. Maybe somone here can answer that question for both of us. Who is doing you surgery? I am seeing Dr. Woodman. Lisa

I think that is very doable--I went back to work just over two weeks post-op and I teach school and am up and about all day. The main thing is to rest, rest, rest during your down time and to be prepared to get extra rest once you go back to work and not get discouraged. Good luck!

I went back to work 12 days after my lap RNY. I went back 1/2 days for the first few weeks and was wiped out by the time I got home. But then, I am also 52 years old and that might have something to do with it too. I know others who are younger who went back after the same amount of time post-op and had no problem putting in full days. Also, I think the more active you are pre-op, the faster you will get your energy back after surgery. I was a terrible couch potato pre-op. What it comes down to basically is, everyone is different and we all recover at a different pace. Don't push yourself too hard. You will need to be able to get up and move around during the day too whether you are at home or at work. When you say you only have about a week of leave time do you mean that is all your employer will pay you for? Under FMLA you are entitled to 12 weeks unpaid medical leave per year if your employer has at least 20 employees. Most employers will let you use vacation and/or sick time to make this time paid if they don't offer Short Term Disability. I would recommend checking with your HR department to find out exactly what you are entitled to. Congratulations on your approval! Do you have a surgery date yet? Susan

Hi Janice and congrads on your up and coming surgery. As Susan said it depends on the person, but remember you have had major surgery and will tire easily the first 6-8 weeks post-op. Most Dr.'s will let you go back to work usually after 2 weeks post-op, but no lifting for 6 weeks. If it's open surgery, plan on being off work for 6 weeks. But I would check with your surgeon before your surgery and that way you can let your employer know for sure when you will be back, check and see about any personal or vacation days you have that you can use. Don't push yourself, your body needs time to heal, no lifting more then 5 lbs, a sack of potatoes weighing 5 lbs, hurt me just to lift it. So be extremely careful. May God travel with you on this new and exciting journey. Kathy

Hi Janice, congratulations on your upcoming surgery. As far as how I will answer your question, it really depends on you and your doctor. At twelve days post-op I developed a fever and the docs determined that it was due to a small pocket of fluid that hadn't drained completely. They gave me a strong antibiotic and it cleared up very quickly. So, I was out completely for six weeks then went back half days for the next two weeks, then back to full time. I am very fortunate that my employer offers short term disability coverage so I was able to be out all that time and it did not impact my job performance rating or my pay. I know that I couldn't have gone back at two weeks out, I was just too wiped out still at that point but I was still on full liquids then. My doc didn't move me to pureed until four weeks post-op. Once you're back on solid foods, it's easier to keep from getting exhausted. This is all just my experience so I would recommend you and your doctor make the call on when to go back to work based on your progress post-op. Good luck. Toni

Hi Janice, I had my surgery on Friday Sept 1st and went back to work full time on Monday Sept 11. I know that Dr Woodman will only approve 2 weeks off work. I don't know who are using but I think the docs in Memphis are basically the same on the return to work. Good luck on getting the date you want and come to a support group meeting as soon as you can. They are once a month at Baptist Memphis (East) Hospital. Karen