how much time off work?

I know this is an individualized thing, but I am just looking for input.  My surgeon said I would need about 2 weeks off work for a laparoscopic RNY.  I told my boss yesterday that I was having surgery but don't know the date yet.  My appointment with the surgeon is November 17 and I'll choose my date then.  Anyway, I told her I would take 2 weeks and she told me "Take a month-you are going to need it".  She said in all of her years as a manager she has had 4 people have WLS and they were all miserable when they came back at 2 weeks.  So, what do you all think?  FYI,  I had bilateral fasciotomies in September and was ready to go back to work after 3 days, but my doctor wouldn't let me.  He made me stay home for 2 weeks.  I will be eligible for short term disability so monetarily it will be ok to take a month.

You are right about everyone being different.  I wasn't working at the time I had my mine but I know I wouldn't have been ready emotionally to go back in 2 weeks.  I had no fear or worries before surgery but boy did my emotions go wacko after. 

Can you schedule a month and then go back earlier if you feel OK?  If money isn't a concern I'd probably take the month unless you have other concerns for missing that long.

Hi, again saying that we are all individuals *****cover at different rates, but I was ready to go back after 2.5 weeks, but didn't until the start of week 3.  I had my mom stay with me during recovery and she really helped me plan my eating, drinking, and vitamin schedule, and kept me on the straight and narrow regarding my food plan.  I was already walking a couple miles a day at 2.5 weeks. 

What I usually tell people is that you need a minimum of 2 weeks and after that if you must go back to work you probably could.  Three weeks is nice to have but after a month at home I would probably be bored to tears.

All of this assumes you don't have any major complications and are getting in all or most of your protein, water, etc.  I think if you start exercising now you'll be even more prepared to go back to work.

Good luck to you and we'll see you on the loser's bench!

If I didnt have to lift patients at work, I could have went back after about 2 weeks, but the doc said I needed 4 until I could lift without hurting myself.

I work at home so I could do a little when I felt like it.  I don't think I did much of anything but work on getting my food and liquids in for the first 2 weeks.  After that, I could do some but it was a good 6 weeks before I was back to feeling like I could do a whole day and then I was in bed at 8:30. 

I took off 2 weeks.  I have a desk job that involves lots of travel, so as long as I don't travel, I'm fine. 

I took 2 1/2 weeks off, and had to leave work early for 2 days after I got back. For me, the pain wasn't so much of a struggle, but I was really tired and had little stamina.

In a perfect world, I would have done best with 4 weeks off.

I went back to work part time after 1.5 weeks and full time after 2.5..that was too early really in my opinion..I was really sore and fatigued..if you have more time to take than take it. My husband is planning on taking 4 for his upcoming surgery because he can so why not..better that than to go back to work but then to have to call in because of nausea or going back to soon or whatever.

It seems to me that everyone but me was back to work wihin days or at most a week after WLS. Me, I took 1.5 weeks and I kind of wish I'd taken 2. But 4? I'd be stir crazy taking that much time off.