Question:
I am scheduled for a adominoplasty (sp) in June

I only have 9 days coming to me, please tell me I will be able to go back to work then, I dont want to cancel my surgery, because I may be losing my ins and they are covering at least 1000.00 of this.    — Schatzie1 (posted on May 22, 2004)


May 22, 2004
You may be able to, but man it's not gonna be easy. Hope you have a fairly sedetary job with NO lifting!
   — [Deactivated Member]

May 22, 2004
hmmm 9 days... triing to 'think'... I sure wouldnt have wanted to. You will have 'drains' in; and my first one wasnt taken out until 2 weeks post.. and I certainly wouldnt have wanted to go back to work at two weeks; 3 I could have made it.. I didnt go back until 4; when the second drain was removed. But then I guess anything is possible; if your determined... BUT I can assure you - you'll not feel good! Also, even if you only have 9; you may need to talk with your HR some compaines WILL NOT let you return to work unless you are 100% released; and I dont think your surgeon would sign off on that.
   — star .

May 23, 2004
I don't want to agree with the doom and gloom, but the two posters before me are correct. I went back after two weeks and it was not easy. It is a very slow healing process and my fourth drain did not come out until a month after the surgery. Actually, it fell out on its own. Follow your doctor's instructions and you will be fine. Also, do as much walking as you can. It will help you feel better. Now on the "up" side.. the results will be amazing. Five months ago yesterday I had complete abdominoplasty/belt lipectomy. Life will open up to you in ways you could not imagine. You will be sooooo happy. Good luck to you.
   — Steve B.

May 23, 2004
Depending on what kind of cut your PS does/drains and if there will be stomach tightening done will determine the length of time you will need off. I'm 3 weeks post op from TT/Tightening. I was cut hip to hip. Drains (2) were removed in 6 days. Not much drainage. I was allowed to drive at 2 weeks, but I limit my driving to good roads and short trips. My TT has been easy. No pain/problems. The stomach tightening was and still is uncomfortable and limits my movements. I have resumed my walking, although more of a stroll. I was allowed back to water aerobics this week, but opted to for go it till this week. I will be in water, but not returning full force. I can assure you of that! I'm wearing a long waisted girdle for 6 weeks as instructed to by PS. It does feel like heaven and has such great support. I still tend to peter out during the day and find resting a must! I'm very atheletic and bounced back from my Lap RNY/Breast Reduction immediatley, but this tightening is a horse of a different color. My PS told me to expect 6-8 weeks, if not more from being really tight. Makes the simplest of moves difficult at times. I can tell it is somewhat better this week, so as the healing within moves forward all will be back to normal soon. To expect 6 months of healing, since it can take that long with swelling to subside. I can tell w/o rest I will swell by the end of the day. Also, drinking much water helps in this area. Some PS's do not tighten the muscles when performing TT. I for one believe it's a must for the overall healthy look. I very happy to experience some level of discomfort for the end results I willl have. In fact, I'm flat as a board since I had surgery. Can't imagine the how much nicer I will look once swelling is completly gone. It is well worth it, but you need to have needed time for healing. I can't see you working at 9 days. (((HUGS)))
   — Hazel S.

May 23, 2004
I assume you have gotten a written quote for the surgery. $1000 is going to be a drop in the bucket for the total cost. I hope you have made arrangements for the remainder of the funds needed. My full extended abdominoplasty and 3 days in the hospital and 3 transfusions was just under $25,000 with hospital and surgeon. Insurance paid 90% and the two providers had to write off the remainder per their contract with BCBS. <p>9 days is possible but I would never have made it. I had a LBL but that wasn't the issue as much as the fluid I had and just being so tired. It is really major surgery. For me the recovery was much slower than my WLS and I was 421 lbs when I had that. I had drains for 8.5 weeks after my PS. I did go back to work part time the 3rd week but found I could work about 3 hours and then I would go home and sleep for 1-2 hours and then go back to work for another 2-3 hours. Some days I only got in the 3 hours. I don't think I worked a full 8 hr day till week 5. I got back to 8 hrs faster after WLS. My problem was if I had any swelling I needed to get off my body so to speak. At about 3 hours of being up and around that's when I would feel the swelling and had to lay down. It wasn't major swelling but because I am cut 360 degrees even the tinyest swelling I feel, even now. <p>The bottom line is they have to let you off due to the Family Medical Leave Act. If you are not going to be able to be back to work in the 9 days then you need to make sure you file that paperwork. It guarantees they have to keep a job for you for at least 3 months I believe. It isn't necessarily the same job, but a job. If you don't file the paperwork with HR then they can do what they want. I realize you won't get paid after the 9th day, but you just may have to take a few more or at least go back 1/2 time.
   — zoedogcbr

May 23, 2004
Not a comment on your question. Just wanted to let you know that FMLA doesn't apply to all jobs. Even tho I work for a large company, because of the size of our office, it doesn't apply. You should really check all this out before you go ahead with the surgery.
   — lharbison

May 23, 2004
Rose, I will be 2 wks post-PS on Tuesday and I am not ready to go back to work yet. i cannot even sit up straight at a chair for more than 20 min without being in pain. Unless your job requires you to sit in a recliner all day (haha), you might not be ready! Good Luck to you! Heather Open RNY 8-15-02, LBL 5-11-04 305/175/178
   — heathercross

May 24, 2004
I had a full TT one month ago. Everyone heals and recovers at their own pace - no one is exactly the same. But, for me - it was a very easy time. I had the surgery on a Thursday. I took the entire next week off and went back to work the following Monday. So, technically, I took only 7 days off work, and had the benefit of one weekend in there...making it a total of 10 days. I did fine. I had 2 drains and they were removed at exactly one week post-op. So, I didn't have to go back to work with the drains - but boy I was up and around town before I went back to work and I just tucked those drains and long tubing in my pants and kept on going! They were a nuisance but I found that if I safety pinned them in the right spot on my underwear, they just looked like I had something in both of my front pockets of my pants. I'm sorry we can't give you a definitive answer on whether or not you can go back to work in 9 days - everyone is different - but I can say that I went back in 10 days and felt great. I wish you the best!
   — Mary W.

May 24, 2004
I would say Steve and Hazel's eperience most closely resembles my average patient. As your doctor, I would not PERMIT prolonged sitting before 2 weeks (pooches out the skin too much!) After 2 weeks most folks are driving, off major pain pills, and feeling stronger.
   — DrL




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