Question:
How long will I be off feet after LAP surgery?

I am considering having laproscopic gastric bypass surgery I am hearing contrary things about how long you are "off your feet" after surgery. I am talking about returning to work, which for me is a desk job. Can you tell me how long it took you to recover? and how long you were out of work?    — margie B. (posted on May 9, 2001)

May 9, 2001
I was back at work three weeks after surgery. I have heard of people going back as soon as 5 days but there was no way I could have possibly gone back even a day before I did. You do start to feel stronger and the pain gets much better in week two but DON'T LET IT FOOL YOU!! I'm very glad I listened to my family and stayed out the entire three weeks. I needed it! Good luck on your journey. It is not for wimps but is worth all the rewards.
   — Rebecca L.

May 9, 2001
The problem post-op is not the discomfort after the surgery, it is the fatique you experience , and it seems pretty typical, for the first month post-op. Certainly you could go to work, but it takes alot out of you just to get up and get ready. If you were thinking about going back in 2-3 weeks, you should consider 1/2 days initially, then full time when you are sure you can handle it.
   — Margaret S.

May 9, 2001
I told them 4 weeks at work. Could have gone back at 3 weeks, but wouldn't have survived full day. I also have a desk job and I'm not a wimp, but it was important to me to take all the time to fully concentrate on my new eating habits, protein shakes, excercise. The other factor to consider, is that once you return, people easily forget you just had major surgery, and sometimes expect you to perform just like you did before you left.
   — danirat

May 9, 2001
I went back to work about 2 weeks post op. I was very tired and a bit sore but I dont regret it one bit. I was climbing the walls at home and getting back into the routine helped a lot.
   — Jeannet

May 9, 2001
My daughter and I had lap RNY surgery last year. I went back to a full-time office position in 8 days, and she returned to teaching a classroom of 4 year olds in 14 days. It's important to remember that even though the pain and recovery time associated with a lap surgery is significantly less, it is still a major surgery involving general anesthesia. Everyone has different pain thesholds and levels of fatigue post-op. You are the only one who knows your body, and you need to listen to it. I did great at 8 days, but I also made a point to get lots of rest and sleep "off the job". If you have the option to work half-days initially, you might get a better idea of how much you can comfortably tolerate. Remember that if you over-do in the early stages, you only pay for it later in terms of fatigue, weakness, irritability and/or depression. Good luck!
   — Diana T.

May 10, 2001
I was off my feet for approximately 6 hours. I had a surgeon that was adamant about walking 2 miles a day right off the bat. I was in the hospital for 5 days after surgery, the last two days only because I had a low grade fever that wouldn't go away. My mom then came to stay with me for 3 days, that got me to 9 days post-op and then I was on my own at home. The punch line however is that I am a stay at home mom to 3 boys ages 2, 4 and 6. Going to a desk job would have been much easier than being at home with my 3 boys. My doctor says that most people can return to work 2 weeks post op, if their job is not real physical. Good luck in making your decision, I am forever grateful that I did. God Bless!!
   — Cheryl H.

May 10, 2001
I had my surgery (lap rny)on April 16th and returned to work 3 weeks later.
   — Lea L.