Question:
How can I convince surgeon to give me more time off?

I had open rny 5 weeks ago. My disability through my employer covers me as long as my surgeon says is necessary. I am to return to work next Tuesday, but am still very very fatigued. I follow dr's instructions to the "t" & do my 30 min of exercise each day. I see my dr on Friday and want to ask him for another of week or 2 to get my strength back & at least feel up to par for work--10 hours per day. Any advice how to ask him for this? He seems to be very much by the book & will probably say no. Thank you for any suggestions.    — mary V. (posted on October 5, 2002)

October 2, 2002
Have you addressed the problem as to why you are so fatigued? You may need to get some blood work done to make sure that you are not anemic. If so, they can give you medicine for that to make you feel better. Instead of trying to not go back to work, you should really look into your health and find out what in the heck is going on. Hope its something minor and you are feeling better soon. Usually doctors that go by the book stay by the book and it is hard to get them to budge unless there is a medical reason. Good luck to you.
   — Angela B.

October 2, 2002
Hi... If your company will offer time off ask him for one more week and then 2 on half time. A lot depends too on your type of work -- if strenuous you may not have a problem. I had open RNY in April and was off for 4 wks. I too was tired still but I found that going back actually was good for me. When I went back, I went back l/2 time for the next 2 wks from 9-2 and then full time. In those two weeks though I went to bed early and limited other activities and gradually worked up. It definitely helped. Some suggestions for you on the fatigue: Are you taking B12 - if not, you should be. I use either the liquid or sublingual; Up your protein and up your water. Make sure you are getting your vitamins in. Are you exercising at all? If not, even walking for 15 min. will help. I know its a vicious cycle of too tired to exercise and exercise feels tiring but it will balance out. I am 6 months post op and down 81# and feeling great. My best to you.
   — AJC750

October 2, 2002
Hi! I regained my strength and started feeling "normal" again at about 6 weeks. I would definitely see if your labs are normal and you are not malnurished or dehydrated. Lately I had a lack of energy and have felt depressed. I was using this as an "excuse" when talking to my dietician a couple days ago. She pulled up my recent labs, turns out my iron was low. I've been a lot better at "remembering" my iron pills my surgeon told me were so important...and I feel a lot better! Good luck!
   — Courtney S.

October 2, 2002
I, too, became very fatigued at 5 weeks and it lasted 3 weeks. I had blood tests galore on two different occasions that came back normal, and neither my family physician nor surgeon could figure out why I was so weak. At the end of 8 weeks, I started feeling much better.. and it has continued to improve till today at 2 months and two weeks post op. So in that sense, you are not alone. I too will be asking for disability insurance reimbursement for that time off. I took whatever time off from work I needed to recover.
   — Darlene P.

October 2, 2002
I was extremely fatigued for the first 6 weeks. I mean to the point that I couldn't do anything. I finally started feeling somewhat human after that. I am 5 months post op today and I have been dealing with the fatigue again for a few days now. I'm tired all the time, but this type of tired is not normal, plus i've been getting headaches. I'm going to see the dr on friday. my dr gives his patients all the time they want. i took off 4 weeks and then went 1 week part time. i have a desk job and probably could have gone back much earlier if not for the fatigue. good luck. it doesn't hurt to ask...
   — candymom64