Question:
How long after surgery can you go back to work? I sit at a computer all day at work..
— Amber S. (posted on August 28, 2000)
August 27, 2000
Hi there. I took 4 weeks before going back to work and my job is, for the
most part, sedentary with a lot of time at the computer. There are times
when I have to do a bit of walking around and visiting other offices. The
biggest benefit for getting back to work was a return to
"normal"...I wasn't sitting around the house having to deal with
head hunger or worrying about what I would eat. I found things that were
portable...yogurt, cottage cheese, canned protein drinks, small cans of
tuna, etc...I was able to start a walking program with a co-worker. The
*one* thing that was really difficult in going back...was that I was still
tired...and a couple of times during the day I would find myself really
drooping. I countered that with going to bed really early and giving my
body the rest it needed.
Maybe you could start back on halfdays to see how things go. Hope this
helps.
— Lucky B.
August 27, 2000
Amber..A lot depends on what type of surgery you have. I'm still pre-op
but my surgeon says most patients that have a desk job tend to be ready to
go back in a week or two. My understanding is that one's energy level is
sometimes more of a factor. Our energy will be greatly reduced in the
beginning. Personally, I'm expecting to be off for around a week, but am
prepared to take off two. I'd suggest going to as many surgeons' seminars
as you can. See what your options are before you decide what's best for
you. Good luck and God Bless,
— Michele A.
August 27, 2000
I also do desk work and my surgeon okayed me to go back after 2 weeks. I
was definitely ready to go back, but if I needed more time, he would have
certainly given it to me. While I felt my recovery was a quick one, not
everyone experiences that. Tell your work what general timeframe you might
take off, but also leave the option open that you may need longer time.
When you come back, NO LIFTING of any kind - ask your co-workers to move
supply boxes around and such. Take it slow and easy. My biggest challenge
was getting in and out of my chair, and I moved around the office like a
snail - intentionally. You may even want to do some half days for a while.
Although I never needed to do that, I had discussed that with my
supervisor as an option before the surgery, and she was very agreeable to
it. Good luck!
— Paula G.
August 27, 2000
Everyone is diffrent but... I had open RNY on 6/23 and returned to work on
7/10. I could have gone back to work after the two weeks but was fortunate
that the holiday was that week and so I waited until after. The extra week
was really nice. I had the first two weeks of clothes hanging/ready to
wear and so I was able to come home after work, crash for two hours and
then get up and do any chores that needed to be done/exercise/try to eat
and then go back to bed. I was really glad I took the extra week.
Good luck and I hope this helps!
— Andrea P.
August 28, 2000
I also do a lot of sitting during the day and I went back to work after 3
weeks. I probably could have returned after 2 weeks but the extra week was
nice. Most of the pain was gone but the fatigue was still there. Just try
and take it easy and get back into it slowly. good luck!
— cheryl W.
August 28, 2000
Hi Amber, I have a computer job, too. I had an open VBG and went back to
work 9 days later. I could have probably went back in one week. Hope this
helps!
— Laura P.
August 28, 2000
I had open RNY and went back to work after two weeks. This was too soon
for me but luckily I work at home so I was able to take frequent breaks. I
found it painful to sit straight up for more than an hour at a time. I was
also starting to develop an incisional abscess about this time and that
probably was causing me some extra pain.
— Kellie L.
August 28, 2000
I was able to go back part time at 10 days. My boss was whimpering!
— vitalady
August 30, 2000
I had my open RNY on 8/18. I came home from the hospital on 8/24, and on
8/26 I went to work and worked for 4 hours. I have two jobs. One I sit at
a desk and talk on the phone and work on a computer. That is the one I
went back to the other job is as a floor psych nurse and I can't go back
there for at least 6 weeks. I haven't had trouble with with exhaustion, in
fact when I stay at home I find I have trouble going to sleep at night
almost as if I didn't do enough stuff throughout the day to warrant going
to sleep. If I work then I go to bed around 10-10:30pm and sleep till
around 7am
— Jeannette S.
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