Question:
When should I expect to return to work?

In the grand scheme of things I know this sounds silly but it's a reality. Barring any major complications, how many days/weeks should I expect to be out of work after surgery (rny)?    — Nancy K. (posted on February 3, 2003)


February 3, 2003
hi! i was done lap r ny on 12.18.02 and returned to work on 1.09.03. i was blessed with a great recovery. funny think i was back to my desk job but not able to do laundry at home! the lifting was a no-no. at this point 6 weeks i am back to activities of daily living and feeling great! good luck, nan
   — nan K.

February 3, 2003
hi! i was done lap r ny on 12.18.02 and returned to work on 1.09.03. i was blessed with a great recovery. funny think i was back to my desk job but not able to do laundry at home! the lifting was a no-no. at this point 6 weeks i am back to activities of daily living and feeling great! good luck, nan
   — nan K.

February 3, 2003
I'm having Open RNY. During my surgical consult I asked the surgeon how long should I take off from work. He told me it depends on what I did and how motivated I was to get back. People who are self employed go back to work within a week while federal employees take 6 weeks off. <p>My surgery is on Feb 19 with a hospital check-in on the 18th. I will be taking leave from the 18th til March 17. I hope to return a week earlier so I can save up my leave time for July. I have a desk job and figure I might as well sit in my chair at work then at home. Just remember you'll probably feel very fatigued and maybe even scatterbrained (until you can get your protein up). <p>Take Care, Be Well, and Be Happy!
   — John T.

February 3, 2003
Nancy, Don't be in a hurry to go back to work. I went back after 6 weeks. Open RNY 11/21/02! I suffered!! I must have been crazy. For a whole other 2 weeks I did stay at work but took it very easy thanks to my nice boss. However, everyone is different. Good Luck and God Bless!!
   — Regina C.

February 3, 2003
I had lap RNY on a Wednesday and was back to work the following Monday at a desk job. 3 days off work. No problems. My energy had returned to 100% about one week after surgery, but I was pretty healthy going in. . .
   — Sarah S.

February 3, 2003
Your return to work will largely depend on whether your surgery is open or lap, and whether it was "uneventful" or you experienced any problems or complications. I returned to a full-time office position 8 days after an uneventful lap RNY. My daughter also had a "perfect" lap RNY experience and returned to teaching a classroom of 4-year-olds in 14 days. We experienced more fatigue than usual at the end of the day, but no other problems at all. Our surgeon restricts his lap RNY patients from lifting more than 15 pounds for the first six weeks....more of an issue for my daughter than me, but her class was very cooperative and she got along just fine :-). Best wishes!
   — Diana T.

February 3, 2003
Hi - did you know that question was just asked a couple of days ago? Check out the answers there in the past 300 questions. PLUS - go to the Library site for tons of information on this subject.
   — Sally P.

February 3, 2003
I went back part-time 2.5 weeks after open RNY. I went back full-time 2 weeks later. It was a little early, no doubt, but I found that pushing myself a bit helped me regain strength. It's a difficult balance but you'll figure it out! Good luck!
   — Kate G.

February 4, 2003
Ah, a swipe at federal employees. How original (yawn).<P>I had open and went back after four weeks. I could've gone back after three weeks, but would've been fatigued going full-time. By week four, I had no problems going full-tilt mentally (physically, I didn't lift any boulders, but I still don't!). :D
   — Suzy C.

February 4, 2003
I had open rny on 12/30/02. I returned back to work exactly 4 weeks later on 1/27/2003. I could have went back on the 3rd week, maybe for 1/2 days, but I decided to wait take a extra week and go back full time.
   — KIM C.

February 4, 2003
hi, i had open rny and didn't feel well after surgery, no complications just very tired and had an over all ill feeling till about 7 weeks i returned to grocery checking at 8 weeks and did fine. i've only been back going on four weeks now so far lifting hasn't been a problem. open distal rny 11/12/02 -45lbs
   — kimberly T.

February 4, 2003
I'm a STATE employee and I had open RNY on Dec. 5. I went back to work on Dec. 26, exactly 3 weeks later. I have a desk job, but I do also travel. I waited for another month before I started travelling again.
   — Michele C.




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