Getting back to work post sleeve

[saahsmom]

Can anyone/everyone please help with this. I have to plan my leave time and I am not sure of what is a good timeline. I work in the medical field with direct patient care. Not any lifting just a moderate amount of walking. Please give advice on this topic.

[msjazzy25@hotmail.com]

Hi I to am in the medical field I'd recommend the full 6wks if possible because on top of the healing you have to adjust you body back to eating as well...& take into consideration your hours & plan your eating like you are at work so it will adjust for you...wishing you all the best

[Bea]

My Doctor wrote me off for 4 weeks... I'm a Labor and Delivery Nurse and did well going back after the 4 weeks. I def wouldn't have wanted to go back sooner then that ... Hope this helps and good luck on your journey.

[Jerome]

I am taking 4 weeks, plus a 2 week staged return (50%). Msjazzy is right: it takes time to get used to the new way of eating. i know that a lot of people on this site are back to work after 1 or 2 weeks.

[Rebecca50]

I took 6 weeks off and so glad I did. You do have to get used to the new way of eating and with that said your energy level is not going to be high for at least 4-5 weeks after surgery. If you have the 6 weeks take it, you won't be sorry.

[Shawk]

I had my support group last night and that is one of the things they were talking about. Some go back the next week I have seen on here but they suggest you take the full 6 weeks if you can you will do better in the long run. You will be well rested and you will have had time to learn this new way of eating. By that time you are back on full foods and can get some sort of a routine set. In the meeting they had said Lap band patients eat when they are hungry, sleeve and bypass patients eat by the clock. So take the time so you can be comfortable with your new lifestyle of eating.

[blslaga]

I was off for 2 wks and went back to work. Keep in mind I'm home all day with a 2 year old and work a office job at night. But I made sure I went back on a Wednesday so if I had a rough time I knew I could stick it out and then the weekend would be there. Sorry but I don't have a clue why anyone would need 6 wks off from work. Its not that bad. I didn't even have pain meds after surgery.

[Rebecca50]

I think it all depends on age! Obviously you are young having a 2 year old . Older people don't bounce back nearly as fast and I'm glad I had the time off to adjust. I was weak the first 2-3 weeks not eating anything but liquids and I was still very tired and tired out easy.

[leamarieb]

I also think it matters by age, how much weight you have to lose, and what kind of shape you were in before surgery. I'm in my mid-40s and started at about the same place weight-wise as you. I'm on a bunch of meds and was not in great shape before surgery. I work at a hospital, but mostly a desk job, and I thought 3 weeks would be enough. I came back this week 1/2 time, and am finding myself more tired than I expected, I think partly because I am still healing and partly because I've only been eating 400-500 calories a day and struggling to get enough fluid. I burn about 2400 cals according to my body bugg, so I'm running one heck of a deficit. Also, having to carefully plan food and water and be sure I am eating at the right time and drinking enough has been challenging while at work. I'm going to do another week at 1/2 time before coming back full-time. That would put me at 5 weeks to come back full-time, and I'm hoping that I have more energy then.

[hirnsandy]

I work in a hospital too, but have not been doing direct patient care for about a year.
I planned to take 3 weeks off but found that I wasn't ready to return until 4 weeks. At that time I went back 1/2 time. This week I am doing full time and am making my 5 week mark.
I was tired a lot. Not sore, but tired. I also needed time to learn what I could eat and when. It was good not to be working that around my job.
Take care of you!

[PenBB]

WOW- I thought my consultant said a week. After reading this, I think I may have misunderstood! YiKeS!

[soccermom]

I just finished my first week back to work. I do home health PT. I'm really tired right now. I went back 1 day before 2 weeks. I would have liked to take another week but just couldn't afford it. I think I'll be ok after I rest over the weekend. My recommendation is the more time off you can afford to take, the better!

[JOJ2000]

I took five weeks off, so glad I did. I wanted to be back on regular foods before I went back to work. My job is deadline driven, (I'm an editor in public radio), so I wanted to give myself time. After FMLA, and using up some of my time, , I'm not going to get a check this pay period, but I planned for that last year when I decided to have the surgery, and was able to save enough to cover what I need too now. It really made a difference having the five weeks off. This was my first week back to work, I'm tired, but it would have been worse if I came back after three weeks. And, my last week out when I made it to regular foods, I was able to kind of practice what I would bring to work to eat, (trial run so to speak) times to eat, plan enough time to get up in the morning and get my vitamins in, breakfast, pack my lunch, etc. Everyone has do what is best for them, but I am thankful I did take the five weeks off!