New and really nervous about recovery time!!

[natty76]

Hello All!
My surgery date is scheduled for 6/26. I'm very excited and. . . I'm scared as hell! I'm not quite sure of what to expect during the first couple of weeks. I'm a single mom of a toddler and I'll be in between jobs with a start date of 7/15. I'm hoping this will give me just enough recovery time to feel OK at work. I'm wondering if I'm doing too much. I know I can't lose the weight without this surgery, Lord knows I've tried. Anyway, any support, advice, and encouragement would be wonderful. How long did you take before you went back to work, or felt like you could go back to work without falling out!!! Thanks!

[pktwatch]

I am retired and did not have to worry about going back to work. We are all different and the recovery will be different for all of us but it sounds like if you have a job that is not to physical you should be OK. The first couple of weeks after surgery I needed help with meals and vitamins just because i felt like I was in a "fog" and it was hard to remember things. I did not have much pain but it was uncomfortable trying to sleep.

Who is your surgeon and where are you having your surgery done? I bet someone here can advise you better with that information. Best wishes!

[Deleted]

Hi and welcome! If you are otherwise in good health and have a smooth recovery and a laparoscopic procedure, and if it's not a super physical new job, hopefully you'll do okay. I'm just kind of bumping your post so others will see it quicker . I was disabled and very ill when I had my DS, so I have no personal experience to share.

[travelingmomoftwo]

I had complications so can't vouch from my experience but I see most people returning to desk jobs in 2-3 weeks, physical jobs later. Make sure you have some help those first few weeks-you'll need to rest a lot and spend a lot of time 'adjusting' to the new you. Best of luck!!

[bagaof4]

I had some bleeding and needed transfusions following surgery, but otherwise all went very well. Little pain but did spend 6 days in the hospital. Virgin DS done lap and was in good health besides being MO. I took 5 weeks off work, but am a teacher. I do little physical work, but was just not mentally prepared to deal with 37 6th graders and be on my feet all day. Besides needing to rest, I felt I needed time to wrap my head around the eating plan and bathroom routine. I was fortunate to be able to have the time to take off and baby myself. I could probably have pushed it and returned after 4 or maybe even 3 weeks, but 3 would definitely have been pushing it. I was very tired and just showering was an ordeal that required a nap afterwards. Each of us is so different so I am just relating my own experience.

[Leonie]

I travelled around the globe for surgery, and even did some sight seeing ten days post op, but I was seriously in recovery mode. My brain felt foggy and I did not feel I should drive before three weeks. I did the 27hr flight, weekend holiday with a game drive, flew to visit family,but rested lots inbetween. After six weeks I felt able to work. I had the same experience with the hysterectomy, so perhaps it is the way I roll.

[natty76]

Thank you all for your speedy responses!!! I'm going to be a VSGer and My surgeon is Dr. Judith Park, at Richmond Kaiser in California. Anyone know of her please comment! And I'm a therapist so I sit on my behind for most of the day. So it sounds like I shouldn't be worried about energy level too much, but the mental fog may be tricky. My mother will be helping me with lil man and I'll be recovering for two weeks at her house. Sounds like I can do this!! Thanks again for your support!

[bagaof4]

Didn't know you were being sleeved. Bet you'll be just fine. Good luck!

[Deleted]

As long as your concentration holds out, sounds like you should do fine being back at work. Be VERY VERY vigilant about hydration. You will need to be sipping constantly all day long, so you might have to think about how to work that into your client interactions.

[sheanie]

I know 3 women who returned to desk jobs 3 weeks after being sleeved. I would NOT recommend it, I actually tried to talk them into staying off work longer, but they all insisted they felt good enough to return. One ended up back in the hospital on and off again for the next 3 months due to complications and ended up having her gall bladder go bad. Then she had complications from that. She lost almost all her hair during this and was totally non-compliant with vitamins and protein intake. The other two women did extraordinarily well and are now 3 and 2 years out. The first one has regained some of her weight, but has never been good with understanding the bigger picture. She wanted MY results but instead only had the sleeve done.

My point in rambling is to make you aware that YOU are in control of your recovery and success. You only get one chance to heal properly. It is major surgery, even though it's laparascopic. If you can get more time, you would be wise to take it. If not, STAY HYDRATED. And if you think you're getting dehydrated, GO TO THE ER and get fluids. It's not a big deal, just an IV.

[Deleted]

Hi Natty,
Do you have help? You will not be able to pick-up your toddler for a while. I had a revision from (RNY to DS) so my recovery time does not really apply. Maybe you can start part time and ease in the first week. If you tell your employer you are scheduled for surgery they should understand.
Good Luck
Whitney