Returning to work??? - Page 2 - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Phatlady · 11-06-2009, 07:32 AM

I totally agree that everyone is different but in spite of my fat, I am an athlete.
And I am of the belief that exercise is the best medicine for what ails you. So many of my fatter friends ache and sit and I know a lot of their body aches would be resolved or improved by movement.
Gas Pains are one of those things that improve with movement.
In the hospital I was writhing around in agony two mornings after my surgery. I thought I would be stuck in the hospital for days longer. The pain was horrid.
I went for a walk and came back and two hours later was in agony again. I was being blocked by narcotics apparently. I went for an hour long walk-around and around the wings of the hospital. The doctors stopped immediately with the narcotics, gave me lasix to pee and voila, I was a new woman and walked out of the hospital five hours later.
I am not like everyone, I realize this as I move more than any of my skinny friends each and every single day.
I muck stalls three hours a day, play two hours of tennis on top of that several days a week and walk tons-often dozens of staircases involved. So for me a four mile walk was nothing. It got my heart rate up a bit and felt good. But I did a 20 minute mile, not a 15 minute mile. Fitness is not my issue, fat is. I worked out four hours a day, hiking 5-7 miles, swimming laps, treadmill, biking and tennis daily when I went to my nutritionist and I still could not break 200 lbs. Genetics are NOT my friend.
So, I am hopeful that this surgery will help.
But I have recovered from several major surgeries and know that moving is the best thing for healing after the first week to ten days your swelling should have subsided enough to do most movements with the exception of really bending down.
I will also tell you that for me getting out is THE BEST medicine because it helps distract you and get your mind off you and your aches. I find I get a little nuts lying around going oohh, ouweee, whaaaaa.
I know many here disagree with me and that is due to your own experience. I am giving my experience and I think someone should encourage a more positive healing process as it is totally possible.
And I know several people in my support group reported returning to work the following week and having little to absolutely no pain or discomfort even in the hospital. (Lucky them!).
It is possible, it does happen and it does not adversely affect healing.

mistymee · 11-06-2009, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phatlady

I totally agree that everyone is different but in spite of my fat, I am an athlete.
And I am of the belief that exercise is the best medicine for what ails you. So many of my fatter friends ache and sit and I know a lot of their body aches would be resolved or improved by movement.
Gas Pains are one of those things that improve with movement.
In the hospital I was writhing around in agony two mornings after my surgery. I thought I would be stuck in the hospital for days longer. The pain was horrid.
I went for a walk and came back and two hours later was in agony again. I was being blocked by narcotics apparently. I went for an hour long walk-around and around the wings of the hospital. The doctors stopped immediately with the narcotics, gave me lasix to pee and voila, I was a new woman and walked out of the hospital five hours later.
I am not like everyone, I realize this as I move more than any of my skinny friends each and every single day.
I muck stalls three hours a day, play two hours of tennis on top of that several days a week and walk tons-often dozens of staircases involved. So for me a four mile walk was nothing. It got my heart rate up a bit and felt good. But I did a 20 minute mile, not a 15 minute mile. Fitness is not my issue, fat is. I worked out four hours a day, hiking 5-7 miles, swimming laps, treadmill, biking and tennis daily when I went to my nutritionist and I still could not break 200 lbs. Genetics are NOT my friend.
So, I am hopeful that this will surgery will help.
But I have recovered from several major surgeries and know that moving is the best thing for healing after the first week to ten days your swelling should have subsided enough to do most movements with the exception of really bending down.
I will also tell you that for me getting out is THE BEST medicine because it helps distract you and get your mind off you and your aches. I find I get a little nuts lying around going oohh, ouweee, whaaaaa.
I know many here disagree with me and that is due to your own experience. I am giving my experience and I think someone should encourage a more positive healing process as it is totally possible.
And I know several people in my support group reported returning to work the following week and having little to absolutely no pain or discomfort even in the hospital. (Lucky them!).
It is possible, it does happen and it does not adversely affect healing.

I don't think your experience is the norm.. and my objection is only that you are speaking in absolutes. And there are no absolutes when it comes to this journey and how it might affect someone. I really, really do object to that, and setting someone up for failure and feeling guilty or bad about themselves if they can't follow those absolutes.

Phatlady · 11-06-2009, 07:56 AM

Well, we can agree to disagree as there is a lot of negative feedback on this site, which is good but scary, too, and I for one think all sides should be shared. And there are no absolutes in anything I wrote, in fact quite the opposite, as I stated over and over, it is MY experience and you are entitled to Your experience.
I am sorry you don't want me to share it but I think that is what this forum is all about, sharing our experiences in the hopes of helping or supporting someone out there who will have a similar experience.
The question as I recall was posed, IS IT POSSIBLE and the answer is yes, it is but EVERYONE is different and they should first and foremost listen to their DOCTOR'S advice. I see no absolutes here. Only a differing opinion. And a differing experience from your's.
I am bound and determined to make this a tool, not a road block in my life and I want to be back to (a reduced) normal as soon as possible and my Doctor encourages it 100%. Seeing as how he has performed 2500 surgeries so far, I have taken his advice and guidance to heart and I read here continuously to gain sage advice from fellow GB patients.

poet_kelly · 11-06-2009, 08:00 AM

My surgeon would not have wanted me mucking out stalls or playing tennis a couple weeks after my surgery, too. I was not supposed to lift anything heavier than ten pounds or do any exercise more strenuous than walking for six weeks. It's not that he didn't have a get up and go attitude, or that I don't, for that matter. My surgery was at 8:00 in the morning and I was walking laps around the hospital halls at 1:00 that same afternoon. I only stayed in the hospital for one night, and upon my discharge, was advised to walk for 30 minutes every day, starting the next day. My surgeon definitely believed that moving would help with recovery, and I think he was right.

He was concerned that lifting or strenuous exercise might cause harm, however. I realize some people return to more strenuous activity sooner, like playing tennis and mucking out stalls. Does it hurt them? I dunno. Certainly not all the time. But ever? Maybe. I just know my surgeon thought it might.

I would just go with what your surgeon says in terms of activity. If your surgeon says it's OK to muck out stalls and play tennis, go for it. Many surgeons would not OK that, though.

Kelly

mistymee · 11-06-2009, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phatlady

. And there are no absolutes in anything I wrote, in fact quite the opposite,

I was responding to your very first post in this thread where you said that someone could "DEFINITELY" return to work in a week.

That is speaking in absolutes, and the reality is, there is none when it comes to this surgery.

You may very well have done well to be walking 4 miles a week or two post op, and doing hours of stall mucking. That is not the norm, not even close and to go out and speak in these absolutes can cause those that can't go back to work and walk 4 miles a day feel guilty or bad about themselves or feel that there is something wrong with them. Not cool.

Sharing your experience, sure.. but don't try to make it sound like that is the norm, as it's not.

poet_kelly · 11-06-2009, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phatlady

Well, we can agree to disagree as there is a lot of negative feedback on this site, which is good but scary, too, and I for one think all sides should be shared. And there are no absolutes in anything I wrote, in fact quite the opposite, as I stated over and over, it is MY experience and you are entitled to Your experience.
I am sorry you don't want me to share it but I think that is what this forum is all about, sharing our experiences in the hopes of helping or supporting someone out there who will have a similar experience.
The question as I recall was posed, IS IT POSSIBLE and the answer is yes, it is but EVERYONE is different and they should first and foremost listen to their DOCTOR'S advice. I see no absolutes here. Only a differing opinion. And a differing experience from your's.
I am bound and determined to make this a tool, not a road block in my life and I want to be back to (a reduced) normal as soon as possible and my Doctor encourages it 100%. Seeing as how he has performed 2500 surgeries so far, I have taken his advice and guidance to heart and I read here continuously to gain sage advice from fellow GB patients.

But you said the OP could defnitely return to work in one week. You used the word definitely. That is an absolute.

Sharing your experience is fine. But you didn't just say, this is my experience. You said she could definitely return to work in one week. And it's really not definite.

Kelly

jerseygrl684 · 11-06-2009, 08:07 AM

No it isn't normal. Your situtation is very rare that you were that active prior to surgery and still that active now.

You just had a major surgery. I remember a poster on here doing a 2 mile walk his first 4 days out of surgery. Your body is healing, you need to let it heal. I can understand a normal walk, but a 4 mile hike and taking care of horses is a bit extreme. You have no idea what you could pull/tear on the insides, but... your choice.

Phatlady · 11-06-2009, 08:18 AM

Okay, excuse me, she can definitely return to work IF she has a good surgical outcome, which I stated already, BUT it depends upon the doctor's advice and how she feels. Also stated.
IS that more clear?
It is not to set her up for failure, ABSOLUTELY to the contrary, I stated it to set her up for a possible positive outcome.
As for mucking and lifting, Kelly, I said that is what I NORMALLY do in a given day. I did not say I did that week two, I stated I walked and fed my horses.
My instructions as are everyone's is not to lift more than 15 pounds the first TWO weeks. This is so you do not open incisions or pop staples under strain.
Rule of thumb is red in the face is too much strain but I think by then you have gone too far. You need to baby yourself until you heal and try not to lift anything much heavier than a glass of milk or a spoon!
I did not lift anything heavy at all-including my 16 pound cat until week three and I feel terrific now and I know my body, so I am careful not to do anything stressful.
My Doctor did give me permission to play tennis this week, but I have chosen not to as I play at a high B, low A level and that involves a lot of running and twisting and I know I am not ready for at least another week.
I plan to hit some balls with someone on Monday or Tuesday to see how I feel before committing to a competitive game.
And mucking is all hard, heavy physical labor so that I will not do for another week or two. I will listen to my body as with everything, even if my doctor tells me yes, I am responsible for advocating for me.

mistymee · 11-06-2009, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phatlady

Okay, excuse me, she can definitely return to work IF she has a good surgical outcome, which I stated already, BUT it depends upon the doctor's advice and how she feels. Also stated.
IS that more clear?

The word "definitely" is just a wrong way to go about saying it.. and that is where the sticking point is for me.

Even with a good "surgical outcome" some people still have other reasons for not being able to go back.. they could be too tired, not sleeping well or whatever.

If YOU hadn't spoken with such absolutes, then this conversation probably never would've happened and I would've said, I agree with much of what you had to say, though I think your time line is a bit whack.

jerseygrl684 · 11-06-2009, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistymee

The word "definitely" is just a wrong way to go about saying it.. and that is where the sticking point is for me.

Even with a good "surgical outcome" some people still have other reasons for not being able to go back.. they could be too tired, not sleeping well or whatever.

If YOU hadn't spoken with such absolutes, then this conversation probably never would've happened and I would've said, I agree with much of what you had to say, though I think your time line is a bit whack.

The issue i think we have is that you are speaking in absolutes. Unless I see an MD after your name, and even then... I don't think you should be telling people absolutes considering you don't know if your actions have actually done any damage yet. I sure hope not.