time to recovery - ThinnerTimes

lonester28 · 01-15-2006, 12:29 PM

I am having surgery soon, and was curious to know how long it was for most to do normal daily activities - not necessarily work. I am trying to anticipate my recovery, my doc stated 3 to 6 weeks is normal. I am just looking for some feedback. If you know of anything that can speed back recovery I would love to know. Luckily my work will be paying me 100% during my time away, however I am not how long I can stay locked in my home - I know I will go stir crazy with the passing time.

Thanks

Mike

Ryn · 01-15-2006, 12:36 PM

I had Open RNY and took off 5 weeks (I go back Tuesday). I was extremely bored at home, so once I was able to drive it was better just being able to get out. I do not feel I am ready to go back to work (1st grade teacher), I still get tired midday. I am trying to figure out how to eat according to school schedule and have my body coincide with that schedule. I am thinking I may need to lay down during my lunch. But other than being tired, I feel no pain. I still itch but not as bad. But I was just reading on another site how ppl felt ready after a week and a half (lap).

LisaM · 01-15-2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonester28

I am having surgery soon, and was curious to know how long it was for most to do normal daily activities - not necessarily work. I am trying to anticipate my recovery, my doc stated 3 to 6 weeks is normal. I am just looking for some feedback. If you know of anything that can speed back recovery I would love to know. Luckily my work will be paying me 100% during my time away, however I am not how long I can stay locked in my home - I know I will go stir crazy with the passing time.

Thanks

Mike

My doc told me I should take four to six weeks off, but it was less about hurting yourself or your stitches or whatever than it was about the fact that you have ZERO energy, and I also had a tendency to throw up a lot the first few weeks. Found out later it was a virus.

However, I was allowed to drive as soon as I had gone 24 hours without pain meds. So you don't have to stay locked up... but eight hours of any effort may be a little tough for a while.

okiegrl · 01-15-2006, 02:48 PM

Hey Mike - I was wondering the same thing. When I was off recently for carpal tunnel surgery, I was stir crazy within a few days, but couldn't go back to work. I am planning on taking at least 4 weeks off and then maybe seeing if I can go back partial days. There have been several people where I work that have had this done and they all came back after 6 weeks at full speed, but I know at least one spent most of her time off at the pool

coptergirl · 01-15-2006, 04:43 PM

This depends on many factors: what type of surgery you're having (lap or open), whether or not you have any complications (we pray that this doesn't happen), what you do for a living, and what your work environment is like. I work in an office, but have to climb 2 flights of stairs to get there (no elevator), so I might be a little leary of that, even after a lap surgery without complications. Personally, I will be taking 4 weeks. I do the benefits for our work, and open enrollment is 5/1, so April has always been super busy preparing for this. My doc wants to schedule for the second week of March, and if this happens, I will have to start working after just 2 weeks...but ONLY on the benefits stuff...and I think I will be okay.

Everything with this surgery is so incredibly personal: from what we're able to eat, to complications, to rate of weight loss etc...this one is just one to add to the list!

lealphachienne · 01-15-2006, 05:01 PM

I took 6 weeks off....I was living in a 2 story home at the time. Boy, the stairs were fun. The first week is Hell week, then it gets better for most. I was driving and shopping at one week. I went to the county fair at 3 weeks. Went to the theater often. Did a lot of walking around the neighborhood. I had my surgery in May, so the weather was nice.

Scarbelly · 01-16-2006, 04:09 PM

I took off just under 2 weeks; was able to work but I was pretty tired and of course, did no lifting. Worked the weekend shift and then was able to take off the entire week before Christmas. When I came back from Christmas I felt fine, pretty much back to normal. So that was a total of 3 weeks with one weekend shift in the middle. A lady I work with had the same surgeon and she took a month off. My department couldn't spare the time. The doctor said take what you need but 2 weeks is good for most people, long as you don't lift.

Alleusion · 01-16-2006, 04:46 PM

I'm a stay at home mom, so while technically, I didn't go "back" to work, I never got time off either. 1 1/2 weeks post op, I was on my own with the kids. Thank God they're 9 and 10 and can do alot for themselves. Due to some food issues, I had literally no energy until around 8 weeks I think. I'm 13 weeks now (I think) and will be technically 3 months on the 25th. Everything seems normal now.