Lifting restrictions post-op?

[kagead 0]

I've seen multiple guidelines given and have been advised by my surgeons office, but I was wondering what your real-world experience has been. I am having a very hard time figuring out how much time I'll REALLY need off from work. I have a slightly unusual situation:

I am self employed and work from a home office, but I have a fairly physical component to my job. I do many tradeshows throughout the year and carry a heavy sample case (about 60lbs.) to client appointments in their offices.

For the shows, I pack and unpack my car with the display itself, materials for the display, catalogs (10-15 cases, usually about 40lbs each) and samples, and carry all this in and out of the tradeshow location 2x per day (set up and breakdown) for 5 days running. I also drive in between cities (2-4 hrs per day) and start all over again.

For regular client visits, I just have my sample case and individual sample bags I make for my clients (3-4 lbs each.) My case is on wheels, but I do have to lift it in and out of my car. The bags go into a wheeled cart but again, need to be loaded in and out of the car.

I am thinking I'll take a week off from everything, then hoping to do "office" type work the 2nd week (booking appointments, quote and project followup, email blasts and the like- all phone and computer work.) Do you think I'll be able to do client visits on week 3? Will I be able to do a tradeshow by week 6?

While I'll be eligible for surgery in March, I know I'll have to put it off until May when I am pretty much done with the spring shows. I just need to make sure I'll be ready for a show in mid- July if my surgery doesn't end up happening until mid or late May.

(FWIW, I do all this stuff now with all the extra weight I am carrying, so I am fairly strong. Hoping this helps my recovery and the whole tradeshow process becomes easier when I'm not schlepping my own weight in addition to the other stuff! :smile2:)

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

kagead

[btrieger 21]

A truck driver in one of the mandatory nutritional/behavioral classes asked the staff this last month.

They replied that he should be able to lift everything he is currently lifting within a week or 2 following surgery.

The 6 week restriction on lifting is usually for bypass patients.

* A paramedic asked this same question yesterday in the short term disability thread.

[kagead 0]

Thanks so much for the quick and very helpful reply! If that is true, I may be able to do this in March, rather than wait until May which would be great! I'll definitely have to discuss this further with my surgeon.

kagead

[btrieger 21]

Definitely ask your surgeon for his advice. He may say wait 6 months. :smile2:

But also realize that many mothers pick up their 20 pound children almost as soon as the get home from surgery.

[New Joy 0]

I was banded last week and was told nothing over 10lbs for 6 weeks.

A mother of a baby was at my seminar and they suggested waiting until the child did not need to be held as often.