HOW LONG SHOULD I WAIT BEFORE-BACK TO WORK?

[banded_princess 0]

Hi!!

I know this is probably answered somewhere else on the website, but I am still doubtful so I hope someone could answer my question!

I have my lap band surgery scheduled for the 28th of November and that is exactly one week after my final exams finish so i would have to start my pre-op diet straight after my exams, however, I needed to know how much time I need to take off from work after my surgery because I work in retail at a department store, at a jewellery kiosk. Generally my shifts are anywhere between 8-10 hours a day with about a half hour break... there are no seats so I would essentially have to stand for the entire duration of my shift... any advice on how long to stay off work safely would be much appreciated!

Thanks!!!

[Stacey Nicole 40]

I'd be interested in seeing responses as well. I manage a tile store and although I am allowed to sit, I also must lift 60lb boxes for customers (and yes I am female lol). Ive read 1 week home then light duty. I wonder what peoples actual experiences have been so we know what to expect!

[Timoniumroady 10]

Truth be knows, everyones body is different when it comes to the recovery time. I had the lapband installed with also a hiatal hernia repair. Usually I recover quickly from surgeries, but I wasn't feeling right until day 6. I did mine on a holiday weekend and hoarded my vacation this year and had 12 days off which included weekend. From what I've read on here, I"ve seen people go back to work in 3 days. As far as sitting or standing, really I felt better when I was standing then sitting but again everyone is different. As for lifting, my doctor did not want me lifting over 5 lbs. So just ask him for a light duty slip. Plus if the guys a work can't do some lifting for you for a few weeks, I'd have to say thats pretty ignorant. I work with all men myself and they were extremely helpful if I needed something done. Good luck to you both in your journey.

[banded_princess 0]

Same case Stacey! I have to stand all day but i will be working during the christmas period and they will have many consignments of new stock coming in with each box weighing 20+ Kilos! and i certainly did not want to inform the people at my work about my surgery! so i dont know whether to wait it out until i am ok to do everything or to go and try and avoid heavy lifting.. :/ ive already had to take time off work because of uni, and now i have to take more time off because of surgery which is why i want to be clear just so i know what to tell me manager who is not a very understanding woman by the way!

[brenda62 47]

I am a grocery checker in a busy store, I went back to work on day 4. I did fine, I was just very tired and slept well when I got hom.

[banded_princess 0]

Truth be knows, everyones body is different when it comes to the recovery time. I had the lapband installed with also a hiatal hernia repair. Usually I recover quickly from surgeries, but I wasn't feeling right until day 6. I did mine on a holiday weekend and hoarded my vacation this year and had 12 days off which included weekend. From what I've read on here, I"ve seen people go back to work in 3 days. As far as sitting or standing, really I felt better when I was standing then sitting but again everyone is different. As for lifting, my doctor did not want me lifting over 5 lbs. So just ask him for a light duty slip. Plus if the guys a work can't do some lifting for you for a few weeks, I'd have to say thats pretty ignorant. I work with all men myself and they were extremely helpful if I needed something done. Good luck to you both in your journey.

I am considering taking about 7-10 days off and then tell my manager that i had some other surgery because she is a real gossip munger and everyone in the dept store will find out if I told her that I had lap band surgery! now im trying to come up with another "fake" surgery i could tell her I had so i could get away with not carrying things/do less strenuous work once i get back.. i would love it if there were some boys working with us to help when it comes to the lifting/etc... but its a jewellery store so all our employees are girsl >21 years of age... so not much help with them!

[DebHart71 3]

I am considering taking about 7-10 days off and then tell my manager that i had some other surgery because she is a real gossip munger and everyone in the dept store will find out if I told her that I had lap band surgery! now im trying to come up with another "fake" surgery i could tell her I had so i could get away with not carrying things/do less strenuous work once i get back.. i would love it if there were some boys working with us to help when it comes to the lifting/etc... but its a jewellery store so all our employees are girsl >21 years of age... so not much help with them!

Tell her you had hernia surgery; you are not to lift things when you have had this type of surgery. I know that I have an umbilical hernia that has to be repaired at the same time I get banded. You can also ask your surgeon to write this type of note and if he/she is cool they will do this for you.

Debora

[DawnH 9]

Everyone is different as other people have said but the no lifting is a must for your abs to heal right. It isn't a matter if you feel like you can handle it or not you can't lift. I am just 3 weeks out and just this week I feel 100% normal, like I did before surgery. I was really tired and exhausted. I didn't realize I would be so sleepy for so long. I hope you can get at least 10 days off. Like DebHart said, just tell them you had a hernia repaired, it is all in the same region

[CNP28 1]

I had my surgery on a Friday. I took that friday off and the following week off, so with weekends it came out to 12 days. I was very glad I took this time. It made my first week of liquids so much easier and my insicions healed beautifully cause I spent that whole time resting. I work in a job where I sit all day. The first week back at work was very uncomfortable to sit in the upright posistion all day. Advil helped. Not sure about lifting things so soon. I'm 6 weeks post op and I lift very little if anything over 10 pounds. Good luck to you

[banded_princess 0]

These are all great suggestions! I think i am going to try and get a minimum of 10 days off and just tell her I had a hernia surgery, should be fine!

Also since i will be out of the house and about for pretty much the whole day, i wont be thinking as much about food/wont have the opportunity to even think about cheating especially since its christmas time then!!! and i will HAVE to prepare in advance for my food which will be good practise:)

[bmmb2009 6]

I was banded Tuesday and am going back to work on Monday. I sit at a desk all day so I don't think I'll have any problems.