How long until I go back to work?

[nomoremeds 27]

Hi, I have completed all my pre-requisites for my insurance and now I'm waiting for a surgery date from my insurance, BCBS Fed. I'm a principal's secretary at an elementary school so I have June and July off. When I called to set up my initial visit for WLS, I was told that my surgery would most likely be in July but now I'm being told they're now into August for surgery dates. I hate the thought of missing a week at the beginning of school. Has anyone been able to get back to work in less than a week with the sleeve?

[jane13 2,256]

Congrats! I am also BCBS fed employee (spouse). I could've gone back to work on Monday following my surgery on Wednesday. But I had made arrangements just in case I DIDNT feel ok to take off the following week. I WAS BORED TO DEATH. I really had no issues. My job is physical but my co-worker (young man about 27) said "no worries, I got it". So he did a lot of the lifting that I would've done and the other guys helped (that knew about WLS). If your job isn't too physical (desk job) you could probably wing it. I have read about nausea, running to the bathroom, chest pains, gas...I had none. I don't know if I would completely rule out the extra time.

[lauraellen80 855]

I'm 1 week out from surgery today, and I am not ready to go back to work yet. I'm still kinda sore at my larger incision--today is the first day that I've managed to pick something up off the floor. I'm also pretty darn tired still and don't start my full liquid diet phase until tomorrow. Less than 150 calories a day is just not conducive to being up and alert all day. My job is a weird combination of mostly sitting, with some days that I'm up and moving a lot. And there are two flights of stairs between my office and the bathroom (I work in a 250-year-old historic mansion). So I'm glad I took 2 weeks off.

But there are other folks who had no problem going back after one week. It varies from person to person.

[nomoremeds 27]

Congrats! I am also BCBS fed employee (spouse). I could've gone back to work on Monday following my surgery on Wednesday. But I had made arrangements just in case I DIDNT feel ok to take off the following week. I WAS BORED TO DEATH. I really had no issues. My job is physical but my co-worker (young man about 27) said "no worries, I got it". So he did a lot of the lifting that I would've done and the other guys helped (that knew about WLS). If your job isn't too physical (desk job) you could probably wing it. I have read about nausea, running to the bathroom, chest pains, gas...I had none. I don't know if I would completely rule out the extra time.

Thanks for the reply. I'm a spouse also. The insurance counselor at the center said it takes BCBS Fed at lease 30days to reply with approval. Did it acutally take that long for you?

[JamieLogical 8,727]

Two weeks is the typical rule of thumb, but it could be more if you are also having a hernia repair or something like that at the same time.

[anikka 32]

When you get to go back to work is really going to depend on how well your body tolerates the surgery, whether you're still on pain medications, and if your job is one where you can be mobile often, yet sedentary when necessary. Not being able to get in liquids and Proteins is the hardest part of the first week after surgery. I had no pain after leaving the hospital, I was able to get in liquids relatively easily and take on the Protein through shakes. My issue was getting my blood pressure under control. I went into surgery with high blood pressure as one of my issues. Coming out of surgery my blood pressure dropped considerably. I went to my PCP one week post op and she changed my meds and that helped. By the time I visited with my surgeon 2 weeks post-op, I was off the BP meds all together.

My daughter in law had surgery on a Wednesday and went back to work the following Tuesday. She had some complications but felt she needed to get back to work. She's a teacher's aid in an elementary school. Although she came home exhausted, she kept going to work each day. So really, it'll just depend on what you can handle post surgery and it's difficult to guess what you will experience until you're in the midst of it.

[liannatx 897]

Elementary teacher here! I had surgery on a Monday and went back to work the next Monday. I was more tired than anything. I was sore, but no real pain. I think I actually felt better faster by getting back into my routine, and getting out of the house and moving around. Have you had any surgeries before? I have always bounced back really fast from them, so I pretty much expected to from this one.

[Shustar 395]

I am 62 and own a retail shoe store. I was sleeved in Mexico on Mon June 8th, drove home (6 hours) on Fri June 12th and was back in the store Saturday June 13th. I also have been through Ovarian cancer and had major abdominal surgery with that. In comparison, this was a breeze, but I am one tough bird. Being at work makes the day go by faster and I am focused on something other than myself.

[JamieLogical 8,727]

The pain from VSG is pretty minimal, so that likely won't limit your return to work. Even those with severe pain, it usually doesn't last more than a couple of days. The real issue you will be struggling with is fatigue. I went back to work 15 days post-op, but it really really sucked until I was allowed soft foods at 18 days post-op and could start getting in some more calories. Working all day and only consuming about 400 calories a day was just not cutting it.

[atontor 1,068]

It all depends on how you heal. I know a few people who went back to work a few days after surgery. I had a lot of energy after surgery but once my body got back to somewhat normal I felt sluggish. I'm getting used to the Vitamins and supplements we have to take. It's not hard taking them it just taking them throughout the day since we cannot handle all of them at once.

[nomoremeds 27]

Thanks for the feedback. Looks like I will just have to do a wait and see. I just got off the phone with the Dr's office and they just submitted to the insurance today. I'm still praying for a late July miracle date!

[rp1980 116]

I hope you get your miracle! I work at a school also, and did mine over spring break. Surgery Monday, back to work the following Monday. I had a hernia repair, as well. It helped me immensely going back to work - made getting my fluids in much easier as I was in a schedule.

[nomoremeds 27]

I got a call just yesterday from the doctors office. They told me that bcbs made a change and I have to add one more nutrition class. Originally it was 3. Now she said they are denying surgery if you don't have 4 classes. Im scheduled for another class next week. It bothers me because I could have taken the class a while ago. I don't think its the insurance, I think my insurance rep dropped the ball and is blaming them. Anyway, it looks like it won't happen before back to school. It will most likely be september.

[lillyD 7]

Yes in 2-3 days