Comments on: Work and wls surgery

By: Vanessa Clementina

Vanessa Clementina — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 19:10:00 +0000

Hi, congratulations on your upcoming surgery. I had my Lap RNY on Oct. 30,
2002. That day was a Wed. I was home the next day by 1pm and back at work
the following Monday. I have a sit down job so nothing strenuous. I was
alittle tired but did well none the less. I think it depends on the person.
I stopped taking my pain medication on Saturday so I wouldn’t be groggy and
didn’t have much pain. Having a lap was a piece of cake compared to
c-sections. Good luck
Melissa

By: Alyce Burke

Alyce Burke — Tue, 31 May 2005 21:25:46 +0000

HI! I had lap RNY on 10/8/02 and am a nurse that works 11-7 in a geriatric
setting. I asked my surgeon if I could return to work at 2 weeks, he told me
that I could go back as I wanted, but there was a weight restriction for 4
weeks. I opted to stay out the 4 weeks, so as not to put the facility in a bind
if I couldn’t handle it. Frankly after surgery I would have had NO problem going
back to work at 10 days. I had virtually no pain at all! I had none of the “gas
pains” that so many complain of. I did sleep alot the first week. It is probably
a good thing I stayed out, because I am sure I would have messed up the weight
restriction because I felt so dang good. Now each of us is different, and some
people have a really bad time with nausea and trying to eat like the surgeon
wants them too. I know early on I dumped soooooooo easily on carbs. The pureed
stage? where they suggest mashed potatoes???? whoaaaaaaaa boy! I needed to lay
down for an hour to get over the light-headedness and nausea. I still am very
sensitive to carbs, and I have not had any sugar except for a couple bites of
pumpkin pie over the holidays. So take all this with a grain of salt and you are

the only one that will know if you are ready at 10 days to go back to work. But
above all, listen to your body and be very kind and gentle with it, we have
abused our bodies enough over the years! LOL
Phyllis
Lap RNY 10/08/02
Dr. O”Malley, Rochester NY
260/210/?140?

By: caren_800

caren_800 — Tue, 31 May 2005 07:35:33 +0000

I went back to work on day 9, after a Lap RNY. That was a Friday, and
I didn’t last all day, just about 5 hours. On Monday, I didn’t last
all day either, only 6 hours. Then it was Christmas, and after that,
I went back full days, and I’ve been fine ever since. I do have to
come home sometimes and just sit still or lay down. I don’t feel
tired enough to take a nap, I just need to rest for about 45 minutes.
So, all together, I took 8 full days of leave from work. Everyone is
different about when they go back to work, so keep an open mind, and
have a backup plan. Take care,
Diana
Lap RNY 12/11/02
242/221/???

By: Eldridge Joycelyn

Eldridge Joycelyn — Tue, 31 May 2005 02:30:13 +0000

Hi Becky,
You sound like me last year! I thought about doing the
surgery opver spring break, but opted for summer for
several reasons.
I had Lap RNY on Friday 8/16.
I was released from the hospital on Monday afternoon
8/19
I had my stiches out and one week check up on Friday
8/23.
I went back to work on Monday 8/26.
I went back to work on the 10th day post op. That
first week back was just meetings(..but all day
meetings) and two half days.
Then we had the Labor Day Holiday so I had a three day
week-end. After that it was business as usual and

fulltime work.
I was fine. I came home and took naps most days for a
while..there was a time about 3 or 4 weeks out that I
was really tired and had to get about 10 hours sleep a
night, but that was OK.
I had to be very conscientious about packing up my
food/water etc for the day. No more grabbing
something at school. But that was a good habit that I
needed to develop and it has stayed with me.
I never had any problems. and actually felt better at
work right after the surgery than I had the year
before.
I know that I was blessed to have such a fast and
uncomplicated recovery. I think that if you prepare
ahead of time it helps..
I did a lot of research, emailed with another patient
of my surgeons so that I knew exactly what to expect,
ate a high protein diet for about a month before, took
a lot of vitamins and supplements, quit smoking, did
visualization every night before I fell asleep and
listened to “Sound Mind, Sound Body” tapes by Dr.
Andrew Weill. I felt prepared going in and fine coming
out.
Now I am dealing with new set of challenges (emotional
and head stuff) and just started therapy again. This
was not totally unexpected either.
But, that is a different story.
I know that we are all different, but it is definately
posible to return to work feeling pretty darn good
after just 10 days.
( PS, I am 43, not exactly a spring chicken!)
Good luck,
Maureen in CA
Lap RNY 8/16/02
297/227/157

By: lavern_1200

lavern_1200 — Mon, 30 May 2005 19:45:28 +0000

I’m a legal secretary and I could have gone back to work after 4 weeks if I
had to. I went back after 7 weeks with a weight lifting restriction for
another 2. If you feel well you can probably go back after 3 weeks, but be
very careful about what you do — especially the lifting. Good luck.
Judy
Lap RNY 7/23/02
257/189/1??
-44 inches