How long off work? + Have a date!

[pizzaman]

Hi, I have finally got a date for my bypass , 28th November Really looking forward to the next part of my life!


Question I have is how long will I be signed of work for? The company I work for is really understanding and won’t be any issue, but need a sick note. I know every case is different but do you think there will be OK singing me off for 19 days (until 23rd Dec) after the operation? This seems to make allot of since to me as I have 10 days off over Christmas so means should start back on 3rd January all being well (5 weeks).

I have my Bypass booked in with Mr A.K Awan (surprised say Mr. not Doctor...) at Derby Royal Hospital (NHS funded). Is here a fixed sick note period or are they flexible?

Reason I what to know is my holiday year ends at end of calenderer year, I can easily save a few days, but if signed off till 23rd will lose them....

 

[Caren]

congratulations pizzaman, good luck xxx

 

[lamornamiss]

I would take as long off as possible. 5 weeks sounds ok but it depends on what your job is
Your employer should be able to pay you for any days holiday you have left at the end of the calander year
HTH

 

[mandym1]

I had the bypass and was back in work after 3 weeks but I was not getting paid so that forced my arm. I also have a desk job so was fine. I was signed of for 4 weeks though and could easily have had more time had I wanted it, so I would say yes you should be able to be signed off for as long as you need x

 

[BEXS99]

I have had a sleeve and been signed off for 6 weeks.

 

[happy days]

I had a bypass and was off work for two weeks but I also have a office job x

 

[Staffiemum]

Hi I had gastric bypass. My consultant gave me an initial note for 2 weeks. Then my GP gave me a note for 4 weeks. Im due back to work next week. Please be mindful that for the first 2 weeks after your op you are not covered to drive by your insurance company. My op has been textbook no problems at all. But for the first 3 weeks I got tired very easily and would end up having an afternoon siesta. It is very different for each individual so you do what is comfortable for you. Take as much time as you think you need and dont try and run before you can walk. Good luck with your journey. xx

 

[FuturePerfect]

You can self-certificate for the first 7 days anyway, and the 'fit for work' (aka sicknote) given to you at the hospital will take into account any complications that may have arisen in your case. You can post the 'fit note' to your employer if necessary.

And all surgeons are 'Mr' rather than 'Dr'. Unless they are a 'Ms' of course!

 

[nichola24]

hey xx im having my op on 25th november with mr Awan at Derby

 

[ryanrara]

I was booked off 6 weeks, but at the hospital convinced my surgeon to change to 4 weeks, which she did. Then after being off just under 3 weeks I called my surgeon and asked her to give me a new note and let me go back to work. She agreed and her secretary posted me a new note. I have a desk job. So 2 days a go, 23 days post op, I went back to work.
This was a huge mistake. I lasted 5 hours and couldn't go back yesterday and doubt I will be back the rest of the week. I felt like I had been hit by a train and to top it off I have since developed a cold. I know everyone is different but I wish I listened. Our body has been through major trauma and we need time to heal. Health comes first and my advice, after messing up, is take as long a time off work as physically possible.

 

[pizzaman]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Believe me in no rush to go back to work, if I am off for 6 weeks or more, that is fine by me. Once I am getting back to normal I have a project outside of work I can work on at home at my own pace (writing app/software for mobile phones).

My day job is mostly desk based and the company I work for is very understanding (worked here for over 10 years). It’s one of the government quangos that are currently being shut down, as of 1st April I no longer have a job so timing is great for me, should have 4 months to get used to new life before face that challenge. In fact as long as the work gets done company would be happy if people did shorter hours or less days, but the body closing us down insists we sit at our desks for 7 ½ hours a day even if we just browse the web (90% of employees already gone, I am needed till the very last day for various reasons but not enough work to do most days).

Reason for enquiry was to make sure I am safe using up my holiday pre-op, did not what to use it all then have to go back for a few days before Xmas. Don’t get paid for outstanding holiday. Looks like it’s normal to get signed off for 2 weeks when released from hospital, then go to see GP for extension, does the GP tend to listen to you and give you what you what, eg if I what to be signed off for another 4 weeks are they likely to do that?

Driving not an issue for me, don’t have a car, just a motorbike (which I image I need to be well recovered before riding as requires lots of “core” movement/strength). I rarely use it (live/work/socialise right in centre off Notts) and have lots of understanding friends. Plan is to take my motorbike off the road and not use it again till spring. Can buy/rent a car if feel the need.

nichola24, sounds like I am the next one after you! You on Friday me Monday (not sure if they do 1 or 2 a day?) May even see you there, but you will probably be on your way home by then. Looks like you were also under Dr Arhmed, I was with him all the way though and expected him to be doing my surgery, but was switched at the last minute to Mr Awan, never meet him and don’t know anything about him, Have you meet him?

Best of luck to you (and everyone!)!

 

[nichola24]

hey pizzaman xx

i too have never heard of mr Awan but sure enough he is listed on derbys website....i did go through a short phase of wondering if it was real or not as it was too good to be true lol!!

as i am a weakling with pain, and have neva had to go into hospital for nething before i may well still be there with all the nice morphine

whats happened to dr arhmed?? is mr awan a new sugeon borught in to get the back log down?? hope he is good, ive never met him but im sure he will do a good job!

you will have to let me know how you get on with everything x

im dreading this pre op diet, think id rather have the milk diet so i can stay away from the food so im not tempted to have an extra 10g of pasta or somethin lol

nichola xx

 

[pizzaman]

Hi Nichola,
Like you, no clue about Mr Awan, was initially confused about change from dr to mr, have you seen http://www.wlsurgery.com/wls-gastric-bypass-rny/141304-dr-mr-surgeons-title-explained.html thread?

If you are still in on Monday morning would it be OK if I called in to see you? Would be nice to hear about it firsthand (I have also, never been into hospital for anything before). Can send you PM, but not sure if you would get it as have less than 50 posts? My email address is “bigsimonr (at) gmail.com” (hoping to change email address soon ;o)

Have you seen http://www.wlsurgery.com/post-op-diet/141283-can-any-one-help.html#post2435498, someone is asking about Derby wait list and my experience is not that relevant.

I am going to do my own version of pre-op diet, LighterLife, 4 milk based drinks a day which I have used successfully before. Would not trust myself with portion size...

Best of luck to you!
Simon

 

[nichola24]

hey simon xx

that thread was pretty interesting, cant believe surgeons innitially had no official training lol!!!

the fish monger at work keeps tellin me he can do my op for me with one of his many sharp knives.....eeek il pass thnks hehe

if im still around monday and up for visitors then sure pop in xx are you having a morning op or afternoon one? im down for an afternoon one, hope they dont have me waiting too long :-(

will add you to msn when i log in xx

regarding the second thread i have already replied to catsue in a diff thread she posted about waiting times, roughly a year but it took another yr just to get on list :-(

are you allowed to pick which diet you can do pre op, did you call the hospital up to confirm?? would be a lot easier not to think bout weighin everything out, could put the ruler nd scales away hehe

nichola xx

 

[pizzaman]

Hi,

I don’t use MSN, but drop me an email anytime.

Mentioned what pre-opp diet I was planning awhile ago to the dietician, she said she thought was OK, which was good enough for me. Know I can do it and know it will shrink my liver, some other hospitals give you the choices and have an option such as 4 slimfast a day.

I am down for afternoon slot, supposed to be there for 10am, but plan to get there early just to make sure, nice to have something do while I am waiting.

Simon

 

[mazbrad]

hiya...I ADVICE anyone stop off as long as you can. dont make mistake i did and go back too soon. had bypass n hernia repair forced back after week from boss. then i over did it , ended up in hossie 4 days with ruptured hernia and another hernia so re operated on,.. make most of rest and take it easy. we may feel better but our bodys are not so stick to guide lines given off hossie x

 

[nichola24]

when i call hospital on monday i might ask them if i can change pre op diet then xx

ive got to be there for 10 am, comming from north notts. i dont know if its a good thing getting there too early lol im gonna be a bag of nerves!!

cant wait to have time off work, think im looking forward to tht just as much as my op lol! put off my main hols as i didnt know when id have op and low and behold im having it the day before my hols start!! think i shall be cancelling them and taggin them onto end so i get lots of rest

 

[nichola24]

hey mazbrad xx how are you today?

 

[nichola24]

hey pizzaman xx

just to let you know ive move my op date to 8th dec so i wont be in when you have yours....you will have to let me know how it goes eeek im excited now i have a definite date!

i asked the secretary about swapping pre op diet but she said i had to strictly follow the diet giving :-( gonna be so hard not to eat tht extra pasta tube or carrot lol

nic xx

 

[honeykiss]

The hospital gave me a certificate for 4 weeks but although physically I felt fine mentally it took me a lot longer to recover.

Anyway so much so I went to my GP and asked for more time off, they gave me another two weeks and said if I needed more time to go back.

MY job is not physical so I went back to work after 6 weeks and although still quite tired most days things are fine.

Good luck with your op.

Wendy