Returning to work, driving, lifting and exercise after a gastric sleeve

This page is awaiting medical review.

Returning to work, driving, lifting and exercise after a gastric sleeve

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) tells patients that most people return to work in one or two weeks after bariatric surgery. Your own timing after a gastric sleeve depends on the kind of work you do, how well you are drinking, and your energy. Driving, lifting and exercise each return on their own schedule, so ask your surgeon about each one.

Time off work

One to two weeks is the general figure ASMBS gives, not a rule. The operation is usually laparoscopic, done through small cuts, and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) notes that recovery may be faster with laparoscopic surgery than with open surgery. Fatigue can hold people back as much as the incisions: for the first weeks you are generally on liquids and soft foods and taking in far fewer calories than before.

The demands of the job matter more than the job title:

Type of work	What to plan for
Desk work or working from home	Often the earliest to resume. Ask about starting with shorter days. You need to be able to sip fluids all day.
On your feet most of the shift (retail, teaching, nursing, food service)	Stamina is the limit. Plan for scheduled breaks to drink and sit, and ask about lighter duties at first.
Heavy lifting or physical labor (warehouse, construction, caregiving that involves lifting people)	Expect a longer absence or a period of light duty. Get your surgeon's clearance before lifting.
Driving for a living or operating machinery	Do not return until you are off opioid pain medicine and your surgeon has cleared you to drive.

Tell your surgeon what your job involves before surgery, and ask how much time off to request.

Driving

Advice on when to drive again varies, so this is a question for your surgeon. Two general points apply. Do not drive while taking opioid pain medicine, because it can slow reaction time and cause drowsiness. And you should be able to wear the seat belt across your abdomen, turn to check traffic, and brake hard without pain making you hesitate.

You cannot drive yourself home from the hospital. Arrange an adult to drive you that day and to your first follow-up visit if you are still taking prescription pain medicine.

Lifting and physical work

The incisions are small, but the tissue underneath still needs time to heal, and straining too early can raise the risk of a hernia at an incision. ASMBS advises that if you lift weights or play sports, you stay low impact for the first month. Ask your surgeon for a specific weight limit and how long it lasts. Until then, ask your employer in writing for light duty if your job involves lifting.

Exercise: from walking to a routine

Walking starts early. ASMBS says exercise begins right away with easy, short walks in the hospital, that walking frequently within hours of surgery can help recovery, and that the key is to start slow and listen to your body and your surgeon. Early walking is also part of enhanced recovery programs that aim to lower the risk of blood clots in the legs.

ASMBS suggests checking with your surgeon before intense exercise and gives a long-term goal of about 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise. A 2019 clinical practice guideline from several American societies, including ASMBS, sets a target of at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity, with a goal of 300 minutes, including strength training two to three times a week. ASMBS notes that weekly exercise partly determines healthy bones and avoiding muscle loss. Ask when you may swim, since incisions need to heal first.

Eating and drinking on the job

Going back to work is often the first real test of your new eating pattern. The same 2019 guideline advises adequate hydration, usually more than 1.5 liters of fluid a day, and says protein should be individualized, with a minimum of 60 grams a day. With a small stomach you cannot make that up at the end of the day, so:

Keep a water bottle within reach and sip between tasks.
Bring your own food. Small, protein-first portions that match your current diet stage are hard to find in a cafeteria or drive-through.
Schedule short breaks to eat slowly. The NIDDK advises small meals and chewing food well.
Take your vitamins at a set time so a busy shift does not push them aside.

Our pages on nutrition after bariatric surgery and life after gastric sleeve surgery go further.

When to call

Call the office

Dizziness or lightheadedness when you stand, dark urine, or fatigue that is getting worse, which can point to dehydration.
A new bulge or ongoing pain at an incision after lifting or straining.

Go to an emergency room or call 911

Pain or swelling in one calf, or sudden shortness of breath or chest pain, especially after a long drive or flight.
Being unable to keep liquids down.
Vomiting blood, black stools, or severe abdominal pain.
Fever with a fast heart rate in the first weeks.

These need emergency care the same day, not a wait for an appointment. See emergency warning signs after a sleeve.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work from home sooner than I could go back on site?

Often, yes. Working from home removes the commute and lets you rest, walk and sip fluids on your own schedule. It is still work, though, and concentration can be poor while you are on liquids and pain medicine. Agree a start date with your surgeon and begin with part days if your employer allows.

Will I need a doctor's note or leave paperwork?

Many employers ask for a note stating the dates you are off and any restrictions when you return, and longer absences may involve leave or disability forms. Ask your employer what it requires before your surgery date. Then ask your surgeon's office how it handles those forms and how much notice it needs.

Is it normal to feel exhausted at work in the first weeks?

It is common. You are eating much less, healing, and may be sleeping poorly at first. Energy often improves as you move through the diet stages and meet your fluid and protein targets. Fatigue that gets worse instead of better, or comes with dizziness, a racing heart or dark urine, is a reason to call the office.

When can I travel for work?

Ask your surgeon before booking. In the first weeks, the concerns are being far from the team that operated on you, sitting still for hours, which can raise the risk of leg clots, and finding suitable fluids and food on the road. If a trip cannot be moved, ask for specific advice on walking breaks, hydration, and what to do if you become unwell.

Plan your time off with Dr. Davtyan's office

To go over your job and your recovery plan with Dr. David G. Davtyan, MD, FACS, FICS, FASMBS, book a consultation; the first one is complimentary. The office is at 8330 Red Oak Street, Suite 201, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730. Call 909-355-2525 or 877-9-BE-SLIM (877-923-7546), use the contact page, or see the Rancho Cucamonga gastric sleeve guide.

Returning to work, driving, lifting and exercise after a gastric sleeve

Returning to work, driving, lifting and exercise after a gastric sleeve

Time off work

Driving

Lifting and physical work

Exercise: from walking to a routine

Eating and drinking on the job

When to call

Call the office

Go to an emergency room or call 911

Frequently asked questions

Can I work from home sooner than I could go back on site?

Will I need a doctor's note or leave paperwork?

Is it normal to feel exhausted at work in the first weeks?

When can I travel for work?

Plan your time off with Dr. Davtyan's office

Sources

More in the Gastric Sleeve in Rancho Cucamonga guide

Understanding the sleeve

Weighing your options

Getting care in Rancho Cucamonga

Adult BMI Calculator

Beverly Hills

Glendale

Rancho Cucamonga

South Coast Lap-Band

Marina Del Rey Hospital

Schedule a FREE Discovery Call