any nurses had a lap cholecystectomy??

tridil2000, MSN, RN · Apr 1, 2005

I'm interested to know how long you were off work. My mom was back to work in two weeks, but she works in an office. Is it longer for nurses due to nature of work? Thanks in advance!

i had some complications and i was out 6 weeks.

if you lift pts, plan on a month. don't risk it. your surgeon will have to clear you as well.

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Apr 2, 2005

A cowoker of mine had a lap chole and was also out for 6 weeks - that seems to be a safe amount of time to plan on. She said it took her that long before she felt she would be able to return to a full-time work schedule.

hope2beRN · Apr 2, 2005

well im not a nurse yet, but i had it done in december... i was in a ton of pain for about a week, 2 weeks post-op, but after that got better pretty quickly. definitely be careful with the lifting. i really took it easy for a month or more, so i would plan on at least that- it's a ton easier to come back early, then go back too soon and have to be out for longer. and yes, i do think it would take longer for nursing, as it has so much physical work. i think it also really depends on why you're having it done--- people with stones or disease it seems are out longer, rather than mine, which was since it didn't empty correctly. whatever the case, hope that helps.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 2, 2005

I returned to work in three weeks as office position. Surgeon said if floor nursing minimum of 6 weeks.

stidget99 · Apr 2, 2005

I worked in a behavioral unit at a state institution for the developmentally disabled . I was out one week. Went back to work w/ restrictions (i.e. no lifting, no behavioral intervening, etc). Was 100% after just 2 weeks. After reading these posts, guess I was lucky.

fluffwad · Apr 2, 2005

I was back at work in a week, but I have a desk job. Also I had mine done before it got really bad. My husband waited until his gallbladder went necrotic, and he was out for 6 weeks.

nm1979 · Apr 2, 2005

I had my chole while still in nursing school. I had it done on a friday and went back to clinicals the next monday. I had to wait until the clips were out before i could do any lifting. Good Luck!!

RRT/RN · Apr 2, 2005

I had my lap chole when my baby was five weeks old and went back to work a week later (as a resp therapist). I probably should have taken more time in retrospect, but I just didn't have the time off from work. After a week I felt like I was back to normal, though. Hope that helps.

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Apr 2, 2005

I had a lap Chole 4 weeks after my baby was born, returned to light duty work 2 weeks later and went to full duty 3 weeks after that. It really drained me because the birth & surgery were so close together. I'm not a nurse (yet), but went back to work as a firefighter.

:balloons:

lmz · Apr 13, 2005

I'm interested to know how long you were off work. My mom was back to work in two weeks, but she works in an office. Is it longer for nurses due to nature of work? Thanks in advance!

Yep, I had one 4 years ago and was working as a PT Aide at the time. I went back to work in 5 days. I was on my feet 8 hr/day, but not lifting pts. I had some pain controllable w/extra strength tylenol. I didn't have any complications. Good luck.

LPN1974, LPN · Apr 13, 2005

6 weeks for me. Mine was too far gone for removal by laparoscopic.

Due to nature of my job, I had to take 6 weeks. {No objection from me!}

My DON had hers out by laparoscopic and returned to work in 2 weeks.