RNY Just in time for Christmas!!

I've been approved for the RNY and decided to wait until Christmas Break to have the surgery. I teach, so hopefully I'll be back to school when the kids are. My surgery date is December 18th. Just a little background, I am a single mom with 2 kids ages 12 and 8. I'm hoping this surgery rids me of diabetes and of course the excess weight. I would love to be more active with my kids, instead of always sitting on the side lines and watching. I'm curious about how I'll feel after surgery, will I be able to care for myself or should I enlist some help? Will I be in pain? What medical things will I need to take care of in between the time I'm released from the hospital and when I go back after two weeks? I'm wondering if there are any other education professionals having surgery over the break, and if so are they planning to go back after two weeks? This is such a great site, I'm so glad I found it. Thanks, Bridget

Hi Bridget - My name is Karen and I am also a teacher. I live in Indiana about 15 miles south of Fort Wayne. I am scheduled to have open RNY Dec. 20. I am not planning to go back for at least 6 weeks. Are you having your surgery done by laproscopy? If so, you may be ready to go back in 2 weeks. I would talk with your doctor. I am 5'4" and weigh about 370. I have really bad arthritis and it is very difficult for me to walk now. I know that I have to be off Celebrex at least 2 weeks prior to surgery and I have heard that you can not take it after surgery. My preop testing is to be done Dec 6 so I may know more then. I am not sure I will be able to go back without any arthritis meds. Not sure how the two weeks prior to surgery without Celebrex will go either. Good luck. There are also several other message boards on the OH site. Maybe you can find someone who is having your kind of surgery, and who weighs about what you do. They may be able to give you more info. Karen

Hi Karen, I am having the surgery laproscopically, so that probably does make a difference. I have my preop testing appointment on December 4th, so I will double check. The first time I met with my surgeon I told him I wanted to go back after 2 weeks, and he said we'll see after the post op appointment. (Which is at the two week mark.) I always feel guilty asking for time off, I have had my surgery date for a while now and still haven't turned in my advanced medical leave slip. I'm such a wimp. Have they said anything about your arthritis getting any better after the weight comes off? I can't imagine them not giving you anything for the arthritis. Good Luck at your pre op appointment. Bridget

Does your Dr think you will be ready to go back to work that quickly? My Dr said that he wants to me to stay home for 4 weeks after. Not only will I need time to re-coup, but also to learn how to eat and what I need to do. I am not a teacher, but I understand wnating to go back to work ASAP. Best of luck to you and congrats on your date!

Bridget, I just wanted to say welcome and congrats on getting the surgery. I'm at stay at home mom to two little girls so I'm not really in your situation. I just want to wish you the best of luck. Joanne

Hi Bridget, I am a teacher too, divorced and living alone, and I have some of the same concerns as you. Friends have offered to let me come stay with them and I wonder how much trouble I will be. I have a pretty high pain tolerance level, so I hope I have an easy time. My Angel Lori teaches at my school, and since she feels responsible for me doing this (and I am so glad I finally got up the nerve to ask her about her RNY), she will take me in and stay with me my first day in the hospital. I have met my Angel Grandmother and a bunch of others in the Long Beach area, so I think I will have a lot of visitors, but I am so wondering if I will be able to be home alone or if someone should stay with me. I guess we will soon find out...I wish vacation were coming sooner,, but I have much to do between now and then, so I guess the wait will go quickly. Keep in touch, nancy [email protected]

Hi Nancy, It sounds like you'll have plenty of people checking on you. I think I'll have visitors, but honestly the part I am worried about the most is the medical stuff that needs done, I was thinking about a home health aide for the first couple of weeks? I wonder if others have done this? I guess there is a drain that needs to be emptied, and I am very squeamish with that sort of thing. I just realized today that it is just a little over a month before my surgery; time is flying and my list of to do is just getting longer! Here's to time flying, Bridget

Hi Bridget, You replied in mine today, so I thought I'd answer in yours. So, we both teach English but in very different places. I'm at a school of 4000 right outside Los Angeles, 75% Hispanic, 98% poor. But I love my kids, but can't wait for vacation and my RNY. My kids are working on their big, huge Christmas project, so we went shopping and shopping and shopping ALL weekend. We are down over 5000 bucks but feeling pretty good right now. It was bright and sunny all 3 days. Hope you're enjoying some shine too, nancy