Nursing school and surgery

hey all,

Im new here and am need of some opinions. So here's my dilemmas. I start nursing school this fall and have my sleeve surgery scheduled during my winter break. I will have 4 weeks off of school post op at the most and then I will have to go back to clinicals. I know the workload can be instense in nursing school but I usually try not to stress about school work much. How did you feel post op? When did your energy level return to manage a full days load? Has any one else been in this situation and if so what did you do and how did it go?

Thanks any thoughts are welcome!

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At 4 weeks I was able to resume a full schedule without issues. I took 2 weeks off fully, then worked from home for 2. I was tired in the beginning, but more or less back to normal at 4 weeks. I needed the time to figure out how to drink/eat while working more than anything else. The most important thing will be always having a bottle of water with you and sipping from it constantly (I still do that).

1. Yes drinking all the fluids I need will be hard. But I think I will be ok with that part. Thanks for your reply!

I wasn't a student when I had my VSG, but I was when I started reconstructive surgery. I gave myself two weeks between my LBL/brachioplasty and school and it was BAD. My brain wasn't fully functional until about three weeks.

VSG was way easier to recover from than the LBL/brachioplasty, so I think that four weeks will be fine for you to resume classes.

Just make sure to have a plan about how to keep yourself hydrated while in school mode and how to ensure you're able to eat the healthy things you'll need to eat!

I'm sorry you needed reconstructive surgery. That must have been a terrible experience. I'm glad to hear you say the vsg was much easier! Focusing on eating and drinking in a timely manner will be hard but during class I will have to set an alarm. I like that Baritastic app. Thanks!

there are several of us who have had it. It's not really a necessary thing (although it can be if we have issues with things like chronic rashes). For most of us, it's because we don't want to deal with the loose skin. I didn't like how I looked and I hated the loose skin slapping up against me while I was exercising - UGH! And yes - it's a tough recovery - much harder than WLS.

Be upfront with supervisors/mentors so you ensure you get time to eat/drink during your shift.

I absolutely could have done my clinicals at 4 weeks, but I would not have made plans to do much afterwards!

Honestly, I had an 11 month old when I had my surgery and had no alternative but to get on with it. You are effectively in the same boat, and I'm sure you'll be fine

Thank you for your reply. I will definitely let me instructors know what is going on. I have a 2 year old so I hear you. They are needy little creatures. Mine loves to jump all over me and demands I hold her constantly. That's going to be tough after surgery but I have a lot of support. I appreciate your thoughts!

As far as physical limitations, there us almost universally a lifting restriction of 10 pounds for 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. You should really follow that to the letter.

Beyond that, drink a lot, and you will probably want a nap for a couple of months.

Yes I'm concerned about the lifting aspect. I'm going to speak with my instructors and see if there is a way to help me with that.