Question:
Has anyone who is a teacher had WLS? When did you have it done?
I am looking into having WLS, but I'm worried about the time off from work. It's not easy being a teacher and asking for a great amount of time off of work. Any comments would help greatly. — [Anonymous] (posted on October 20, 2001)
October 20, 2001
My open RNY will be on Nov. 15th. I teach pre-school (20 four yr. olds) and
was very concerned about the same issues. My surgery ties in with the
Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, so with being away from school for 7 1/2
weeks, it'll actually only be 4 weeks away from my class. I have a great
assistant to help my equally great sub get into the swing of things. I'm
also waitng until the first full week in Jan. to return (I'll let the sub
deal with those first few "back-from-vacation-crazy-days"). I'll
be using up all my available sick leave, personal leave, and annual leave
days... but I've also got disability insurance to help carry me thru the
gap in pay. Good luck to you! Send prayers for me, okay?
— Vicki W.
October 20, 2001
I am not a teacher but repair laminators for a living in schools. So my
schedule is the schools schedule. I had surgery in july, although I really
wanted it in early june. If your state has sabaticals that may be a option,
and you want to keep your principal informed, but your personal health must
come first. Let them get a long term sub.
— bob-haller
October 20, 2001
I am an elementary teacher. I had my lap RNY surgery on July 23, 2001 just
a week before school. It was either that, wait till Xmas or take an extra
week during Thanksgiving or spring break. The beginning of summer or X-Mas
is probably idea. I went back one week after surgery to the day, but it was
planning time, so it was pretty light that whole week, then the 3rd week
the kids came and i was back to normal.
— Courtney W.
October 20, 2001
I'm a pre-op guidance counselor in middle school. My busy times of the
year are September and May/June, I absolutely can't be away, you know what
I mean? I'm hoping to have the surgery during one of the other times,
hopefully at the beginning of a school break. I'd love to go in before
Christmas but I'm dreaming! I'm hoping for Febraury, March, or April. I
really don't want to do it during the summer, either - we only get paid
Sept-June, and I work a great summer program that is awesome and I make
some decent money. I do worry about leaving the kids, and everything up in
the air - in my job they will not get a sub, so my work will either not get
done, or will have to be done my colleague who has her own load. BUT,
you've got to do what works our best for you. I hope this helps! =)
— Sarah C.
October 20, 2001
I'm in your boat! I work in public schools as well, as the senior director
of an after-school program in three elementary schools, I have about 100
children that I am responsible for as well as all the financial, recruiting
and lesson planning. I work hard and for a very low wage as do most
educators. We qualify for FMLA, that's 12 weeks of leave per calendar
year. I have already checked this out and I will take advantage of this
regardless of what time of year it is! My surgery will most likely be in
January of February and I am definitely taking as much time as I need and
you should too! You must be in good health in order to do your job well,
your health is your priority, everything else can wait for you! I know my
kids will be completely freaked out with me being gone for so long (I've
had a lot of them for three years) but they will have a better, healthier
teacher returning! Good luck to you in your journey!
— jenn2002
October 20, 2001
I'm a teacher and I had surgery this summer. My advice to you is to find a
well qualified substitute. and go ahead with your surgery. If
complications do not occur, you will be able to return to work in two to
three weeks. Pre-plan your units and lessons, gather all your related
materials and arrange everything (bullentin boards, furniture, etc.,,)
before surgery, so you won't have to do much lifting or carrying. Good
Luck!!
— Tammy W.
October 20, 2001
I am also an instructor. I begged and pleaded with the docs to let me have
the surgery this summer because of that. I was afraid I wouldn't feel good
enough if I had it too late in the summer and I figured I wouldn't have
enough time to recover between Winter break and the new semester, so they
did it. I regret that I had it done in the middle part of the summer since
it was so darn hot and I had no air-conditioning! I think I could have had
it later since my recovery wasn't as long as some. It took me about 4 weeks
to feel back to normal. I would say at least 2 weeks to recover enough to
be able to walk around, but it really is different for everyone. You may
have enough time to recover during winter break.
— arebella
October 20, 2001
Hi - I'm a high school English teacher and I had surgery the third day of
the fall semester. The opportunity came up and I took it. I left my classes
with a sub who was somewhat less than stellar, but teaching is my job and
this surgery was for my life. I had open RNY and missed three weeks of
school. When I first got back to teaching I was exhausted all day, but
every day it got better and now I'm totally back to normal and my classes
are back on track. It was totally worth it and I'm glad I jumped at the
chance when it came up. My students, by the way, look at me curiously, but
they haven't figured out a polite way to ask me if I'm losing weight or if
I had the weight loss surgery. I plan to tell them next semester at the
earliest unless someone gets the courage to ask me before then.
— Traci H.
October 20, 2001
There are so many variables to this. Your age, general health, type of
surgery, any post-op complications that might enter into the
picture.....it's impossible to say that because my, or her/his, experience
was a certain way, that it will be that way for you.
I am a Middle School teacher. I had my OpenVBG on June 11 of this year.
Pre-planning for us began August 6th and I realized by a couple of weeks
before that that I did not have the strength yet to work full-time. I
arranged for part time - did that for three weeks and built my strength
back up, then went full time. I am 46, started out at 340 lbs (have now
lost 92lbs!), and had hypertension, borderline diabetes, arthritis, and was
just a classic couch potato (actually, a computer-potato!)
— Cathy J.
October 20, 2001
I had my lap rny on August 21, 2000 and returned to work 2 weeks and 1 day
afterwards. I felt good though tired when I got home in the afternoon.
I'd recommend having it a week before xmas vacation, giving you two weeks
to recover. If you need more, you cross that bridge when you get to it.
You needn't ask for time off either. You tell them that you need surgery.
That's it! Confidentiality laws prohibit them from harassing you as long
as you have a doctor's note... I know that's true in my case anyway.
— Jeannet
October 20, 2001
I am an elementary teacher. I hope to have surgery at the beg. of Nov. I
have also E mailed some teachers to ask this same question. For myself I
have decided to take a Fri.
off and be home by Sunday. Take the entire week off plus
weekend. This will give me 10 days w/ only taking 6 days
off. I am one of the "smaller" ( need to loose 90#'s)
and I hope this can be to my advantage, but you never know.
All of the teachers I've emailed said I'll be fine, but very
tired in the afternoons, so plan to come straight home (right!)and rest. I
hope I can plan ahead for 2 weeks, to make it easier on myself. I'm really
going to try hard to REST and TAKE IT EASY when ever I can. Good Luck
— Cindee A.
October 20, 2001
I am a school administrator who will *hopefully* have a Lap RNY this
winter. As a former teacher, I can understand your concern about
"when" to have WLS. However, I believe that you need to take the
opportunity to have your surgery when it becomes available to you,
regardless of the time of year. This is a health issue, NOT *cosmetic
surgery*. If you suddenly needed an appendectomy, you'd HAVE to have it
done, and the school would find coverage for you via a substitute...same
situation here! (Now, I only wish they could find ME a
"substitute" for the two weeks I'm planning to be away...LOL)
Good luck!!!
— [Anonymous]
October 21, 2001
I was the person who posted this question and I thank everyone that has
responded. I am very nervous about considering this. I hope if I end up
doing this, I will have made the right decision and hopefully it will be a
time where I don't have to take off too much work. THANKS AGAIN!!! :)
— [Anonymous]
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