Hey everyone,

I am scheduled to have Lap Band on September the 20th in Memphis with Dr. Virginia Mcgraff Weaver. Can anyone tell me how much time I am going to need off from school? I am in Nursing school (finished in December, yay!) and cannot return until I no longer have lifting restrictions. Does any think that will be more than two weeks? Oh and the reason I am not waiting till after I graduate is because my Endocrinologist says it would be too dangerous (health wise) for me to wait that long.

Also, has anyone heard anything about Dr. Weaver? She works out of St Francis hospital.

Thanks,

Sarah

I am an RN and the restrictions I had were no heavy lifting for 6 weeks. Heavy lifting was defined as anything over 25 pounds. Although the lap approach to the surgery makes recovery a lot easier than an open approach, the fact remains healing will take 6 weeks.

You might want to find out what clinical rotation you're doing in October. Maternity and pediatrics is a lot easier on a nurse's body than med-surg, oncology and critical care.

I have heard from several people the same thing you are saying. My surgeon's nurse said only two wks no lifting. I am confused.

Anyway, I am starting my internship (my last rotation) on October 13th I believe and my surgery is scheduled for Sept 20. I will either be on the Med-Surg or Cariac Unit at Methodist. Should I just tell my doctor I have to wait till December after I have graduated?

Thanks,

Sarah

You might want to consider waiting until after you graduate. As you have already learned, nursing is a physically demanding profession and even if you get three people to help lift a patient, you're talking an average weight lift of 60+ pounds. Telemetry patients are usually a lot more ambulatory that med-surg or chronic cardiac patients. The problem is, you NEVER know when you'll be lifting or for how long or how often.

Complete your education, enjoy the graduation celebrations and then have your surgery. It's not worth it to have the surgery, risk injury by lifting too much too soon, and having to face not graduating and having additional surgery.

Congratulations on almost being an RN. We NEED you!!!

Hey everyone,

I am scheduled to have Lap Band on September the 20th in Memphis with Dr. Virginia Mcgraff Weaver. Can anyone tell me how much time I am going to need off from school? I am in Nursing school (finished in December, yay!) and cannot return until I no longer have lifting restrictions. Does any think that will be more than two weeks? Oh and the reason I am not waiting till after I graduate is because my Endocrinologist says it would be too dangerous (health wise) for me to wait that long.

Also, has anyone heard anything about Dr. Weaver? She works out of St Francis hospital.

Thanks,

Sarah

Sarah, How are thing going? Did you find out how much time off you will need to take?