Im having some anxiety over my surgery date and how it will affect my school. My surgery is for Mon Nov 19. I planned on going back to school within one week (overall recovery would be exactly seven days), I live in nyc so I need to talk public transportation to and from school, there are quite a bit of stairs but overall its a smooth commute and I usually do get seats on the train/bus. I also do classroom observations (studying to be a teacher) and those are a lot of stairs I go up and down four days a week and sometimes I have to bend down frequently to reach homework books.

Am I insane for thinking I can go to school within one week after surgery? I understand things are different for everyone, but I would love to hear overall opinions. How much gas am I going to deal with and for how long, I really do not want to be sitting in class passing gas, thats embarrassing lol. I am hesitant to change my surgery date bc everything is kind of planned around it already and my teachers are fully aware that I'll be missing one or two classes, but I am open minded enough to understand if I have to change it, then I have to.

I appreciate any feedback.

I didn't have a lot of pain or gas the 2nd week, but I did have extreme exhaustion. Covering my body with a blanket wore me out. I mean bone crushing fatigue. I truly never experienced anything like it. Not like you are tired and want to sleep (I've had a baby and know what sleep deprivation feels like), but the body was so weak it was an effort to walk to the kitchen. My blood pressure was extremely low too for the 1st 3 weeks after surgery so this contributed to the fatigue.

Everyone is different, but you need to think that this could happen to you and plan accordingly. There is no way I could have taken mass transit and climbed stairs the 2nd week after surgery, but others on this site were walking around their neighborhood.

Water is the key to keeping your blood pressure up and staying hydrated after surgery. It is difficult to get enough in with a new tummy, but if you make this a true focus your 1st week I bet you will be better off than I was the 2nd week. Either way you will make it through. It just might be a struggle, but all the walking you'll be doing is good after any surgery.

Also, no one gave me this advice. Eat anything liquid to sustain you. Don't worry about Protein intake the 1st few weeks. Its more important to drink lots and lots of water to keep hydrated and your blood pressure up. I'd say its more important than worrying about your protein. A lot of people make trips to the hospital for dehydration after this surgery. Water is the key to feeling back to normal more quickly-blood pressure stays up-body feels alive. No water=weak body.

Good luck. You'll make it. Sorry for the long response. I'm 7 mos out.

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Thanks! I appreciate your response and will follow your advice, water, water, water. I am worried about this fatigue and working with the kids...I wish I had a crystal ball that told me my future :-( hehe.

I went to work One week after surgery . I was miserable taking the train. So many people,pushing and shoving .. I got dizzy and weak many times. I wished I would've taken 2 weeks. However everyone heels different . Just take your time ,take your lunch with you (it is essential for your survival). Walk slow bcz any hard movement your tummy will feel it..in your case I think it would all depend on your recovery time...judge everything depending how it goes the week of surgery...good luck...

I have to say if I were you I would take 2 weeks. You may get by, but you may not. You are going to be tired and dizzy and faint. These are facts. My surgery was great, I had absolutely no issues what so ever, but I was exhausted after doing nothing. I mean I would go to the store, but I was dead to the world after that same thing after cleaning the house and doing laundry. The smallest of tasks will wipe you out. I could not even begin to imagine lifting heavy text books, taking mass transit or climbing anymore than 4 stairs at a time within a week of surgery. I really don't think there is anything that you could do in order to better prepare yourself for it either. Your body will be malnourished plain and simple and it takes time to get back on your feet full swing. Time is what you need. I just would not feel comfortable to tell you that you could do it after being thru it myself and knowing what it's all about.

Thanks Kelly and Navyjd I appreciate the feedback! It's helping me decide what to do before speaking with my surgeon on Tuesday. :-)