I'm a middle school teacher and I'm hoping to schedule my sleeve surgery for mid-July, after I finish working summer school. If I can get it scheduled at that time, it would give me a total of about 4 weeks until the first day back to school.

I'm just wondering if there are any other teachers out there who had the procedure done in the summer, and if so, how did you feel (physically) going back to school? Most of the other "back to work" posts I've read are about going back to desk jobs, which is very different from the demands of teaching all day.

About me: I'm on the lower end of the qualifying BMI spectrum (35) and 34 years old, otherwise in pretty solid health. I've been sticking to the pre-op diet religiously and exercising every day in the hopes to give myself the smoothest, must successful chances at surgery and recovery.

Edited May 1, 20188 yr by CapGal26

You will be fine!

I am a music teacher and had my vsg the week before Thanksgiving. I went back when everyone else did after Thanksgiving and conducted 3 Christmas concerts.

I took off 6 weeks for my vsg but could have definitely went back at 4 weeks and I have a physically demanding job. You should be ok

I teach high school English and I JUST had my sleeve on Friday evening (4/27). I was back at work today (5/1) and had no problems. I was moving a little slower, but I feel great!

40 minutes ago, teacherlady095 said:

I teach high school English and I JUST had my sleeve on Friday evening (4/27). I was back at work today (5/1) and had no problems. I was moving a little slower, but I feel great!

Wow, holy crap, that's so impressive! Thanks to everyone who responded. You all are making me feel a lot better about this.

Wow, holy crap, that's so impressive! Thanks to everyone who responded. You all are making me feel a lot better about this.

I had my lapband removed and sleeve on the same day. It has been much easier than anticipated. I feel even better today! Don’t worry - you’ll do great!

Wow, holy crap, that's so impressive! Thanks to everyone who responded. You all are making me feel a lot better about this.

You’ll be fine! It’s time to get excited! I’m also at the lower end of the BMI (I went to Mexico because I wouldn’t have been approved here) and I’m 41. I feel even better today! It’s crazy to think that less than a week ago I was getting the sleeve and I’m already back to work and feeling fine - but that’s what’s happening! It blows my mind!

Im an ELL teacher and i had my surgery 3 weeks before school began and i was completely fine... just a bit weak. I felt great actually! Especially since i had lost about 30 pounds by then[emoji1]

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I'm a middle school counselor who is up and about all day. I am having the gastric sleeve surgery on June 27 which will give me a full 6 weeks before I go back to work. I am also at a lower BMI (34) and have no health complications. I'm having my surgery done in Colombia where my mother lives because insurance here won't approve me.

What kind of presurgery diet are you following?

I am trying to cut out sugar and flour as well as increasing my protein and reducing carbs. I'm beyond excited and nervous! I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about what my life will be like after surgery.

8 minutes ago, newme1962 said:

I'm a middle school counselor who is up and about all day. I am having the gastric sleeve surgery on June 27 which will give me a full 6 weeks before I go back to work. I am also at a lower BMI (34) and have no health complications. I'm having my surgery done in Colombia where my mother lives because insurance here won't approve me.

What kind of presurgery diet are you following?

I am trying to cut out sugar and flour as well as increasing my Protein and reducing carbs. I'm beyond excited and nervous! I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about what my life will be like after surgery.

Hey, so glad to have an educator friend who has a similar situation to mine!

Kaiser has a very clear pre-op diet that everyone is supposed to follow, and I've been sticking to it pretty religiously. If you'd like, I can take pictures of those pages of the binder! Basically it is:

- No alcohol
- No caffeine
- No carbonated drinks
- Breakfast: roughly 3 oz. protein, eaten first. Then fruit and a starch and fat. (There are very specific serving sizes depending on what food you're eating.)
- Lunch & dinner: roughly 3 oz. protein, eaten first. Then veggies and a starch and fat. (Again, serving sizes in the binder.

The result is that you're consuming roughly 1200 calories per day. No snacking allowed -- they really impressed upon us that the people who struggle to lose weight (or gain weight) after surgery are the people who snack.

Happy to take pictures of the serving sizes for you if you want! It's basically my bible right now. I just went to the orientation a week ago and I've lost about 5 pounds already.

I've been eating definitely eating more than 1,200 calories a day and need to reduce my food intake. I have cut out soda and alcohol, but not my morning coffee. It's definitely a challenge for me to think I will need to give it up for a stretch post surgery and I know I should start now. Thanks for sharing those guidelines and helping me focus. I am terrible at dieting and hence why all the excess weight has crept up on me over the last 15 years.

Teacher here!! I'm waiting on my final appointment with my doc to schedule surgery right now.

I understand your concern when comparing to desk jobs. If it helps, I'm a nurse on a busy unit working 12 hour shifts. Went back 1 week postop and haven't missed a step. I think 4 weeks will be fine.

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Hi. I’m an elementary teacher. I was sleeved the Day before Thanksgiving and went back to work on Monday and was fine. My stomach was tender for about a month after surgery, but I was still able to keep up with the rigorous demands of teaching. I had my surgery at age 48. I am 5 ft. 3 in. Tall and began at 217, so I was also on the lower end of the BMI for surgery. It was one of the best decisions ever. Good luck on your journey. You’re going to do great!

The best medicine to recovering after any surgery is to return to your normal activities and get up on your feet to improve physically and most importantly mentally. I hope you are successful in your quest for a healthier living style.