When can I go to in person class?

[elp93 26]

Our school allows for zoom classes only for covid. I’m going to wear a mask as always as well I am vaccinated. However, they are making a big deal about me wanting to go to class online via zoom versus in person. I have my surgery next Wednesday, when do you think I could realistically ride in a car for 30 minutes each way and sit in a 1 hr 45 minute class? My surgery is a laparoscopic revision

[Maribelle76 82]

It depends on how quickly you heal. I could have done that on the third day after surgery. It would have been a little uncomfortable. I think I was feeling better a little more quickly than most people, though. Have you had surgery before? That might give you some sort of indication about how quickly you will bounce back.

[Arabesque 6,443]

@Maribelle76 is right. We all heal & recover differently. I returned to work part-time after 4 weeks & I struggled because of brain fog & low blood pressure (had a tendency before but after surgery it was low all the time). One friend was fine after a week but another needed three. If you can zoom your classes I’d take advantage of it to begin then try in person to see how you go.

Hope all goes well with your surgery & recovery.

[Tony B - NJ 641]

11 hours ago, elp93 said:

Our school allows for zoom classes only for covid. I’m going to wear a mask as always as well I am vaccinated. However, they are making a big deal about me wanting to go to class online via zoom versus in person. I have my surgery next Wednesday, when do you think I could realistically ride in a car for 30 minutes each way and sit in a 1 hr 45 minute class? My surgery is a laparoscopic revision


I had surgery on 8/31 and I am back to work today. I drove 40 minutes to work. my incisions cured up very nicely so it has not been hard for me at all. I am not struggling at all with pain. I was driving at day 7 to my one week appointment, no problems. I do wear thigh high compression sleeves on my legs to be extra careful sitting in the car that long.

[FutureSkyDiver 76]

I encourage you to think about all the things associated with attending class in person, it isn't just the sitting in the car and classroom. There is walking from the car to the classroom, which in my experience with universities (25 years, 5 different universities), can be quite a distance for students. Can you walk that far right after surgery? Can you carry whatever materials you need for class? I had a 5lb restriction for 6 weeks and my briefcase weighs more than that (by a lot!) with my computer, notebook, and occasionally a book or 12. I don't know what your academic program is, or how you take notes, but whatever you need during class, you need to consider if you can carry it within your own restrictions. Can you be present without being a distraction to the instructor or other students? Can you focus on the material? In the immediate aftermath of surgery, I had to spend A LOT of time just focusing on getting liquids in, including the use of a 30ml cup to poor tiny "shots" of Water that I would then drink over the course of 15 minutes--4oz each hour. It takes a lot of mental energy to focus on hydration like that. Can you pay attention to class AND not get dehydrated AND not distract others from their learning experience? Only you can answer these questions for you, but for me, it was about three weeks after surgery before I felt up to even working (I'm a professor) in my home office, and even then it was only for a couple of hours a day.

Good luck with your program.