Gastric sleeve as a student

[cheneisew 52]

So I'm currently in my last year of law school and an scheduled to get sleeved Sept 14th. This is about 4 weeks into my semester. While I do plan on taking 2 weeks off from work missing more than a week of classes is not the greatest option.

I was wondering (1) if there is anyone who gotten sleeved as a student (2) how much time you took off (3) any advice you could give handling the surgery, post op diet, and school.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

[AvaFern 3,516]

I was working 80+ hour weeks when I got sleeved and I was taking full-time classes. I took a week off of actually going to work, but I wrote a paper on day three post-op and was back to working at home for 10 hour days by day 5. Mentally you're fine after you're off the heavy drugs which should be when you are out of the hospital. Physically, a week to lay around at home is optimal, but after that you're fine to go to class. You're going to be tired and cranky, but make sure you have fluids with you, and it all starts to suck less at about the three week mark. Missing more than a week of classes in 3L is not worth saving yourself a little short-term misery by staying home for longer than a week.

Good luck

[KCNielsen 7]

@@AvaFern Thanks for answering this question as I am also in college and had this exact question.

Edited July 20, 2016 by KCNielsen

[KCNielsen 7]

@@cheneisew you may also want to check with your school and/or professors regarding their make up work policy when it is a medical issue. I know at my university it goes based on the professors, and a lot of professors will allow make up work for that time that you have to be off.

[Bufflehead 6,358]

Hi there, I was not a law student when I was sleeved but I was on the other side of the podium and I have also had law students in my classes deal with bariatric surgery and other medical issues. Here are my tips --

I think you'll be fine for classes after a week. Make sure you have all your Protein drinks and other hydration aids. You may want to scope out a good place to nap during the day (couches in the student center or library are a good bet).

Be open with your professors and with your Dean of Students. Let them know a couple of weeks in advance that you are scheduled for surgery (you don't have to say what kind of surgery if you are not comfortable sharing that) and anticipate being out for a week. Ask if there is anything you can do to work/read ahead.

Make arrangements with friends in your classes to take notes and share them with you (alternatively, ask your professors for help in designating someone to take notes for you). You can even check into recording your missed classes on audio/video, but you definitely need faculty permission to do that if it is not a standard part of your law school. I know at my school we will do this for students if they request in advance, the faculty member agrees, and we have tech support personnel available to take care of it.

Courtesy and communication go a long way -- you may event want to email all your profs (and the Dean of Students) a couple days after your surgery and just say something like, "I just wanted to let you all know that my surgery went well and I am out of the hospital. I anticipate returning to classes on [x date] as planned. Thank you all so much for being willing to work with me. etc etc" (Believe it or not, if your faculty and dean know you are having surgery, they will be concerned for you and glad to hear that you are recovering well.)

I imagine your school is like mine and that the vast, vast majority of faculty and staff really do care very deeply about their students and want them to succeed in all aspects of their lives, so they will support you. Good luck!

ETA: depending on how your school handles things, you may want to start with your Dean of Students before approaching any faculty members. I know at my school typically students go directly to the Dean of Students, who then handles any communication with the faculty, in situations like this. I am not sure how common that is, though.

[cheneisew 52]

I was working 80+ hour weeks when I got sleeved and I was taking full-time classes. I took a week off of actually going to work, but I wrote a paper on day three post-op and was back to working at home for 10 hour days by day 5. Mentally you're fine after you're off the heavy drugs which should be when you are out of the hospital. Physically, a week to lay around at home is optimal, but after that you're fine to go to class. You're going to be tired and cranky, but make sure you have fluids with you, and it all starts to suck less at about the three week mark. Missing more than a week of classes in 3L is not worth saving yourself a little short-term misery by staying home for longer than a week.

Good luck

Thanks for the insight. And yes misery is better than missing class lol

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

[cheneisew 52]

Hi there, I was not a law student when I was sleeved but I was on the other side of the podium and I have also had law students in my classes deal with bariatric surgery and other medical issues. Here are my tips --

I think you'll be fine for classes after a week. Make sure you have all your Protein drinks and other hydration aids. You may want to scope out a good place to nap during the day (couches in the student center or library are a good bet).

Be open with your professors and with your Dean of Students. Let them know a couple of weeks in advance that you are scheduled for surgery (you don't have to say what kind of surgery if you are not comfortable sharing that) and anticipate being out for a week. Ask if there is anything you can do to work/read ahead.

Make arrangements with friends in your classes to take notes and share them with you (alternatively, ask your professors for help in designating someone to take notes for you). You can even check into recording your missed classes on audio/video, but you definitely need faculty permission to do that if it is not a standard part of your law school. I know at my school we will do this for students if they request in advance, the faculty member agrees, and we have tech support personnel available to take care of it.

Courtesy and communication go a long way -- you may event want to email all your profs (and the Dean of Students) a couple days after your surgery and just say something like, "I just wanted to let you all know that my surgery went well and I am out of the hospital. I anticipate returning to classes on [x date] as planned. Thank you all so much for being willing to work with me. etc etc" (Believe it or not, if your faculty and dean know you are having surgery, they will be concerned for you and glad to hear that you are recovering well.)

I imagine your school is like mine and that the vast, vast majority of faculty and staff really do care very deeply about their students and want them to succeed in all aspects of their lives, so they will support you. Good luck!

ETA: depending on how your school handles things, you may want to start with your Dean of Students before approaching any faculty members. I know at my school typically students go directly to the Dean of Students, who then handles any communication with the faculty, in situations like this. I am not sure how common that is, though.

Thanks for the advice I will definitely be doing that.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I can't answer your specific questions but a couple of things you may want to think about.

When I was sleeved, even though I had a very easy recovery with no complications, I did notice a good amount of mental fuzziness and short-term memory issues for a while (maybe a month) post-op. Even though you may feel physically ready to go back, the low calories, anesthesia, low carbs, pain meds, etc. may take a toll on your ability to focus and concentrate.

As someone who used to work in higher Ed admin, I highly recommend you talk to someone in disability services (probably through the dean of students). Your school may be able to help you, especially academically, as you recover.

Best of luck with your surgery and keep us posted on how you are doing.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Hi there, I was not a law student when I was sleeved but I was on the other side of the podium and I have also had law students in my classes deal with bariatric surgery and other medical issues. Here are my tips --

I think you'll be fine for classes after a week. Make sure you have all your Protein drinks and other hydration aids. You may want to scope out a good place to nap during the day (couches in the student center or library are a good bet).

Be open with your professors and with your Dean of Students. Let them know a couple of weeks in advance that you are scheduled for surgery (you don't have to say what kind of surgery if you are not comfortable sharing that) and anticipate being out for a week. Ask if there is anything you can do to work/read ahead.

Make arrangements with friends in your classes to take notes and share them with you (alternatively, ask your professors for help in designating someone to take notes for you). You can even check into recording your missed classes on audio/video, but you definitely need faculty permission to do that if it is not a standard part of your law school. I know at my school we will do this for students if they request in advance, the faculty member agrees, and we have tech support personnel available to take care of it.

Courtesy and communication go a long way -- you may event want to email all your profs (and the Dean of Students) a couple days after your surgery and just say something like, "I just wanted to let you all know that my surgery went well and I am out of the hospital. I anticipate returning to classes on [x date] as planned. Thank you all so much for being willing to work with me. etc etc" (Believe it or not, if your faculty and dean know you are having surgery, they will be concerned for you and glad to hear that you are recovering well.)

I imagine your school is like mine and that the vast, vast majority of faculty and staff really do care very deeply about their students and want them to succeed in all aspects of their lives, so they will support you. Good luck!

ETA: depending on how your school handles things, you may want to start with your Dean of Students before approaching any faculty members. I know at my school typically students go directly to the Dean of Students, who then handles any communication with the faculty, in situations like this. I am not sure how common that is, though.

I just saw your response after what I posted.

What she said!

[cheneisew 52]

Hi there, I was not a law student when I was sleeved but I was on the other side of the podium and I have also had law students in my classes deal with bariatric surgery and other medical issues. Here are my tips --

I think you'll be fine for classes after a week. Make sure you have all your Protein drinks and other hydration aids. You may want to scope out a good place to nap during the day (couches in the student center or library are a good bet).

Be open with your professors and with your Dean of Students. Let them know a couple of weeks in advance that you are scheduled for surgery (you don't have to say what kind of surgery if you are not comfortable sharing that) and anticipate being out for a week. Ask if there is anything you can do to work/read ahead.

Make arrangements with friends in your classes to take notes and share them with you (alternatively, ask your professors for help in designating someone to take notes for you). You can even check into recording your missed classes on audio/video, but you definitely need faculty permission to do that if it is not a standard part of your law school. I know at my school we will do this for students if they request in advance, the faculty member agrees, and we have tech support personnel available to take care of it.

Courtesy and communication go a long way -- you may event want to email all your profs (and the Dean of Students) a couple days after your surgery and just say something like, "I just wanted to let you all know that my surgery went well and I am out of the hospital. I anticipate returning to classes on [x date] as planned. Thank you all so much for being willing to work with me. etc etc" (Believe it or not, if your faculty and dean know you are having surgery, they will be concerned for you and glad to hear that you are recovering well.)

I imagine your school is like mine and that the vast, vast majority of faculty and staff really do care very deeply about their students and want them to succeed in all aspects of their lives, so they will support you. Good luck!

ETA: depending on how your school handles things, you may want to start with your Dean of Students before approaching any faculty members. I know at my school typically students go directly to the Dean of Students, who then handles any communication with the faculty, in situations like this. I am not sure how common that is, though.

I just saw your response after what I posted.

What she said!

Lol I still appreciate you input and will definitely be talking all your advice

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

[LisaC123 3]

I'm in grad school and I managed to work ahead a week in my classes. I am only taking Wed-Sun off from school work. My classes are online so they are a bit more flexible. I did also email my professors to let them know, in case was a complication.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[cheneisew 52]

I'm in grad school and I managed to work ahead a week in my classes. I am only taking Wed-Sun off from school work. My classes are online so they are a bit more flexible. I did also email my professors to let them know, in case was a complication.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yes my goal is to take wed-wed off. That way I'm only missing the week of classes since I only have class tue/thurs.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App