Going back to class after surgery?

[Bacon]

So I got my double incision top surgery scheduled for August 31st, which is a week after fall semester at my college has begun.

I thought it would be fine to take a few days off (it's on Thursday, so taking Thursday, Friday off, then Saturday, Sunday, maybe Monday and Tuesday) and then return to class. Not doing anything too active, of course, but just sitting in lectures, doing homework, etc. My classes run from about 11:00 - 5:00 most days.

Do you think that's reasonable or am I crazy? My endo said I should not go to class for at least two weeks or maybe a month, which would mean missing way too much class.

But then I'd have to reschedule the surgery for over winter break. Which of course isn't the end of the world, but I was really looking forward to having it done sooner.

Any advice?

[Dena]

Your endo is correct. The first week after any surgery hurts and your motion will be restricted. You should discuss with your surgeon the recovery schedule but we often underestimate how long it will take for us to become functional again. I was unaware of how long it would take me to recover from GCS and as the result, I lost my job giving me plenty of time to recover. Top surgery isn't as bad but I have seen a youtube where a FTM give a rather humorous display of what his recovery from top surgery was like. Mostly it was trying to live life without arms or at least having your elbows fastened to your sides.

[Alexthecat]

Two weeks should be the bare minimum but a month is safer. You can't be carrying a backpack or anything really in that time. Unless you have a friend that is going to take you to every class and put your stuff down at your desk for you and then pick you up it is unreasonable. If you are stealth then you would have to come out to people.

You could try asking classmates to record the lectures for you and to let you see their notes, maybe even skype the lecture. It would take a lot of collaboration between classmates and your professor to make it somewhat feasible. Only a weekend to recover is just pushing it for injury. Plus if you have drains you will not feel somewhat okay until they are out.

[Farm Boy]

Only a weekend to recover is just pushing it for injury. Plus if you have drains you will not feel somewhat okay until they are out.

Agreed, you really need to take more time than that.  I had no complications and recovery was smooth, but I took a month off before returning to my desk job at work.  After surgery, you'll wear a post-surgical compression vest for about 10 days, and you'll be changing dressings on your nipples (and possibly chest scars?  I'm not sure of DI aftercare) twice a day for about 20 days.  I had a heck of a time keeping the bandages taped in place, and having them come off and smearing ointment or Vaseline on my shirt.  Not something I wanted to be dealing with at work.

Your movements will be really limited at first, and you probably won't feel up to doing much of anything for a while.  For me, it was exhausting just putting on pants or socks, and I was unable to put on a button up shirt by myself for a week.  It was 2 weeks before I could get into T-shirts again.  You'll be doing yourself a favor by listening to your doctor, and taking the time your body needs to heal.  I know it's hard to wait, but if you don't take enough time off, you risk complications that will extend your recovery time.

[invisiblemonsters]

i had my surgery during march break, took the week off after march break then went back to school. i had a two hour class so it wasn't too bad. however, i didn't have pain, my drains were already out, i didn't have a compression vest and i tried just to chill and not move too much. i still had my bandages on my nipples though. either way, i would take as much time as you need off because you don't want to risk injury or stretching your scars.

[JayBlue]

So I got my double incision top surgery scheduled for August 31st, which is a week after fall semester at my college has begun.

I thought it would be fine to take a few days off (it's on Thursday, so taking Thursday, Friday off, then Saturday, Sunday, maybe Monday and Tuesday) and then return to class. Not doing anything too active, of course, but just sitting in lectures, doing homework, etc. My classes run from about 11:00 - 5:00 most days.

Do you think that's reasonable or am I crazy? My endo said I should not go to class for at least two weeks or maybe a month, which would mean missing way too much class.

I haven't had top surgery yet, but I've had a few other surgeries that were not near as invasive, and I was knocked out. One was to reset a finger I had broken, and I was out of it for two weeks. The doctor said that was normal after surgery. I was in a lot of pain and just totally wiped. 

I am a college professor and so I'm going to schedule top surgery for next May after the semester ends. I normally only teach online in the summer, and I can do that from home so it should work out.  Depending on what courses you are taking, it also would be hard to miss that much class and some instructors may be more willing to work with you than others. Since it's basically elective surgery, some may not think it's a great idea to schedule it when the semester is starting.  You may be able to work it out that someone could record the lectures. In one of the courses I teach, that would not be an option as there is too much personal discussion from other students.  If it was the stats class I teach, then recording it would be fine.

Putting too much extra pressure on yourself to go to class ASAP, study, and complete assignments plus give your body time to recoop is going to really stress you out mentally, physically, and emotionally.  You might be able to take a lighter class load or discuss it ahead of time with your instructors to see who is willing to work with you.   Going to class for 6 hours a day one week after surgery seems like it's really going to be too much.  If you have an advisor you trust, you can talk to that person and also if you get financial aid (at least in the US), then you would want to check with financial aid about how cutting your class load or dropping classes (if you find out after the surgery that you really can't do it) would affect your aid.

[Jonathan L]

I just had DI surgery two weeks ago and I'm still completely wiped out. There's no way I could have gone back to school after a weekend. Just taking a walk and a shower every day takes up all my energy. Plus the pain meds make me really sleepy. I haven't been able to read anything and I imagine trying to stay awake and absorb anything in a class would be impossible. I know it sucks to wait but you will be so much less stressed out if you give yourself the proper amount to recover.

[Bacon]

Thanks for all the honest advice, guys. I really appreciate it. I'm going to see if there are ANY cancellations earlier, but if not, then I guess I really will have to reschedule. It sucks, I was excited to get it done and hopefully be rid of a lot of this dysphoria, not have to wear a binder, actually look good in my clothes, etc, but you guys are right, if the recovery is that intense, I would be doing myself a disservice by pressuring myself to get assignments done and keep up with all my schoolwork.

[JayBlue]

Thanks for all the honest advice, guys. I really appreciate it. I'm going to see if there are ANY cancellations earlier, but if not, then I guess I really will have to reschedule. It sucks, I was excited to get it done and hopefully be rid of a lot of this dysphoria, not have to wear a binder, actually look good in my clothes, etc, but you guys are right, if the recovery is that intense, I would be doing myself a disservice by pressuring myself to get assignments done and keep up with all my schoolwork.

I know it's disheartening. I can't wait for mine, and if something comes up to make it take longer, I know I'll be a wreck; however I'm really glad that you asked, listened, and are making the best choice for your overall health. Keep us up to date on what happens!

Jay 

[Bacon]

Thanks, Jay! I definitely will keep you guys updated! I will most likely have it done in early December and give myself a full month to recover before spring semester starts.

[Dan]

An excellent question, Bacon, and a lot of wise advice from those who have gone before.

This has been informative for me too as I'm planning on my own top surgery some time next year. I will now plan for 4 weeks off work. If I recover faster, then great, I'll just go back to work sooner.

[Bacon]

An excellent question, Bacon, and a lot of wise advice from those who have gone before.

This has been informative for me too as I'm planning on my own top surgery some time next year. I will now plan for 4 weeks off work. If I recover faster, then great, I'll just go back to work sooner.

Glad to hear this thread helped you out too, man!

[Alexthecat]

An excellent question, Bacon, and a lot of wise advice from those who have gone before.

This has been informative for me too as I'm planning on my own top surgery some time next year. I will now plan for 4 weeks off work. If I recover faster, then great, I'll just go back to work sooner.

It depends what your job entails. If there is any heavy lifting then you want to make it 6-8 weeks. I waited 8 weeks and was still a bit sore.