surgery & nursing school...how's this going to work?

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Specializes in NICU.

Hey guys! I have a major concern. I'm having to have surgery to remove a large ovarian cyst on Aug 14 and it will be a laparotomy. My 3rd semester of nursing school starts on aug 28, with clinicals starting 9/11. Is there anyway I will be well enough to go to school? I don't think that it's going to work and my ob/gyn said no as well. She is trying to change the date of surgery but the problem is that I have to have a transplant surgeon there as well because I have had a kidney transplant and my kidney is right next to the cyst. If anything came up with the kidney they wanted the transplant surgeon. Getting two doctors schedules together is making the task of changing the surgery date more difficult. She's going to call back today but couldn't promise anything. I was just wondering, if she can't get it changed, should I call the school and un-enroll for this semester or do you think I would be okay by sept. 11? Thanks for listening....I'm a little stressed.

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Ummm I wouldn't get too worried.....laparascopic surgery is pretty fast for recovery if everything goes smoothly. I had an ovarian cyst removed this way 4 years ago and I was in & out of the hopsital in a matter of 5 hours and walking around & felt great that afternoon at home......so don't be too nervous. If you were having open surgery thats another story but I would just have the surgery & play it from there.......good luck!

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Specializes in NICU.

It's not laparoscopic. It's the one where there is a large incision. Sorry if I used the wrong word...I thought this is what the incisional surgery was called. I can't have it with a laparascope because I have had multiple abdominal surgeries and there is lots of scar tissue. I will be in the hospital for about two days and my doctor said 4 to 6 weeks recovery time. I'm not even supposed to drive for like 4 weeks. Just curious if school will be a major problem with a large incision.

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You'll need to talk to your MD about when you can drive again. I had a myomectomy and couldn't drive for 6 weeks. I felt good enough to drive after a week and felt like myself after 3 weeks.

You can't do any heavy lifting for set amount of time either which might restrict you during clinicals BUT you will need an MD's excuse for the restrictions you have-talk to your school about this and they need to accomodate you -ADA.....

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.
talk to your school about this and they need to accomodate you

On the contrary...if they're like my school they have certain requirements for clinical that you HAVE to meet. If you're unable, you simply can't go to clinical and have to drop back until you are able.

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well, there were several people in my class that had babies during our junior and senior year and they DID accomodate.

I would talk to the school and check before assuming they won't accomodate.......

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Specializes in Education, Administration, Magnet.

When I had it done, my Dr just told me not to lift anything for 6 weeks.

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Oh ok....ya because any laparascopic surgery is usually pretty easy.....so you ARE having an open procedure. I would just ask the school definetly...or can you still go and then take a leave of abscence if you find you are definetly unable to continue???? We had a girl in class who had a baby last March..she was out for like 3 weeks and didn't get penalized for it...she came back & just continued on...so it all depends on your instructors & school I would assume. But I see you will have a few weeks anyway before your actual clinicals start so can you do ok with the lectures until then as the worst part will be over? I mean it's mostly sitting right? Plus I don't think they would allow anyone to be lifting alone anyway once clinicals start....See me myself I would just go for it BUT I also have a high pain threshold and stuff anyway so thats just me. Maybe they can let you make up what you missed if you decide to just still go??? I would talk to the school & see what they say.....please let us know & good luck with surgery!

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Specializes in NICU.

Well, my MD called back and was able to get me 4 extra days. The surgery is now on the 10th of August. I have my pre-surgery apointment on the 2nd and will be able to discuss this fully with her. It seems to me that I could sit in class after two weeks of recovery and by 4 weeks when clinicals start i would be okay. Anyways, I'm going to go talk to someone at my school, tomorrow and see what they have to say. I'll kepp y'all posted.

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