Donna, I feel your pain even at work. Nursing is a huge contributor to our disease. I pack my food for the day. Get an ice pack and take tuna salad, string cheese etc with you. Avoid the veding machines and take time for you. Protein bars are great for the protein needs but be careful with the calories. You can get a cold thermos and put a scoop of protein in it then mix with water and ice, protein on the go. Also always take a bottle of water with you and have it in class. If you must ask your doctoe for a letter making it a medical necessity for you to have a water bottle with you. I also pack the vitamins for the day ina baggy so I can stick them in my pocket and take them every few hours. Last get your rest...I know...impossible. The fact is stress and lack of sleep with increase your cortisol and grehlin levels and make you eat more. Take time out to take care of yourself. I wish you the best in tough situation. Robin rny 1/12/04 dos 308 cw 130 goal 150

Angela, I agree with Sandra. I would take the summer off. Ask the doctor about his restrictions and then consider the other issues, food, strength, fatigue, etc....School is stressful enough and so is surgery, I wouldn't combine them. Take care, Robin

Thanks everyone for your kind words. My clinical is Cardio & Hemodynamic monitoring and the other is just a lecture no clinical with it. So I think most of the problem would be with turning pts not so much lifting them in and out of bed. I don't know. I am really thinking of taking the summer off, but I also want to get these these classes behind me. I go to see the surgeon this Thursday and I will discuss it with him as well. Thanks everyone, and keep me in your prayers. --Angela

What clinical are you starting???? During a 2 week break before I started my Peds rotation I had an emergency gall bladder surgery(on a Thursday), my doc let met go back to school on that ( following Tuesday)!!!! but not to work. I still had a lifting restriction. I talked to my instructor and she gave me all the bigger, walking, talking children, that needed no lifting and my classmates were great also. It may just work for you too. Sorry that was kinda long, huh???????? Best Wishes. Simone

HI Angela. I am waiting for a surgery date myself but was told that if it is a lap RNY the 10# lifting restriction is only for 2-3 weeks so you should be ok for clinicals at the end of 3 weeks. If you have open RNY it would more likely be 6 weeks. By that time, you will probably be down about 30# or so and will probably feel like you are floating through the hallways! Best wishes for you!! Jennie aka OcutieObiggsie