Surgery during the semester, should I put off req classes?

[saintelsewhere]

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I'm supposed to take bio and chem this semester, but I just found out that I have to have surgery ASAP (re: during the semester) for an injury I've recently sustained. Nertz. It's pretty intense and will require a long rehab after. Would it be a poor choice to take req classes while dealing with all this? Is there anyone who has been in a similar situation who could offer some advice? I don't want to put off applying for another year (which I would have to if I don't take these classes this semester), but I also don't want to have my attention too divided to do well. Suggestions?

 

[fuzzywuz]

What year are you? Do you plan on taking a year off after college?

 

[saintelsewhere]

What year are you? Do you plan on taking a year off after college?

I'm a senior, and I would have had to take two classes postbac no matter what before this happened. (I decided to pursue medicine a little late in my college career, long story.)

 

[beachblonde]

I've had multiple injury related surgeries, but only one was during school. I was out of commission the day of surgery (duh), the day after (it takes me a while to get over anesthesia), and then went back to school the following day. If you can schedule your surgery for a Friday, have the weekend to recover, you'll probably be ok by Monday.

What else are you going to do as you sit around and recover, anyways? Might as well study.

I think your situation depends on whether or not you can recover fairly quickly post-surgery and how fast-paced the summer courses are. If you're having something like arthroscopic surgery, you'll be up and moving the day of and recovery isn't too bad (PT and other exercises). But if you're having something far more invasive done, then maybe you want to schedule a block of time off from classes so you can heal properly.

 

[TheMagicCookie]

Last semester, I had my appendix out about 5 weeks before finals. I was expecting to be back in class within a couple of days, but there were complications and I was in the hospital for 5 days before going home. I went home on a Tuesday and went back to class on Thursday. The majority of my instructors where fine with my absence(I emailed them from the hospital and notified them of my situation). I only had trouble with one professor and ended up needing to Withdraw from the class(long story, missed a test and 2 quizzes and couldn't make them up).

So, I think it reallly depends on what you're having done and if you have spoken with your instructors and gotten their opinion beforehand. I will most likely be having another procedure done at some point this semester(I have an incisional hernia containing sigmoid) and probably can't put it off for long. Because of this, I enrolled in 4 classes as opposed to 6 to try and lessen the work load in case this has to be fixed soon.

I think it all comes down to planning beforehand and realizing what you are able to handle. People can go on and on all day long, but you are ultimately the one who knows what's best for you.

 

[saintelsewhere]

Thanks guys! I really appreciate your input.
I'm not sure yet whether it will be arthroscopic, I'm still waiting to hear back from my ortho, who has to talk to the Sports Med Guy, because apparently this is not the type of injury he sees very often.