Travelling after one week of surgery

sunflower00 · 05-13-2008, 04:32 PM

Hello all,

My surgery is scheduled for May 27th and it seems I will need to travel for work on June 4th (that is one week after surgery!) I will be traveling to the west coast for about a week.

I want to hear from you all, experienced bandsters, if you think this is doable or not.

Please share your thoughts. Thanks a lot!!

lpnryyz · 05-13-2008, 04:44 PM

you should be fine.... i felt better after 1 week.... just stick to the fluids....

Bozzj · 05-13-2008, 04:46 PM

personally i couldn't have. i had zero energy from the clears. i didn't start feeling like me until 2 weeks. i know many, however, can.

Frangipani · 05-13-2008, 05:10 PM

It's hard to predict for sure how much/little discomfort you will have after surgery, but I live in the Caribbean, traveled to Mexico for my surgery, got on a plane 72 hours later, and flew back home with zero problems.

I tired easily for several weeks after the surgery, but that was about it. If you are taking a business trip, it might be a bit much though, unless you have some down time. Naps help a lot!

Good luck!

KelinTx · 05-13-2008, 05:53 PM

If you think you can do the liquid phase while being in a business type work atmosphere i say go for it. I had very little discomfort after the surgery. I was up and about with no problems at all the same afternoon. The only discomfort i had was that my stomach felt like i had done 2 thousand crunches. But that was easily gone in a week. Good luck to you and hope all turns out well with your trip!

aubrie · 05-13-2008, 06:02 PM

It took me almost two weeks to feel like myself again. You might could do it, but I think having to come up with clear liquids, or any kind of liquids while staying in hotels will be difficult. Not to mention that I would be scared to be away from my surgeon for that long so close to post-op. I had problems with constipation and my sutures popped through my skin and were exposed. I was pretty worried. I'd hate to be out of town and have to deal with something like that. You just never know. I'd want to err on the side of caution.

Sue Magoo · 05-13-2008, 06:27 PM

Hi Sunflower:

If you can take a nap each afternoon you'll be okay. Otherwise you'll probably be exhausted. I was even though I was on an at home vacation for first two weeks. It's also hard to stick to all liquids unless you're not eating socially for a while.

Take care.

Sue

DaisyMay · 05-13-2008, 06:41 PM

I think it would be doable but might be difficult. Obviously everyone is different so there's no way for any of us to truly know. Personally, I am two weeks post op and I'm still struggling to get through the afternoons without needing to rest. I feel great in the morning and then I start to hurt and need to lie down for a couple of hours in the afternoon. I drove four hours yesterday and was very sore at the end of it. It would be possible for me to travel now but it wouldn't be very comfortable. Good luck!

Busy · 05-13-2008, 07:38 PM

I travel for a living, usually 400 - 600 miles per week. I returned to work 1 wk after surgery, was very tired for about a week, but got on the road. I think it matters what your pain tolerance level is and how much pain you experience after surgery. I really had none except where the port is. Someone used the example of 2000 sit ups, that just about covers it!! If you tolerate things well, drink your protein drinks and go on with it. I mixed injury powered protein mix with everything and sipped all day long. Good luck!

kellygirl0520 · 05-13-2008, 08:45 PM

I received my band on 5/9 and have had very little discomfort. However, I do not have much energy at all. Even with no physical pain, I would not want to embark on a business trip so soon. There is really no predictor as to how you will feel and that is what matters the most. Good luck to you!

eureka2578 · 05-13-2008, 09:05 PM

i have to travel alot with my job also. i am now 4 weeks post-op. everyone is different and you should probably ask your surgeon what he thinks about you going that far away so soon after your surgery. i went back to work 1 week after surgery and ended up having to take more days off because i was just soooo tired. plus it was a very emotional time for me (which i didn't expect) and it would have really upset me to have to be in a social eating environment. good luck

mommakatx2 · 05-13-2008, 09:36 PM

I received my band on a Wednesday. The following Saturday I started an 18 hour moving drive from KY to CO. It wasn't incredibly difficult, but I would have rather stayed at home on the sofa for a few days instead.

Be sure to keep hydrated and get plenty of rest. My hubby drove the vehicle and my dad drove the moving truck so I could just sit back for the ride.

If you're in a stressful environment it could make healing slightly more difficult and increase your pain perception as well.

mama59 · 05-13-2008, 10:17 PM

Everyone is different but I took 1 week off of work but ended up going back in 2 weeks instead. Dealing with the liquid diet and the gas pain was difficult, I can't imagine doing it away from home.

Enchanted · 05-14-2008, 12:52 AM

I was banded 4/30. I'm trying to avoid business travel (from east coast to west) for now.

I'm still getting way too tired way too easily. I also know that when I'm traveling for business, I need to be "on" for more hours than when I'm working from home.

So..if you can avoid it, maybe you should. But if you have to, clear with your doc first and get as much rest as you can.

sunflower00 · 05-14-2008, 11:01 PM

Thank you all for this valuable feedback. Honestly I am still hesitant on what I should do. Rescheduling the surgery for after the trip is out of the question for me, especially that I had already reschedule it once before. I REALLY want to start my new life ASAP. At the same time this trip is important for my career!

I am trying to reschedule the surgery for a week earlier than the original date, as this will give me 2 weeks to recover before traveling. But I highly doubt that I'll be able to. I shall hear back from the surgeon tomorrow on whether I can do the surgery a week earlier or not.