Hello fellow VSGers,

My VSG is scheduled for July 22nd, along with a small hernia repair. My question is how long the hospital stay will be and recovery time. I am scheduled to fly to Orlando on the 25th and don't know if I should reschedule my surgery for after my trip, or if I will be ok.

I guess it depends on the nature of your trip. I couldn't peel myself off the couch for almost 3 weeks after surgery. No way could I take a trip to Orlando - NO WAY! Also, you will not be eating anything resembling normal food for a few weeks - this could make travelling pretty tough.

In my opinion, there is no way you will be ready to travel and be active 3 days after surgery.

Good luck--

What are you doing in Orlando? Disneyworld? Business? Family?

I flew for work one week after surgery - called the airline and got a wheelchair assist through the airport. I was always tired for the first several weeks. Between eating differently, the drastic drop in calories and carbs, healing - this was a journey, not a vacation. Love my sleeve and so glad I got it, but if I were in your shoes - reschedule. Good luck!

I am now 19 days post op and have just started to feel somewhat normal but am still tender in the tummy and am still on my full liquid diet. I can't imagine hopping on a plane a couple of days after surgery. The hospital stay for me was 2 1/2 days. When I got home, I rested a lot just for the fact that I had absolutely no energy which I'm sure was due to lack of calories (less than 500 a day) and not being fully hydrated. Oh and the nausea medication and the pain medication, made me whoosy, too. I'm not on meds anymore but I still get tired easily now but not like I did a week ago.

If it were me, I would consider rescheduling. Just my opinion!

I traveled home from Mexico after being sleeved with NO PROBLEM 3 days after surgery, but I had one of the easiest fastest recoveries that I have read about on here. I had no problem walking around the airport, I used a rolling bag for luggage, and even took it as carry on, but my sis was with me and lifted it into the overhead compartment for me. I didn't do the wheelchair thing because all I had ever heard about in my research is how important walking was for eliminating gas and speedy recovery.

Having said that, it is depending on what you have to do once you arrive in Florida, and on your own personal recovery. There are a lot of folks still in pain and with a lot of gas for a couple of wks, plus, as someone else mentioned you will be possibly/probably be on a liquid diet, so that may be problematic. With you also having a hernia repair, this may make your recovery a little slower and you may experience more pain than the person who just gets sleeved. You may want to ask your surgeon, he may have more post op guidelines and restrictions that we don't know about here. I could not lift anything, go swimming, etc. for 6 wks I think. Good luck, I hope everything goes smoothly for you!!

I was up and walking and grocery shopping on the 3rd day after surgery. I did take good naps though the first few days after surgery though. Surgery was thursday, back to work on tuesday. I don't know how I wouldve done on an airplane, but I was walking the malls just days after surgery ( sunday to be exact ) just don't push it, because you will want to take breaks / naps! Good luck!!

How long was your hospital stay and what is your age?

I'm 47 and I was in the hospital one night, home the next day at 3:00 p.m. I was up and around and off pain meds by day 3 and I went to the grocery store but was pretty tired when I got home. How long is your flight? Will you have someone to help you in the airport etc? I wouldn't have wanted to travel on day 3 but you could probably manage if it's really necessary.

Thank you so much. This was extremely helpful.

I too had an extremly easy recovery. With the exception of becoming anemic and being tired, I felt great!!

I was able to walk and get all my fluids in daily. I did everything that was expected of me. I went back to work in 7 days and was fine!

Kelly

Not sure if you were referring to me... but i stayed in the hospital for 2 days. I was up and walking at night, the day of my surgery. I am 36 years old.

How long was your hospital stay and what is your age?

I had surgery on a Friday and went home the following Monday...returned to work after 1 month.

I am 47 and i was in the hospital 3 days. i could have come home day 2 if I had not had ???? ;it was like a spasm in my esophagus or diaphragm that required me to me watched one more night and needing injections of pain meds. Day 4 I felt pretty much better but not normal, I went to an auction that night but was ready for bed early! I took a month off because it was Christmas time and I did not want deal with all the food at work, but truth be told at 2 weeks I was would have been ready to go back physically,k but I would have been tired at the end of an 8 hour shift. Hell I was tired at the end of 8 hours at a month out! When I hit the wall I kept reminding myself this was just simply a means to an end... the end being weight loss and the ability to KEEP it off!

Are you saying you would fly to Orlando 3 days after? Or August 25th? I ask because my hospital stay will be 3 days - which would put you in to your travel day if you mean July 25th. I would do some checking!

If I were you, I would reschedule Orlando trip. You want to give yourself at least 3 weeks of time to heal and follow dr postop directions. It may not be easy to reschedule surgery, so I would just politely excuse myself from Orlando and reschedule that trip for about 6 weeks after surgery. Ronda

I took the full three weeks off from work. I could have gone back after two and probably been fine but I wanted the extra time to heal. I was easily tired during this time. No problems with energy now.