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Intense Travel 5 Weeks Post Sleeve Surgery



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I'm undergoing a revision from a slipped lapband to a sleeve this week. I am only about 20 pounds from my goal. However, as this was an unexpected situation, I'm concerned about my future travels. I received a fellowship to travel abroad and it will begin 5 weeks after my surgery. Declining the fellowship is not something I want to do--it's a great opportunity.

I know that it varies from person to person and that if there are any complications. that will make a difference, but for a young/otherwise healthy person and a smooth operation/recovery, is 5 weeks enough time to heal before embarking on a 2-month trip? I will be traveling (by train, plane, bus) approximately every week during those two months. Otherwise (hopefully!) doing a lot of sightseeing and lecturing. I have purchased trip insurance, so if I need to fly back to the US for an emergency situation, I'm covered. The places I'm traveling to all have excellent healthcare, and my companion is well-informed about my situation. I plan to do nothing but rest and try to recover for the 5 weeks leading up to the trip.

I guess I'm asking for tips on energy so I'm not exhausted as well as things to look out for/be vigilant concerning. Multivitamin recommendations, etc.? I have a prescription for 30 days of Prevacid; should I get enough to cover those 2 months?

All words of advice and caution are welcome. General stories about how you felt 5 weeks out of a sleeve would be great information. Thank you all in advance.

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5 weeks is plenty enough time, you should even be on solids by then because stomach should be healed. You don't have to worry about busting a stitch at that point. I was doing 5 mile hikes at 4 weeks out and felt fine, just keep up with the Protein. Safe travels

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@@almosttogoal my surgeon had no problem with the idea of me traveling overseas 4 weeks out. As it happens, I am not going to be able to get my surgery before I leave because of a hold-up with my insurance. It's scheduled for two weeks after I get back. But I had come to the conclusion that traveling WAS possible. I just planned to take a lot of Protein -- in the form of powders and tuna packs. If you can get good sources of Protein where you're going, you should be ok (at least from what I've read…I've not had my surgery yet.)

Best of luck to you, and congratulations on your fellowship! Do keep us all posted on your progress.

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    • LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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