Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Travelling at 6 weeks post op - need tips



Recommended Posts

Hi everyone! Getting sleeved in September and flying for work 6 weeks later. I already know the advice about walking on the plane to avoid blood clots. What other tips do you have? Thank you!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am also traveling about 6 weeks after surgery. Didn't know I should walk on the plane. Would love advice as well.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Have a plan for your nutrition. I travel for work and the travel is not the issue. The planning for handling my nutrition was what I needed to work through.

Will you be at business lunches or dinners? Will you expected to order off a menu? Will there be social drinking and how will you deal with that ? What stage will you be on for your food plan?


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm traveling 3 weeks after surgery for family vacation. Surgeon said I should be fine to fly. I'm packing my small Ninja blender and plenty of Protein powders so I can take my meals with me. We're staying at an Air BnB so I'll have a kitchen. Surgeon also said I should be able to eat soft foods by then as well. It's definitely going to be a challenge.

In addition to walking on the plane, you can flex your feet at your ankles too (point your toes). I was told that helps as well.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had to travel for about a week 6 weeks out when my mom died and we had to do the big Italian funeral. At 6 weeks, I had been cleared to eat most foods. I stayed at a hotel with a mini-fridge. I bought Oikos Triple Zero and brought along Premier Protein pre-mixed shakes, which I would mix with a couple of shots of espresso in the morning over ice. As for lunch and dinner - I would order a child's portion (usually explain at the restaurant that I was on a restricted diet due to surgery) or share something with one of my kids - I would eat 2 or 3 ounces of Protein and a bite or two of vegetables. I always carried a water bottle. Really, it wasn't much of an issue. I worked out in the hotel gym.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, leanne0824 said:

I'm traveling 3 weeks after surgery for family vacation. Surgeon said I should be fine to fly. I'm packing my small Ninja blender and plenty of Protein powders so I can take my meals with me. We're staying at an Air BnB so I'll have a kitchen. Surgeon also said I should be able to eat soft foods by then as well. It's definitely going to be a challenge.

In addition to walking on the plane, you can flex your feet at your ankles too (point your toes). I was told that helps as well.

I never thought about a small Ninja blender. That's a great idea! Have a wonderful vacation!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, Kat410 said:

Have a plan for your nutrition. I travel for work and the travel is not the issue. The planning for handling my nutrition was what I needed to work through.

Will you be at business lunches or dinners? Will you expected to order off a menu? Will there be social drinking and how will you deal with that ? What stage will you be on for your food plan?

There will be at least one obligatory business dinner. To make things more difficult, I am vegetarian so I can't just order grilled chicken. I may have to feign not feeling well to get out of it ;)

The social drinking is a very good point. I didn't drink much before so I was used to turning down drinks already.

I should be in soft food stage when I travel. Are Protein Bars OK? Figure I can pack those and use them as a back up if I can't find things on menu.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Diana_in_Philly said:

I had to travel for about a week 6 weeks out when my mom died and we had to do the big Italian funeral. At 6 weeks, I had been cleared to eat most foods. I stayed at a hotel with a mini-fridge. I bought Oikos Triple Zero and brought along Premier Protein pre-mixed shakes, which I would mix with a couple of shots of espresso in the morning over ice. As for lunch and dinner - I would order a child's portion (usually explain at the restaurant that I was on a restricted diet due to surgery) or share something with one of my kids - I would eat 2 or 3 ounces of Protein and a bite or two of vegetables. I always carried a Water bottle. Really, it wasn't much of an issue. I worked out in the hotel gym.

Yes, I forgot about the yogurt! I will find a grocery store before I get to the hotel...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×