Just wondering how long people would suggest in going away on holidays after surgery. ill be about 3 weeks post op if that, during school holidays and was planning on taking my daughter to theme parks during this time but I don't know if I will have the strength to a) carry luggage or b) even walk around the parks or doing other than lounge around the pool, that is even if my wounds heal leading up to the holiday. How long would anyone suggest in doing this sort of holiday ?

Any advise is much appreciated :)

Sorry to say this, but I definitely wouldn't have wanted go on holiday three weeks after surgery. I went back to work after three weeks when I still had very little energy and couldn't walk very far without tiring. In addition, there would be the challenge of your diet at that point. I started pureed foods at three weeks, and it would be difficult to find things you can eat (or to carry the foods you need with you).

That said, everyone is different and some people are ready to go back to work after one week. If your plans are at all flexible, you might want to wait until sometime in week three to decide whether you are up to it. You should also try to plan a trip with minimal physical activity (including walking)--or at least options for you to rest while others in the family are more active.

I wish you the best! Let us know how things go.

I'm going to Bali in a couple of weeks, and I'm 2 weeks out from gastric sleeve. My surgeon had no issues with me going and gave me a note saying I'm fit for travel, for travel insurance purposes. I actually feel great, I'll be on soft foods at that stage, and there should be heaps of food options for me at the resort we're staying at. I'm planning on a lot of lounging by the pool and reading books, and massages! It's probably a case of see how you go, and talk to your surgeon. Best of luck

I went on trips at 3 and 5 weeks post op. At 3 weeks I drove 6+ hours to havg out at the beach. It was a nice trip but exhausting. I didn't do a whole lot and had to rest a lot while I was there, and needed a couple days to recover when I got home. At 5 weeks I drove 8 hours to take my daughter to a Disney where she was scheduled to perform with dance. I was able to do everything I wanted to do... but again needed a few days to recover. I did use wheeled luggage to minimize carrying heavy things. Biggest challenge was eating. Brought some food with me but also struggled to find food that was good for me at my stage while there.

5 hours ago, MissKat said:

Just wondering how long people would suggest in going away on holidays after surgery. ill be about 3 weeks post op if that, during school holidays and was planning on taking my daughter to theme parks during this time but I don't know if I will have the strength to a) carry luggage or b) even walk around the parks or doing other than lounge around the pool, that is even if my wounds heal leading up to the holiday. How long would anyone suggest in doing this sort of holiday ?

Any advise is much appreciated

Well, this could be an "it depends" answer. Everyone recovers and heals at a different pace. That being said, I probably would not want to go to theme parks or places where I have to walk a lot at 3 weeks.

• At 3 weeks, barring any infections or complications, your incisions should be healed with scabs over them. However, your insides are still healing. The suture line of your stomach will still be healing and I probably wouldn't recommend lifting luggage.
• Remember, you will have just had major surgery. While you may look OK on the outside, your body will still be recovering. That, combined with the major change in your dietary intake, you will more than likely have fatigue. It's one thing to walk around your house or try to walk a little in your neighborhood, it's an entirely different thing to have the energy and endurance to walk a theme park.
• Then, there's the logistics of your diet. You will not be eating "regular" food by then. At best, you'll be on soft foods and possibly still on puree. It's hard enough to get through the stages of food in recovery without the added stress of trying to find food that you can eat.

You ask how long would anyone suggest. I'm not sure there's a good answer to address the kind of holiday you're describing. I went on vacation at about 6 weeks out. At that point, I had the energy for an 1100 mile road trip. I helped pack/unpack the vehicle and walked my dogs. However, the vacation was more of a visit to family/friends. I engaged in no activity that required strength or endurance. I struggled quite a bit with maintaining my diet and finding "safe" foods. I found myself placed in situations where there was food I hadn't tried or food I shouldn't eat. Protein shakes and bars only go so far.

Hi MissKat. I am from Philadelphia and flew to Las Vegas (basically cross-country) for my sister’s wedding last week when i was 3.5 weeks out. It was a little rough but doable. Despite much planning and preparation, it was very hard to get enough protein and water each day. Also walking around was fine for about 2 hours but then I was exhausted and in pain. It was also the first time Ow was tempted to eat bad food because it was all around me, as it will be for you at the theme park. The people above are right about recovery time. I’ve been back for 2 days now and I’m still feeling the exhaustion. Had to take an additional day off work to recover and honestly I could’ve used another. It’s tough but you can do it. Just plan in advance. Take A backpack with bananas because they don’t need refrigeration. Take a big bottle of water or Gatorade/Powerade Zero with protein powder and fiber mixed in. Make sure your daughter knows you will need breaks from walking/standing. Otherwise, have fun! I did, but it took some effort

6 hours ago, MissKat said:

Just wondering how long people would suggest in going away on holidays after surgery. ill be about 3 weeks post op if that, during school holidays and was planning on taking my daughter to theme parks during this time but I don't know if I will have the strength to a) carry luggage or b) even walk around the parks or doing other than lounge around the pool, that is even if my wounds heal leading up to the holiday. How long would anyone suggest in doing this sort of holiday ?

Any advise is much appreciated

I think it will depends on a lot of factors.you could feel AMAZING or completely worn out. But you really will not know until after surgery, sorry.

If you must plan well ahead of time (for airfares, hotels etc) consider travel protection plans that provide refunds for medical emergencies but speak directly to someone about all of the specifics.

During the trip itself I would suggest packing EXTREMELY lightly, taking electrolyte drops/packets to add to water like mio/Gatorade etc, hydrating nonstop, requesting accommodations/special assistance at the airport/train station/theme park/hotel *wheelchair/scooter* (don't be ashamed or feel guilty), take breaks and bring your pain meds too

Good Luck?

I went to Disneyland 3.5-4 weeks post op. Thought i might need a wheelchair since I was getting dizzy. Decided to take the chance and walk both days there. I was fine.

thank you so much to everyone for your advise. Im not going to book my holiday until after my surgery. Where I am staying the accommodation is fairly flexible so im not going to add undue pressure and stress until I know how I feel. Many thanks again to all :)

I would do this surgery again in a minute. That being said I had a few complications and I was basically on full liquids to watery softs for 2.5 months post-op. I was exhausted all the time, I can't imagine doing any vacation other than a relaxing one. Just working, kids, life in general I think I am asleep before my head hits the pillow. Now at almost 5 months out I am so much stronger with more energy. Give yourself time