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

traveling after surgery



Recommended Posts

Hello,

Has anyone from the group traveled on a plane for more than 17 hours after getting sleeved. I have a trip already booked for Dec 10th to South africa and my surgery date is Nov 15th. Has anyone experienced traveling with any issues.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No sorry didn’t experience air travel for that length of time. But I’d be concerned about how to manage my food intake on the flight especially at about 3/4 weeks out. Depending upon your plan, you may only be on the purée stage or beginning soft foods & you may find your tummy is pretty sensitive &/or fussy after surgery. You may struggle to eat the food provided on the plane & ensure you’re following your plan & meeting Protein & fluid goals.

Sorry if I sound negative. Others may have advice on how they managed in a similar situation that soon after surgery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would invest in some compression socks. DVT is a real concern after surgery. Try to get up and walk around every half hour or so... get an aisle seat so you're not That Person.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Agreed with the above. You need to plan food & drinks very, very well as options will be limited and that early out you'll need to be hyper focused on nutrition and hydration. I also echo the DVT/blood clot concerns. Talk to your surgeon about the risks and whether or not a longer course of blood thinners may be appropriate.

I am 3 weeks post-op and just recently had two 2 hour flights. It was manageable, but not great. I honestly don't think I could do a multi hour flight at this point, but I'm sure others absolutely could. There is really no way to tell exactly how you will feel, as everyone heals at their own pace. But if the trip is set in stone, the best thing you can do is prepare well.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am going to be 5 weeks out when I have my first flight - it's only going to be 6 hours, but still long enough. I plan to buy a Protein Drink at the airport (I know already where they sell the kind that works). If you can look at the airport restaurants and find where they might sell a tuna fish sandwich or tacos or refried Beans or bean Soup, those might be your best bets. Obviously, just eat the tuna or deli meat or taco meat, not the carbs they come stuffed in or any veggies. You can also look for hummus or string cheese or hard boiled eggs at the little stores (I almost always find these). You can probably also find yogurt, but it may not be low sugar. You might be able to get a doctor's note to allow you to bring some more liquidy food through security; talk to your surgeon. Also, you can bring powdered Protein through, but for best bets, have it in small amounts. You can then buy milk or mix with Water.

As others have said, get up to walk every hour that you are awake. This would be the time to pay extra for an aisle seat.

Is this a direct flight or do you have a connection? Be aware that your core muscles will likely be very weak so you may want to check as much of your luggage as possible or ask someone (not the flight attendant; another passenger) for help putting up your bags. I say don't ask a flight attendant as they generally are not permitted to assist, and it puts them in a bad spot, since if they get injured doing a favor, they don't get worker's comp depending on the situation.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It sounds like others have you covered. I will just add that that I would definitely still run this by your doctor in case they have anything to Add.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Oof, having done that flight to South Africa many times, that is not something I would look forward to doing post surgery. Personally I'd also be concerned about how much control I would have with food once I got there, but I was always on work trips with limited options, and 1 month out is still very early on and your stomach really can have a mind of its own at that point. This is less relevant if that's not an issue.

I personally would not do that flight 1 month from surgery. It's a tough one. I would probably try to postpone surgery until I got back but that's just me.

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

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 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

    ×