Hi...

have another question - I had planned on taking an all day (7am - 7pm) bus trip exactly one week after surgery. We will be traveling on a comfortable, air-conditioned bus and stopping about every 1 to 2 hours to shop. Do you guys think I will be up to that kind of thing within a week of surgery? Would sitting on a bus (not able to move around too much) be bad?

I want to thank eveyone so very much for all your support and advise....this site has been a great help to me...big time!

Sitting for too long after I was banded was probably the hardest part. I have a seated job and found my incisions would get "tight" and I had to stand and move around.

That being said, I think you can probably make the bus trip work. Esp. if there will be stopping every couple hours so you can walk around.

Be advised, I personally had terrible diahrrea for the first two weeks after surgery. Others end up constipated. Just something to consider if you will be on a bus.

Also, it has been three weeks since my surgery and I still get worn out pretty quick so you'll just have to be aware of your own body's needs and act accordingly.

The bus trip sounds fun! Where are you going???

Sounds like a great idea However I know that even now Iam a very windy person down below and Iam not sure how it would have been ...along with the restrictive diet and getting use to your new digestive system I personally with hind sight I would wait about 3 weeks...You won't be in any pain on the other hand and with think you can take on the world.What ever decision you will make can't be too bad.

Thanks for the information....This trip was pre-paid (only $35) in May so I was taking a chance I might not be able to go, so I think I will play it by ear. I had not thought about the "bathroom" thing.....might be a problem, especially on a bus!!

Karen...I am a quilter and this is a trip with 55 other quilter friends to 4 different quilt shops (and we stop for lunch, of course!!). I went last year and we had a blast....

Hi Margo, I would have to say I thought I was feeling much better days 5-10 but didn't realize until after I got out of the house how crappy I felt, dizzy, tired. I would say to venture out to the store or something first to see how you feel. You don't want to get on a bus an than decide you don't feel so well.

Sara

Sara..

Thanks...that's a good idea. I don't relish the idea of being "stuck" on a bus in the middle of August for the day and then start to feel crappy. I will test the "waters" the day before and see how I feel.

Also remember if you are only a week out from surgery there will be no eating for you... Only liquids at this stage! That could be really hard if you are around people eating together. I really didn't feel like returning to work as soon as I did after my surgery much less going on a trip... but take it easy and it may work for you . Everyone heals and bounces back differently. You could feel geat after only a week. Good luck with being banded and with your desicion to go on the trip. I hope if you go you will have lots of fun and will help you feel better after surgery.

the week after I was banded, my husband drove me to Idaho so I could go back to school. It was about a 12 hour trip, but I slep for a big whack of the trip.

I think you could make the trip, find a comfortable spot - does the bus have a bathroom on board?

Get up and move in the bus when you can - or even just stand up once an hour to stretch, and move your legs around.

You'll be watching people eat in front of you for awhile - and it's hard, and it stays hard (somedays, harder than others). I doubt you'll swipe a chip from their lap - so it's probably easier than eating with family (like at a family BBQ).

I had my surgery in Tacoma. Stayed a week and then drove home which is a 12 hour drive. We stopped every couple of hours so I could walk around for a few minutes. When we stopped to eat I had soup (chicken noodle and just ate the broth). But I also did not feel like eating much. Also take your pain meds with you just in case. Get mentally prepared for what you will be able to do and able to eat and you should be fine. Have fun.