Hi,

I am 5'2 and 195lbs. I am 99% sure that I am ready to make this committment. I am very eager to get started. I can have surgery as early as next week. My question is this: We have a family vacation planned for June 27 - July 5. If I have surgery around June 3, will I be miserable on vacation? We are going to the beach and I am sure that I will be healed enough to swim, but will the sun and activity be too much? Also, will it be obvious to my family that I had surgery? There are a couple of people who would not approve, so I would prefer to keep it quiet. Maybe it would be better to wait, which would mean August due to another trip. I am just eager to get started changing my life.

I think you'd be fine for vacation by then! I'm a week and a day out and I feel pretty normal today! Get it done! Sooner is better than later I say!

While you'll probably feel ok, depending on your surgeon the post op diet may be a little tricky. By week 4 I was on soft foods, some are still on mushies, some docs let patients advance. AND some docs say no hot tubs (for example) for up to a month post op...this is something you should probably discuss with your surgeon. You'll "feel" fine by then most likely, but other things may make your vacation more problematic than it should be. Good luck!

Restless is right....My post-op diet was liquid for 10 days, mushy foods for 1 week, then 1 week with a combination of mushy and regular foods, and then regular foods 100% -- so I was on regular food completely before 4 weeks were over. But it varies so much I have to say check with your doctor's office to see what their post-op diet is. You would be fine if you have a condo with a fridge regardless of diet, but if you're on liquids or mushy foods, it won't be much fun. So find out what their plan is.

Physically you will be just fine. Your incisions should be closed and well on their way to healing by then. Diet wise you will probably be in the mushy stage so just be careful and make sure you have plenty of mushies on hand. Good luck!

I agree with the other wise women on this one. You will probably feel good, but your diet might be the tricky part. If you were just going with your family and they knew you had gotten the band - I would say go for sure. If you are trying to keep it on the down low, it might be a bit trickier. Like "I'll pass on the burgers and beans. Just gonna have some of this yummy cottage cheese instead." If you think you can have the post op-foods that you need on hand and can pull it off... then I say GO FOR IT!! If all of this sounds like a headache, then you might want to have your surgery after vacationing. Good luck to you and have fun whatever you decide to do. Becky

I agree, talk with your surgeon. My doctor said no submerging in water for 4 weeks to avoid infection of healing incisions. No baths, no hot tubs, no swimming. Just showers.

You have to make the personal decision about your ability and willingness to stick with the eating plan while on vacation. Just remember, there will always be vacations, holidays, birthday parties, BBQs, etc. The band isn't an eating cure, it's a tool that helps you say no and make healthier and smaller food choices. Until you have a fill or two, choices plus dieting (so to speak) will be required.

I know my trigger foods, so I avoid those because one or two is never enough. We are food addicts, which is why we are over-weight.

If I do allow myself an occasional treat, which doesn't mean everyday or several times a week, I have a small "human portion", not my old "I want a big piece and then come back for seconds". Yes, we must learn self and portion control; otherwise we go through the banding process for nothing.

I have a good friend that was banded in November with three fills and has lost nothing; she may have even gained a few because she has just continued on with the SAME EATING HABITS. She never says "no or no thanks" or limits her portions. She can't even figure out what a healthy meal is, nor does she want to. I guess she expects the band and continuous fills to do all of the work. She eats junk food daily and pushes it in my direction, too.

My advice is, talk to your doctor; make sure you are completely educated about banding; be sure you are ready to make the commitment and make lifestyle eating changes and improvements before you get banded.

The world around us will always pose temptations and bad food choices. My husband can (and does right in my face) eat 4,000 calories worth of anything and everything a day without gaining a pound. I cannot! We need to retrain our thinking and eating habits, and learn when to say no and when to say enough. The band isn't a magic bullet.

If you know you will not be able to stay on course during your vacation, you may want to wait until after you return to get banded. By next vacation, you'll have more experience and relearned eating habits under your belt.

Best wishes!

I think you will feel fine but I will have to agree with everyone else, you will be on a post op diet so that may be a little difficult. Also, i was told not to submerge in water (i.e. baths, pools etc.) for 3- 4 weeks post op. Started my pre op on Christmas Eve so it is possible. Just weigh your options and talk to your doctor about it. Good luck!

Thanks for the advice. It sounds like I should wait until August so that I can be sure and follow all of the post op directions. I certainly don't want to put my health in jeopardy. I'm going to discuss it with the doc.

Thanks for the advice. It sounds like I should wait until August so that I can be sure and follow all of the post op directions. I certainly don't want to put my health in jeopardy. I'm going to discuss it with the doc.

Talking with your doc is an excellent plan! There's quite a learning curve with the band the first 6 months to 1 year or so (depending on how hard headed you are, like me LOL, and how quickly you get restriction) so you want to do all you can to make that period easy and successful for you and your future "band".