How long til cleared for travel?

[jencomenz 3]

I've been on this journey since August and finally get to meet with the surgeon on February 24th! So needless to say: no approval from insurance yet and no surgery date yet.

My family has a cruise booked for June 12th. I was wondering if I should have a cut off date in mind for surgery before the cruise vs surgery after the cruise? I don't care about being skinny for vacation (although it would be nice) I am mostly concerned about being healed and comfortable. It would be hard to pass up any surgery date at this point but I don't want to be miserable on the cruise either.

Any suggestions on a realistic timeline would be helpful.

Thanks, Jen

[feedyoureye 3,087]

I've been on this journey since August and finally get to meet with the surgeon on February 24th! So needless to say: no approval from insurance yet and no surgery date yet.

My family has a cruise booked for June 12th. I was wondering if I should have a cut off date in mind for surgery before the cruise vs surgery after the cruise? I don't care about being skinny for vacation (although it would be nice) I am mostly concerned about being healed and comfortable. It would be hard to pass up any surgery date at this point but I don't want to be miserable on the cruise either.

Any suggestions on a realistic timeline would be helpful.

Thanks, Jen

I waited 3 month to get mine so I would have help around the house. I think its a good idea to wait... you don't want to feel crapy on your cruise, and to state the obvious, the cruise food would just go to waste immediately after surgery.

I went on vacation for three weeks out of the country, a month before surgery, and I'm glad it was then. I had enough time after getting back to lose a few vacation pounds, and have my meetings and blood tests and get the house ready for me. The time went by quickly.

[MINI-Me 196]

The first four weeks are the most difficult - trying to figure out your food plan, lack of energy, etc.

People fly home from Mexico all the time at 3-4 days out so I don't think there are any "rules" for travel.

Yes, you won't be eating much on the cruise - you might want to consider if you think you'll be mentally ready to be around that much food. While we get through it, many people have a bit of an issue watching people throw down tons of food when you can only fit in 1/4c to 1/2c at a time.

I would say you are safe at 6-8 weeks as far as how you feel, healing, and energy levels. Your surgeon can provide more insight on that.

[singand_dance 8]

I'm in the same boat (ship? lol) I'm going on a cruise at the end of May and figure I might get scheduled for surgery in April... perhaps I'll have to delay it until I return, I'd hate to have zero energy on a trip I've been planing for over a year.

[ThatDudesMom 13]

I'm in the same boat (ship? lol) I'm going on a cruise at the end of May and figure I might get scheduled for surgery in April... perhaps I'll have to delay it until I return, I'd hate to have zero energy on a trip I've been planing for over a year.

I went on a cruise Dec. 17-31 and then spent two day in Orlando, returning home Jan. 2. Came home and started my pre-op diet on Jan. 3. Got sleeved on the 13th.

I am so glad my surgery was right after a cruise. I had so much fun...and kind of saw it as my last chance to eat what I wanted, how much I wanted, and when I wanted. I was also very active... shuffle board, wave runner in the open ocean, boating, walking, swimming in the ocean. I would have hated to miss out on any of this.

Now I can't wait to lose all this weight and go on another cruise!

[Rootman 1,101]

Yep, ThatDudesMom is right, wait till after. You'll be especially nauseated at the sight of all that food! Like she said, have a last blast, pig out THEN go on the pre-op diet and have surgery.

If you were to develop - God forbid - any kind of problems it is VERY expensive to get you off the boat and back to a hospital.

I'm sure whoever you are traveling with will appreciate it too.

[M2G 1,836]

I would do your surgery post cruise also. I did a wonderful family vacation to Hawaii 2 months before I was sleeved and yes it would have been nice to be "skinnier" but we had a great time, and I indulged in macadamia nuts every day! Also gave me some great "before" pictures at my heaviest.

Now I just need to go back after I hit goal and enjoy it all over again.

[singand_dance 8]

I just talked to a fellow sleeveie about this yesterday who suggested if you're going on a cruise after surgery, wait at least 2-3 months after. The effects of motion-sickness on a newly sleeved tummy didn't even occur to me (I'm not prone to motion sickness and didn't have a problem on my last cruise over 10 years ago). I'm cruising the last week of May, so I'm hoping for a miracle and a surgery date in March, or I'll have mine done in June.

[jencomenz 3]

Thanks everyone for your insite! I think that I knew in my heart what the answer was, but I didn't want to admit that I might be waiting until July for the first day of the rest of my life. I will set my cut off date at 12 weeks and that would mean unless by some miricle I'm approved in early March then I will be stuffing myself silly on this cruise