Air Travel after surgery?

[GardenLady 9]

I'm new to the whole idea of chatting on a forum like this so I hope I make sense. I've not yet been able to schedule my surgery but m hoping I can do it mid-May. I decided in December that surgery was the most viable path for me with my co-morbidity. I attended the orientation meeting but didn't sign up to start the process because I was concerned about the lack of enthusiasm from my primary care doctor. Turns out she was fine with it and thinks I'm a good candidate for it. In any event, as a federal employee I only have to be in the program for 3 months before I have the surgery. I've completed all the preliminary steps but have one more meeting with my dietician and the "learning" session with a bariatric nurse - those are this coming Friday. I've managed to lose about 11 pounds on the 1200 calorie diet they put me on but I'm concerned about maintaining the weight lose since I do a lot of traveling with my job. It is this traveling that causes me to write this post.

I generally don't have to travel all that much but this year is unusually busy - I'm scheduled to travel three of the next 4 weeks and then again 7 weeks later. So this 7 week interval is when I'm trying to get things scheduled. I'm not feeling too confidant about it just now but firmly believe that things will work out for what needs to be, will be.

Anyways, so my question is: how long has it taken before you traveled? I'll only be packing a small carry-on - really small carry-on - it only has to cover three days total. Any suggestions, concerns, tips that I should consider?

[yodasplash 20]

I had my sleeve done in Mexico on Monday, 3/31, and flew from San Diego to San Francisco then on to Kansas City Missouri on Friday. No problems at all. Just make extra preparations to allow for your diet plan.

[CoreyCan 95]

I travel often for work as well and traveled NJ to Las Vegas for a convention 3 weeks after surgery. You'll be fine just make sure you pllan ahead. You have to either bring Protein shakes with you (have to check them though) or know exactly where you're going to get them when you land.

[GardenLady 9]

Excellent advice! Thank you. My bariatric center tells me no flying for 6 weeks so I have been getting really hung up on getting things done in a specific timeframe. It's not the flying so much, I suspect. I think it's more the weight - they also say nothing over 10 or 20 pounds for at least a month (guess I'll have to double check that one, yes?)

Thanks again!

[Kindle 8,667]

A lot of surgeons will put a restriction on flying for a certain period of time because of increased risk of blood clots. On the other hand, there are tens of thousands of people that go to Mexico for surgery and are flying home 3-5 days post op (I was one of these). Some things you can do is wear compression stockings and get up and walk the aisles frequently if you have a long flight. So I guess I'd discuss your specific risk and options with your surgeon. You may also want to verify what type of lifting restrictions you will have. Mine was no more than 20 pounds for three weeks. That meant I had to ask for help lifting my bag on and off the X-ray belt and in and out of the overhead bin on my return flight from Mexico. And when I got to my truck in the parking lot, I had to take everything out of my bag individually so I could lift it into the back seat.

[bxsekenya 3]

My surgeon 3 months before flying.