Memorial weekend/ bypass/ Help

[tebowfan 70]

Hello, I'm having bypass surgery on May 7th. My hubby's extended family gets together memorial weekend for the entire weekend 3 hours away. I don't want to tell them I had bypass surgery. I have Gerd/ Barrett's Esophagus. Do you think I will able to travel there 17 days post op? I will be on the puréed stage. If I am showing any signs of surgery, what can I say to cover why I'm in pain it whatever is to come? Thanks everyone!

[James Marusek 5,244]

I live 2 hours from the hospital in which I had the surgery. I left the hospital and returned home 2 days after surgery. I don't remember the ride home being a problem. So I do not think a 3 hour trip 17 days post-op should be too big a problem at least as far as the traveling is concerned.

If you are worried about the pain, then make sure you do the walking exercise each day prior to surgery. It will help with the pain and recovery. When I went in for the operation, I refused any pain medicine after I left the recovery room. This operation was done laparoscopically and as a result there was significantly less pain. I underwent a hernia operation a couple decades ago before laparoscopic surgery and that was painful, but this Laparoscopic Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass was not (at least not for me).

Although you are focused on food in your question, at this early stage after surgery, you food intake is minimal. You could probably meet your food requirement by taking a few small jars of baby food. The real problem areas you may encounter on your trip will be taking your Protein supplement, Vitamins, liquids and medication.

The Protein shakes are powders designed to be mixed with liquids (water or milk). I tried mixing these with a shaking cup in the beginning, but this method left something to be desired. So I quickly transitioned to making them with a blender. But when you are traveling, its a little hard to carry around a blender with you. Now when I am up and about, I take along a Protein Bar. But at 17 days post op, I don't think you can eat a Protein Bar. So for your trip, I would recommend you stop by your local GNC and purchase several bottles of Protein Ice. This is a super concentrated form of a Protein Drink. Each bottle contains 42 grams of protein. From my perspective, it taste terrible but I let my wife taste it and she thought it was O.K.

One of the things that happens after surgery is that you will not be able to swallow large pills, even medium size pills for awhile. So I would recommend getting a pill splitter and a pill crusher prior to surgery. There is a lot of medicine and Vitamins after the operation.

Generally in order to prevent blood clots, you might be prescribed Lovenox (Enoxaparin). I my case I had to give myself a shot of Lovenox once per day for the first week after I left the hospital. The length of time these must be taken vary from one individual to another. I didn't like giving myself these shots and I bruised easily as a result of this medication. So I think 17 days post-op, you should be over with this.

As to your question about Gerd/Barrett's Esophagus, perhaps someone else can address this better. I had a few periods of severe acid reflux prior to surgery. I haven't had any episodes in the 11 months since the operation. But then again my surgeon has prescribed Omephazole for the first year following surgery. This is the same thing as Prilosec which is what I would normally use for acid reflux.

[tebowfan 70]

To- James Marusek.

Thank you so much for all the information!! I am going to do as you said and go to GNC for the flavored Protein Water. I also am glad u brought up the Vitamins and meds. I'll have to make a schedule. I do not want them to know I had the bypass surgery, so I'm thinking I'll say it was a hernia repair. It will be part truth. So ke e else said to tell them I had my gallbladder out. It is already out though.

Thanks again for responding. I haven't had much success on getting responses/ feedback on here, but I'm not giving up. Congrats on being 11 months out as well. I can't wait to be 11 months out:)