Travel After WLS

[hstrayorn 26]

So I have a work conference coming up after my WLS. It's like about 2 1/2 weeks after. Do you think I should postpone going to this conference?

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Depends on whether you're expected to eat / drink / walk / stand / speak / party a lot at this conference.

I wouldn't have wanted to attend my own professional conference that soon after WLS.

I recovered well, but you could have more stamina than I did.

[esskay77 785]

Lot's of "depends" for that. Like the other person said--what do you have to do for the conference? Are you presenting? Just attending? Makes a difference. If you are attending only and have a hotel room nearby in case you need a nap,it could be doable. Of course, everyone is different. Would you have to fly? Would you have to carry your own bags? Laptops? You wouldn't want to be lifting things that are too heavy. Are you staying in the same hotel as the conference? Or do you have to schlep things around to get there?

Best of luck.

[Bandista 7,466]

What kind of surgery? For me, getting away may have been a nice break at that point.....I was fine but would have enjoyed solo hotel life.

[Djmohr 6,965]

I do think the type of your surgery is important. At two weeks i was feeling pretty good but got extremely tired during the day. I believe I was on pureed foods and if your surgery is the same I am guessing this will prove to be quite difficult.

For me the pureed stage was absolutely the hardest and my new tummy was so new that it did not like a lot of the pureed foods. I lived on cottage cheese, Protein shakes and yogurt primarily. It is also much more difficult to get the right amount of Water in your body when traveling. When you are home you can sit with that water bottle in your hand and sip sip sip all day long. That proves to be much more difficult even for me now and 4 months and I travel all the time.

All of these things, not enough Water, so little food consumption and being so soon after surgery make a person very weak and tired. I had a great recovery but I still felt these things for about 4 to 6 weeks post op.

Everyone is different though so maybe you can plan it and make the call to cancel if you need to?

Good luck on your surgery and wishing you a very speedy recovery.

[Stevehud 1,790]

yes at two weeks there was too much going on for me to have considered travel. just not good for me and my sleeve too much to think about Water Vitamins, Calcium, puree foods, liquids, Protein shakes ad infinitum. But to each their own. i hate traveling before im hoping to love it now that im not taking up so much room lol.

[Elode 8,093]

I traveled two weeks after surgery (actually 8 days) I was also back To work and college at two weeks so it really just depends. If you do just make sure you pack all the things you will need. Water, Vitamins, whatever diet you have. I felt fine, drinking water, taking vitamins ect was no different away from my house than doing it sitting in it. Same, same.

[Eli Alexander 316]

I'd say if postponing is a real possibility without too much trouble, go that route. I am two weeks out and would have no problem traveling and participating in any activity, but talking to others I know there is a huge spectrum of how people react to the surgery. Other option is if it's the type of thing you could cancel last minute, wait and see how you feel.

[salsera305 2]

I traveled at just 10 days and even though i felt great it did wear on me so early in the game. the long waits for check in and waiting on the plane then customs and baggage claimed i was just about drained when i arrived at my destination i did take a baggie full of Snacks and Jello which was ok clearing through security but its so much i lost my appetite and didnt eat at my time so i was also fatigued. It is possible but plan accordingly

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

Unjury sells single serving packets of Protein Shake powder and it was a godsend when I traveled to Italy. You can always buy a bottle of Water and pour the powder into it, shake it up and have a meal.