RNY recovery & Hawaii Vacation

Hello Everyone,

I have a question about RNY recovery time.  I have an opportunity to take an Hawaii Vacation for super cheap (brother wedding has fallen through and has offer me his honeymoon package).  The only problem is it would be 18 day following my RNY procedure.  What are your thoughts?  Should I even consider it?

What was your recovery time?  I know some individuals have said that they could have gone back to work after 2 weeks.

What should I do?  My wife asked about rescheduling my surgery.  I don’t want to do that because, of the weight gain vacation rules. Reynold

No way should you travel so soon after your surgery.  Optimal recovery time is between 6-8 weeks.  Besides that, you will be on restricted diets for at least 8 weeks after surgery.  Plus, Hawaiian foods would be difficult to pass up. Seek advice from your surgeon.  He may decide to postpone your surgery until you return from Hawaii.

Hi, I actually did travel rather soon after surgery.  I had surgery on Dec. 6 and I flew from PDX to atlanta and was there for 12 days.  I was staying with family and such and did great.  I felt great as well.   The doctor wasn't too worried at all and I am sure there are bariatric dr.s in Hawaii but that is something I would check out in advance just in case.  The food will be difficult.  I took my protien powder with me and just made sure the eat the "right" foods while I was there.  I did not try anything new unless I was "home" while gone just in case I had a bad reaction to that food (which I never did).  My situation/surgery went perfectly.  I had no issues whatsoever so that is one reason I think things went so well.  Unfortunately not all are as luck as I was so it is really hard to make that decision.  Your doctor can't even tell you at this point  what kind of complications you will have.  Good luck and I hope that you can enjoy that Hawaiian vacation! Tara

I was going to say that if you'll just be relaxing on a beach or maybe driving around the islands, you'd be fine.  I wouldn't worry about gaining weight on that vacation.  You are not going to be able to eat a whole lot.  Check and see what you surgeon has to say. Linda

I happen to disagree with Vicki.  I don't even really think I had a recovery time.  I came home the next morning after surgery (almost got to come home the day of!  The doc ok'd it, but my mom threw a fit, so I stayed overnight. hehe)  For the next few days I felt like I had done tons of sit ups, but that was the only soreness I felt, and even that wasn't bad at all.  I still have most of my pain medicine too because I didn't need it!  And I wasn't on a restricted diet for 6-8 weeks.  I was on stage 1 diet the day of surgery, only clear liquids, the second day in the hospital they gave me yogurt and applesauce and jello to try (but trust me, you're NOT hungry!), and then I was on mushy foods for only 2 weeks.  Cottage cheese, scrambled eggs (if you can tolerate them, it's still hit and miss for me with eggs), yogurt, mashed potatoes, stuff like that.  Then at my 2 week check-up, I was cleared to eat whatever I was comfortable with and would agree with my pouch.  At my 2 week appointment, my surgeon told me to go home and make shrimp for dinner that night!  And...I DID!    Each surgeon is different in what they require before and after surgery.  Mine was pretty laid back.  I was never on a full liquid diet before surgery, didn't have to have any tests except some blood work (no gi tests or anything), I didn't have to drink that stuff that lots of people have to before surgery to "clean them out", and I'm so glad!  I could even eat up until 8pm the night before surgery.  So with all that being said (sorry I got long winded, lol) I think you're TOTALLY fine to travel, and it would be an awesome place to take it easy for a while.  Lucky you!  But, like I said, ever surgeon is different, so be sure to ask him/her what they think.

Hi Reynold, I also think you'd be just fine to travel.  I had the opportunity to fly out to NYC 2 weeks after my surgery (didn't wind up going) but did get my surgeon's blessing on going.  What he said made so much sense -- first, you are going to a big city no doubt and, like Tara said, there are probably bariatric surgeons there (just in case).  Two - it is no different than someone flying to Mexico to have surgery and then flying home afterwards.  People do it all the time.  I would try to book the flight so that you had a lay over between flights just so you could stretch and move around.  You definitely don't want to get blood clots.

As long as you stick with your surgeon's food plan, you'll be fine.  As others have said, you won't be hungry.  You'll have to remind yourself to eat.  Good luck to you!  Have a blast in Hawaii.  So sorry your brother's wedding got cancelled but good for you!!

Great news, Dr. Steven Tersigni emailed me (imagine that, the actual doc replied to my email vs a staff personnel) and told me to go a head with my Hawaii plans. Yeah!!!!!!! Reynold

Great! Go for it! You and your wife deserve it! Enjoy your trip!

No way would I delay surgery - and I would go for Hawaii.  There is always the possibility that you don't have the perfect recovery, but in that case I would think the airline could take a rain check with medical documentation.  Let's assume you will have the average if not perfect recovery!!  At the two week point I felt pretty darn good.  I could have handled sipping my water by a pool and gently walking down to the shore and easing down onto a beach chair just close enough to the water to get my legs wet.  Or napping in my clean hotel room and reading my book.  You can't spend the day snorkeling or hiking up to the volcano, but to relax in paradise is not a bad way to recoup.  Hawaii has got all the medical resources if something comes up.  Surgeons differ but I do remember clearly that it was at my three week post-op visit that Dr. Hong gave me clearance to pretty much try anything I wanted and didn't plan to see me for a couple of months after that visit.  That wasn't clearance to eat with reckless abandon, but he did mean go ahead and try all categories of food.  I always stuck with small portions, chewed well and didn't add a whole bunch of new things at once.  I also wasn't foolish with sugar and fat items.    There are foods notorious for trouble (soft bread, dry chicken, etc.)  I would save those for later on in your recovery.  It may seem like torture to be around "vacation" food when your eating is so restricted, but I honestly never felt denied or sorry during my recovery and re-entry into eating phase of life.  I went to lots of festive occasions.  I was so busy with my little world of "firsts" - whatever dabs of this or that I was eating felt like a banquet.  I feel like I learned that life goes on with and around you in those months you are losing all that weight, and it really isn't necessary to feel like your new way of living needs to be much of a big deal to those around you.  I was always able to get around situations without much ado.  Really waitresses don't care what you do or don't eat.  I often say "I know I'm going to need a to go container..could you bring it next  time you come by".  That way no one is looking at how much you ate before you put it away.  Or I sometimes say "this is so great..I just got full" if I am not taking it with me.  Sometimes on a trip I don't want a to go container like I would at home, but I just get it and throw it away later.  Sometimes that's easier to do that than feeling like explaining something.  It may seem a waste, but I figured it's a really temporary phase of life and it's better than when I just ate it all and got fat.  What I don't do is go into explanations about my surgery or ask for discounts or childrens portions or use a card for WLS.  I don't think businesses owe me that accommodation and I prefer to just use little strategies to blend in and let it go.  Obviously I think you should consider it?!?  Sorry about your brother - that's sad. Patty

Hi Reynold, I replied in your other post too...We are scheduled on the same day at BAH. I am originally from Hawaii and would jump at the chance to go. Imagine yourself under the Palm trees, beautiful sunny day, sitting at Lagoon 4 at the Ko'olina Resort (everyone welcome) sipping an energy drink.....mmmm   and don't forget...lots and lots of water. they even have a wonderful walkway through all of the lagoons and resort. It is awesome! I read that Dr. Tersigni okayed your trip....Have a wonderful time!!!!