Summer Plans

I'm hoping to have my surgery the end of July/beginning of Aug and am trying to make my summer vacation plans.  How soon after surgery were you able to handle a three day weekend at the beach?  For that matter, how soon after surgery were you allowed to swim.  I have a pool at home and I know there are water proof bandages.  Any help would be appreciated.

For me, I felt great and could have easily gone anywhere within 10 days.  HOWEVER, IMHO, I wouldn't have ventured too far away from home until I was at least on solids.  You could have trouble with diarehhea on the liquid diet (liquids in, liquids out...).

As far as swimming, you'll have to check with your surgeon.  Despite water proof bandages, I don't think you should be swimming until the incisions are completely healed.  Even in a chlorinated pool you will still run the risk of infection.

Good luck and good idea to do some planning ahead!

I would make my decision based on the swimming question and that should be posed to your doctor. My doctor said no bath, hot tub or pool for 2 weeks due to incisions.

I was tired the first four weeks but much better thereafter.  However, I have one incision that is slow healing (I'm still changing bandages and it's been six weeks since surgery).   My doctor was ok with baths and swimming after four weeks but added a couple of weeks to my orders due to the incision that has not completely closed.

My surgeon had a 6 week rule for swimming, or even the tub for that fact. No soaking in water. I couldn't even shower towards the water for the first 4 weeks. My only incision that had a bandage was my drain site but that was only for a couple days, all the others were sealed up with surgical glue and no bandages.