traveling home shortly after takedown

It's tough to say because everyone seems to vary with how they recover after takedown.

If your recovery is like mine was then you will be fine to travel 2 weeks after. My takedown was in the beginning of October and by Halloween I was out with my kids trick or treating not concerned about where a bathroom was. So hopefully your recovery will be quick and uneventful as well.

If your taking an opiate painkiller, you may find your frequency reduces rather quickly. Since coming off mine I've gone up in frequency. So it may not be that bad. I can't say I've traveled far and wouldn't dare it right now. But its necessary, just seek out the bathrooms nearby. You should be able to hold any one BM for a few minutes to an hour depending on your muscle control. Generally I can delay to about one hour if needed, just really uncomfortable.

I would also just add that its much easier to delay if you are sitting down. I think the extra weight from the seat pushing up helps keep that seal. find spots to sit and go before moving to a situation where you can't use the bathroom for a few minutes to a half hour.

I'm afraid it's a total craps shoot. Some people, like Marianne, are doing great at that point; some are still pretty uncomfortable and need to stick close to home; few develop minor complications, such as wound problems or a stubborn ilius, etc., and are barely or not yet out of the hospital by then. My son was in the latter catgory, which forced me to miss a 30th class reunion. As Jan always says, hope for the best, be prepared for the worst. If you're flying, I'd make sure you can cancel.

how do people travel from other cities states and countries like i read about. they can all afford to stay in hotels for a month. probably not even weeks...

A couple of things to keep in mind. You'll be just
starting out eating again following takedown surgery so
your diet and the amount of material in your system when
you get discharged will be pretty limited (liquid/semisolid diet).

As mentioned the narcotic pain killers will slow you down and
hopefully you'll find a "window" of time when your new pouch
is nice and quiet - for me it was morning till early afternoon.

If you can find out what your hospitals discharge policy is you
should be able to find out what time they try to schedule you for
release and plan your travel around that.

Be prepared for the worse even though it may not happen. Wear
something for leakage and maybe have one of those blue bed
protectors along with you to sit on.

i would love to leave right from the hospital. were so eager to get home...