How soon after surgery can you travel internationally?

[starfish108 15]

Hi all,

Has anyone traveled soon after surgery? My surgery is Feb11th, but there are some business travel dates for Singapore around March 4th. That's 3.5 weeks after. Is this too soon to travel? Any advice will help. Thx

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[Webchickadee 716]

I travelled to HAVE my surgery! Toronto to San Diego (then Tiujana) and home again 5 days later. No problems!

At your point in your recovery, your biggest challenge will be having the proper food and drinks for the flight and for the length of your trip! Make sure you stay on track with what's allowed by your surgeon's post-op diet.......being in a foreign country can seduce you into trying foods/drinks you don't have at home. Since you don't generally know what's in them, it's not a good idea for you to stray from your set post-op diet plan.

Make sure you stay hydrated (if travelling in areas where Water purity is not high, make sure you stick to bottled Water and no ice (they make the ice with non-bottled water!).

If you have to commit to the travel dates now, make sure you tell your employer about the possibility of your having a longer than expected recovery (just in case you run into any complications with your surgery), so they can have a back-up plan for someone else to take your place on the trips.

[Facing50 21]

I'm taking a month long trip 7 weeks after surgery. The only thing I made sure to do differently than other trips was to get the optional travel insurance. I just figured it would be easier to deal with if I had some kind of medical event than trying to coordinate with Kaiser.

Also I would be careful with the amount of weight you carry, ie; use a small rolling suitcase, maybe check it instead of carrying on (so you don't have to life it over your head.)

I might take some unflavored Protein powder just to make sure you can stir it into tea, coffee, etc, if you are running around an lot and having trouble timing everything right. Having to do 4 tiny meals separated by 30 minute breaks before and after drinking can be tough with a busy work day. I don't think food will be a problem - Singapore is so cosmopolitan, you should have no issues finding appropriate stuff to eat there.

[SoCalDixieGal 172]

I have my first business trip for the 5th week after surgery. I've rejected all the requests I've had for earlier travel.

As said above, watch the lifting of suitcases, carry-on, etc. You're still healing. Make sure your laptop case is a roller one and you won't be cleared to lift it into the overhead. I've seen a lot of posts from people who are doing great within days, then lots of others where people are dragging through week 5 and beyond. You're going to get the double whammy of a 10 - 12 hour time change (or whatever it is from where you live). That alone will exhaust you.

Yes, while a lot of folks travel for the surgery, business travel as we know is a different ball-game. It's not just the flight but working, meetings, dining out, etc. You actually have to perform when you land and be on your game. You will not yet be on solid food (likely) at 3.5 weeks out. I'll just be transitioning to soft food for my trip and plan on packing some food items and definitely checking luggage.

I'd be sure to have a Protein drink shaker bottle (I bought the smaller one and am carrying it in my laptop case) along with some individual packets of Protein shake mix which just uses Water - I'm using the Chike brand.

You will not be able to eat out for client/team dinners so check with your boss if that will cause a cultural issue. You will likely be hosted and that can sometimes be an issue - especially if you attend something with food and are not able to eat.

[lexi710 8]

I was at about 8 wks post op for my first business trip and pre op I traveled every week. Make sure you are cleared with your surgeon and discuss clot prevention for such a long flight.

Also, make sure you get enough down time. A two day trip for me wiped me out for another two days.

[Facing50 21]

Excellent points from dixiegal, I didn't even think about the cultural/social aspect of meals during business trips. During the days I did that I was always stuck in a conference room hoping not to get hit by flying invective from the higher-ups

[starfish108 15]

Yes I am going to be playing music...it's more a music tour than business. But I think I have to be very careful about foods and pre-plan. Surgeon said 4 weeks out is okay.

[SoCalDixieGal 172]

Sounds like it will be awesome. If you play an instrument watch out for how heavy the case may be to lift. Not sure if you'll have a 10 or 20 lb lifting limit, but it's amazing how quickly that adds up. I just bought a rather small super light weight suitcase that only weighs 4 lbs, my regular TravelPro is nearly 10!

[kellimcc 11]

I have been concerned over the same thing. I just accepted a new job and then found out the following day my surgery was scheduled and happening 13 days later so I was worried about what to tell my new employer regarding travel. I ended up pushing my start date out until Monday, Feb 11th because I was told I had madatory orientation at HQ my 1st 2 days on the job. I am in sales as well, so lots of air travel is expected of me in my role. So, I spoke to my surgeon at the final appointment I had a few days before my surgery which was 2 weeks ago yesterday, and he was OK with my plan to fly to NYC on the 11th, that gave me just about 3 full weeks post op. He just said to make sure I got up often to stretch, and to keep my feet active while sitting and highly recommended I buy myself a pair of compression socks. I got a pair the next day which you can buy at any medical supply store. I think the highest compression you can buy with out a perscription is 15/20. They will fit you for a pair when you go in. They keep the blood flowing in your legs to prevent clots, which I think we are all concidered at risk for up to 6 months post op. My trip is only a little over an hour flight so my surgeon was OK with it. He did tell me he would not have OK'd a trip that close to my surgery that was more than 4 hours so you may want to talk to your surgeon. Better to be safe than sorry.