Flying home after surgery

[Kristen125 18]

Can anyone tell about their experience traveling home from Mexico after having VS surgery. I will be flying and I have a three hour lay-over. Is there anything specific I need to be more comfortable?

[SerendipityHappens 1,594]

It's good that you have plenty of time for your layover... that way you're not rushing to get to your gate! As long as you're not rushing you shouldn't need a wheelchair.. I checked my bag and just had a few light things as a carry on. I purchased some yummy Vitamin Water zero at the airport and enjoyed those very much on the plane. I flew from San Diego to Boston and found traveling very easy. I didn't find it necessary to do pre-boarding or any of that stuff as by the time I was traveling home, I was already feeling quite well. I usually opt for a window seat, but for my trip home I made sure I had an aisle and I got up and walked every 45 minutes or so... also I wore my knee high compression stockings. I made sure I had lots of gas-x strips for the plane ride. I only needed a few, but some people have reported going through many of them so it's better to be prepared.

[gibson_girl 108]

I'm worried too. I fly home Friday into Pittsburgh with only a 40 minute layover in Baltimore.

[rdoactv 218]

I flew to Virginia from San Diego with only a 30 minute layover in Ft Worth. Very long flights to and from. Walk as much as possible while in Mx..I was all over the place. Stretch your legs/rotate ankles/flex calves on plane. Never had any any problems. Good luck!

[Ms.AntiBand 2,984]

It's important to avoid blood clots and to rid your body of any gas left so WALK WALK WALK. Forget the wheel chair .. Take this time to keep yourself moving.

[rollargirl 210]

I have a 12 hour flight LA to Auckland haha ... The drs are giving us blood thinning meds and I have cute pink compression socks. We've upgraded to premium economy so we have the room to get up and walk as offer as we want ... Now I'm worried about the gas - is it stomach gas or butt gas? Lol

[gibson_girl 108]

I'm not worried about the 40 minute layover anymore. I made it around a traffic circle in TJ and that makes NYC look like cake.

For me, I haven't eaten now for 11 days (high BMI, this is my 11th day on liquids, 5th post op) and I've farted only 3 times but burp almost anytime I sip or move around a lot. Silent though and minimal pain.

[rdoactv 218]

I'm not worried about the 40 minute layover anymore. I made it around a traffic circle in TJ and that makes NYC look like cake.

For me' date=' I haven't eaten now for 11 days (high BMI, this is my 11th day on liquids, 5th post op) and I've farted only 3 times but burp almost anytime I sip or move around a lot. Silent though and minimal pain.[/quote']

Lol...that's quite a feat huh? I finally figured out that if you start stepping out into the street, they WILL stop. That was an interesting traffic obstacle. They drive crazy.

[Kristen125 18]

Well, I think I'm prepared. It doesn't seem like many people have problems while traveling, so I'm not going to worry about it. I did buy some compression stockings for my flight home as a precaution. Can't hurt, right?

[gibson_girl 108]

On my last leg of my flight of Southwest I found out it was overbooked. I got a medical pass for boarding since I was post op so I didn't get bumped but I was terrified I wouldn't fit right.

I sat by the window and kinda tilted my body to snuggle with the window lol. My normal mother sat very comfortably in the middle seat. The only issue would have been if I would have needed to get up and walk around but it was BWI to PIT so only like 40 min.

I did need a seat belt extender on every leg but the stewardesses were so nice about it. There was a gentleman that I'm guessing weighed 100lb more than me and he didn't need one so its all it how you are built. It wasn't hard to travel at all though! The flight back was no worse than the flight there. I was not sore or slow.

[gibson_girl 108]

My normal size mother. Normal mother hahaha. I love her but.....

[Travelbug1955 23]

I have a 3 hour layover in Dallas, TX when I come back home on Tuesday. All of the posts here have given me piece of mind. Thank you!

[mrs.petethecat 62]

If you can bring a small pillow to put between you and the arm of the seat. Some people use it to put between the seat belt and your incisions. I flew from San Diego to Tampa with a plane change in Denver. There was a LONG walk to change gates. Make sure you allow plenty of time if you have gate changes.

Best wishes to you!

[ringo4 38]

Do they not provide the compression stockings? I should definitely buy a pair??

[gibson_girl 108]

Realistically, you should be wearing them on the trip out also. I forgot mine both ways. They do give you blood thinners up until a few days before you go home, and I just made sure to shake my legs and get up and go to the bathroom every 30 minutes. It is just as good. If you plan to sleep for 6 hours straight that is a different story.

In the hospital I didn't get stockings, the nurses wrapped my legs very tight before surgery and then that was removed and redone each day for showering until I was able to walk a lot. I was a slow walker but a very fast healer after I started walking. To those concerned about the trip home, it's not bad at all! I was terrified that I was only going to be in the hospital 2 days and only there 4 days before coming home. If they would have kept me in the hospital one extra day or in TJ one extra day I would have been crazy lol! It is the perfect amount of time..........they know what they are doing!