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How Long Should I Wait To Fly Home After The Sleeve?

I'm flying about 2 hrs out of state to have the sleeve and I do not think I can bare being away from my kids for 6 days. They have me flying in on wed morning, surgery Thursday and then post op not until Monday. I am thinking of flying home on Saturday and doing post op with my pcp. Anyone suggestions, opinions, experiences with flying home less than 48hrs after.

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I would love to hear the answers on this as well. I'm going to be in a similar situation but sub your kids for my dog. I'd rather recuperate at home with my pup then in a hotel room

  • Author

Toughing it out the plane to home sounds so much better to me than a hotel room by myself too

Where are you flying to for surgery?

I've been reading a lot of people's posts after surgery. It seems like day 3 after surgery is when they start feeling a little better

  • Author

I am flying from Washington to Las Vegas. It's about a 2.5hr flight and then about an hr drive home from the airport. They want me to stay in town for 4 days after surgery, but I really don't think I will make it that long. I paid extra to have my flight home adjustable so I think ill just play it by ear after surgery and hope to come home with in a couple days. How far is your flight?

Although a few days should be fine.. One NEVER knows how recovery will turn out. I could have flown home the day after, but I stuck around for the leak test and .. Vacationed a bit like a tourist in the long lost sun. Some on the forum couldn't even pull up their own panties without assistance. Everyone is different.

  • Author

Thank you. It makes me feel better to know there is hope that I might be able to fly home sooner than the 4 days they are saying.

Guys, I work for an airline and I really hope you talk to your surgeons about this. The body expands during flight. It's potentially dangerous for you to fly early. Please be careful and check with your doctors.

I asked my surgeon this and he said his patients routinely fly home 2 days after surgery. Die to the increased risk of clotting after surgery, he said if it's over 2 hours, you should get up and walk around, but that it's perfectly safe.

I'm near Chicago so will be going to Oklahoma City and back. 2 hour flight. My doc said pre-op Monday, surgery Tuesday, in hospital for up to 2 nights, and then he will "release" me to fly over the phone barring no complications on Sunday. They do a leak test during surgery so as long as I'm feeling good, a physical exam is not necessary. If I need one, I would go on Monday

If you read on some of the Mexico forums, some of the people fly a couple days after surgery. Have you peeked in those yet?

My surgeon prohibited flying for 30 days due to the high risk of blood clots post surgery. I know surgeons have different rules, but please please folks get opinions from multiple professional sources in the medical field before flying after any surgery.

Oh I forgot to mention, my doctor will have me on blood thinners day of travel and walking every hour!

I was told no travel for two weeks due to the risk of blood clots. Then up and walking every hour. This was not up for debate by the surgeon.

Same with me, Slowtogo...since I can fly anywhere, really, I asked my surgeon how long I have to wait to fly. I'm planning a trip to see my family after surgery and wanted to make sure I waited the appropriate amount of time...was told two weeks.

  • Author

I'm going to have to talk to the surgeons office some more. They never told me flying was an issue when I said I wanted to fly home the next day. They are more conserved that if something else arises like my appendix bursts from the shock of surgery that no doctor in my home state will help me because I had weightloss surgery. The anxiety of being away from kids that long is killing me. I am terrified to be away from them. I am not sure why I cannot get over it and just suck it up. The surgery it's self does not have me worried just being gone and then having to fly home alone which I've never done either.

In 2012, long before I had made the decision to have surgery, I had pre-paid for a conference in Las Vegas that took place September 2013. I had surgery August 2013 and told my doctor about my planned trip [i live in Chicago]. He would not release me to fly or drive for exactly 30 days. Luckily 30 days was 2 days before my trip.

I had to take blood thinner shots for 4 weeks post-op and that led to the risk of bleeding.

Be careful and make sure you talk with all your doctors and even try to get a second opinion about flying after surgery.

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