How Bad is the Flight Home?

[FinallyLosingIt20 12]

For those of you who traveled for your surgery, I would love to know how bad the flight home is? I’m having surgery June 22nd in Vegas and flying home two days later. It’s about a 4 hour flight. I’m nervous about flying so soon, but I have no choice. I appreciate the info! TIA.

[Darktowerdream 314]

I’m sorry I can’t answer, but I am curious about response to this myself. I had my surgery last year. I’m venturing into getting skin removal surgery in June that entails a long flight from Florida to San Diego then crossing into Mexico. My flight is June 14th very early morning, my return on June 21 technically the 22. I’ll actually be going home with surgical drains. It’s a trusted hospital affiliated with BariatricPal. I haven’t thought about the flight itself until reading your post.

id suggest that on flight you get permission to be able to get up and walk about as needed so as not to have any discomfort or develop blood clots in your legs. Have a comfortable cushion with you. Particularly a small one to put over your stomach between your belly and the seatbelts. I’ve trouble flying as is with my own chronic medical conditions. I’d say you’d just make sure you have taken your pain medication, and something to relax you wouldn’t hurt either ie. Diazepam. So as your muscles won’t tense up too much during the flight. I think you should be ok. I would think if they needed to keep you longer in hospital for any reason that they would. Meaning they would not send you out unless you could handle the flight (I’d hope) it sucks using plane toilets but don’t get dehydrated!

best of luck to you on your journey

[Hop_Scotch 917]

I had my sleeve surgery on a Wednesday and flew home the Saturday. I had planned on staying longer after my surgery but due to possible plane cancellations (coronavirus) I flew home earlier.

Surgeon said I could fly home the Friday if I wanted, I definitely wasn't up to the Friday. Decided to see how I felt the the following day and I felt fine to fly. I travelled solo, so my issue was my suitcase, thankfully I had packed light and used proper manual handling technique to put my case on the belt at check in, and again when picking up the case at arrivals. That was more a drag off the belt and onto the floor. My flight was about 1hr 45minutes - all good there. I didn't need to get up and walk about due to gas pains or anything.

I think the biggest worry for you is (1) you don't know yet how you are going to feel after the surgery and if you will be feeling well enough to travel (2) lack of possible social distancing after surgery, not sure I would want the risk of catching covid19 (just after surgery or anytime for that matter) now that it has blown out...hopefully more reined in by then though. (There was only 19 people on my flight home due to massive cancellations back in March and I had no one around at all).

What surgery are you having? You may need more time following a bypass? Is your surgeon happy for you to fly four hours after surgery two days before ? Not able to stay an extra night at a hotel somewhere?

[MsMocie 478]

This is an question without an answer. It depends from person to person. I travelled for 12 hours day after surgery. The woman sharing room with me cried in pain the whole 2 days.

My coordinator told me that they have people, like me, that didn't have any pain other than some fatique, and then they had patients they need to wheel on the plane after a week in recovery at the hospital or local hotel.

It will almost likely be tiresome and you will drain energy.

[Suzi_the_Q 10]

Schedule a wheelchair for yourself for the flight home. They take you from the curb to your gate, handle your baggage and generally take good care of you.

[tracyleigh73 1]

I had VSG on Friday and flew home on Sunday. I felt fine so didn’t use wheelchair or ask to boarded early. I did check my carryon suitcase since I didn’t want to lift it. I was expecting pain or discomfort during flight but didn’t experience any. I do recommend wearing the compression socks. They are not fashionable but they helped. Hope that helps 😊

[Zoomzoom 29]

Hi - wonder if you are having it at the same place I did in Vegas. I had surgery on Monday, flew home on Wednesday. Mine was a short flight. But I felt fine, didn't even use the wheelchair option bc I wanted to walk as much as possible. You will want to be sure to wear the compression stockings you are given.

Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

[S@ssen@ch 633]

I had VSG on a Tuesday and flew home on a Thursday. I started out feeling fine, maybe a little sore, but fine.

I had a friend with me to handle the bags and we checked our bags. I walked wherever I needed, slowly but I walked. Being jostled on the plane and the change in air pressure were probably the most miserable things. I felt EVERY jolt the plane made and I felt increased pressure in my abdomen.

Would I do it again? Probably, but here's what I'd do differently:

1. I'd make sure I had pain medications. My doctor gave me a prescription, but I had no opportunity to fill it from the hospital to the airport. I think Tylenol would have helped, but I had NOTHING.
2. I'd have my own blanket for the plane. I was FREEZING and really just needed something to give me comfort on that plane ride.

Things I did and that I wouldn't change:

• Wear comfy, elastic-waist clothing. These were a godsend since my belly was tender. Also made bathroom breaks a breeze.
• Wear my compression socks. Not only were these comfy, but they provided me with the peace-of-mind about possibly developing a blood clot.
• Wear easy to slip on/off shoes. Good for TSA security check.
• Upgrade to 1st class. The seats are larger and I had more foot room, so I didn't feel cramped in the seat at all. Only downside (and I'm not sure it matters with the COVID restrictions), the flight attendant kept trying to give me drinks and food!

Edited May 14 by S@ssen@ch

[FinallyLosingIt20 12]

On 05/14/2020 at 15:42, Zoomzoom said:

Hi - wonder if you are having it at the same place I did in Vegas. I had surgery on Monday, flew home on Wednesday. Mine was a short flight. But I felt fine, didn't even use the wheelchair option bc I wanted to walk as much as possible. You will want to be sure to wear the compression stockings you are given.

Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

I think I am! Blossom - surgery on Monday and a flight home on Wednesday.

[FinallyLosingIt20 12]

On 05/14/2020 at 07:18, Suzi_the_Q said:

Schedule a wheelchair for yourself for the flight home. They take you from the curb to your gate, handle your baggage and generally take good care of you.

That’s a great idea!

[FinallyLosingIt20 12]

On 05/14/2020 at 16:21, S@ssen@ch said:

I had VSG on a Tuesday and flew home on a Thursday. I started out feeling fine, maybe a little sore, but fine.

I had a friend with me to handle the bags and we checked our bags. I walked wherever I needed, slowly but I walked. Being jostled on the plane and the change in air pressure were probably the most miserable things. I felt EVERY jolt the plane made and I felt increased pressure in my abdomen.

Would I do it again? Probably, but here's what I'd do differently:

1. 
   I'd make sure I had pain medications. My doctor gave me a prescription, but I had no opportunity to fill it from the hospital to the airport. I think Tylenol would have helped, but I had NOTHING.
   


2. 
   I'd have my own blanket for the plane. I was FREEZING and really just needed something to give me comfort on that plane ride.
   

Things I did and that I wouldn't change:

• 
  Wear comfy, elastic-waist clothing. These were a godsend since my belly was tender. Also made bathroom breaks a breeze.
  


• 
  Wear my compression socks. Not only were these comfy, but they provided me with the peace-of-mind about possibly developing a blood clot.
  


• 
  Wear easy to slip on/off shoes. Good for TSA security check.
  


• 
  Upgrade to 1st class. The seats are larger and I had more foot room, so I didn't feel cramped in the seat at all. Only downside (and I'm not sure it matters with the COVID restrictions), the flight attendant kept trying to give me drinks and food!
  

Thank you for all the information. I greatly appreciate it!

I’m worried about the compression socks being hot.

[Zoomzoom 29]

Yep, Blossom! I didn't mind the compression stockings, but it was December. You will have your pain meds, they provide with them at your first appointment. One thing I did was to be sure to take an anti nausea pill before the flight. They will give you those too. The Vitamin b iv they give you they day after really helps. Good luck - my experience there was so good and I'm so happy I did it. You can always reach out if you have questions.

[S@ssen@ch 633]

1 hour ago, FinallyLosingIt20 said:

I’m worried about the compression socks being hot.

I don't find compression socks hot. They're kind of like knee-high Spanks, so they're not thick like athletic socks. I have several pairs of compression socks designed for runners and nurses. I still wear them regularly because I work at a computer all day and if I don't get up and walk frequently enough my ankles swell.

[rjan 58]

I waited to fly home until 6 days after surgery specifically because I did not want to be dealing with this. It's hard to predict ahead of time how you will feel on which day because it varies so much among patients. I was definitely not ready to fly on day 2, when I checked out of the hospital. I'm glad I waited.

[Superman84 1,614]

Didn't fly but sat in a car for like 3 hours trip home was a little tender if going over bumps so I assume take off and landing might be a little sore for you