Hey ya'll, my big day is coming on Monday! I am flying to Las Vegas from Montana to do my surgery, a 2 hour direct flight, but I am concerned with when I will be able to come home. Right now I am scheduled to fly back 10 days after surgery, but I would like to make it sooner if possible. I know there are follow-up appointments and such, but I am doing all of that in Montana. The biggest challenge is getting from the Uber car to my airplane seat. I am not sure how long that walk through the airport will be, but how soon will it be doable do you think? I am getting the bypass by the way, which can be a more challenging recovery compared to the sleeve, from what I understand. Thanks so much!

Edited June 3, 20206 yr by cowgirlcullen

You will be fine, If you can not make it get in a chair outside by your uber car. Airports have wheelchairs and pushing staff all over the place. I think you will be fine to walk it but get there early and use the services if you need them.

Lay 20 on red for me

Yeah that's true, but I believe it's something I have to arrange ahead of time. Guess it's better to have it and not need it. Thanks for the encouraging words! There are only flights on Thursdays and Sundays, so I will do so either 3 days after surgery, 6 days, or 10 days. Not sure if 3 is doable, but perhaps 6 is.

Depends on how you heal, but 10 days after I was on the elliptical machine for like 10 - 30 mins a time, several times a day.

6 hours ago, cowgirlcullen said:

Hey ya'll, my big day is coming on Monday! I am flying to Las Vegas from Montana to do my surgery, a 2 hour direct flight, but I am concerned with when I will be able to come home. Right now I am scheduled to fly back 10 days after surgery, but I would like to make it sooner if possible. I know there are follow-up appointments and such, but I am doing all of that in Montana. The biggest challenge is getting from the Uber car to my airplane seat. I am not sure how long that walk through the airport will be, but how soon will it be doable do you think? I am getting the bypass by the way, which can be a more challenging recovery compared to the sleeve, from what I understand. Thanks so much!

Ur surgeon should tell you how many days in hospital

At 10 days out you will be fine to do all of that walking!! You would probably be fine 3 days after! The biggest part of bypass recovery for me was the fatigue. I wasn't in pain, could walk around, I just needed 2 naps a day! LOL!!

For peace of mind you could always book the wheelchair service, and then cancel it if you don't need it!

Edited June 3, 20206 yr by ChubRub

the recovery on bypass isn't any different than recovery on sleeve. You'll be fine. I was walking right away and driving at a week out. I could have easily gone back to work at that point if I wanted to, too.

It really depends on the person. But personally, I'd suggest 6 days out - that's when I flew. I probably could have done it at 4 or 5 days, but 3 days would have been tough. And the doctor was telling me how impressed he was that I was walking so much the day after surgery! Also, I usually don't check my bag, but this time I did.

Order a wheelchair just in case. At some airports, the gates are pretty far.

Thanks so much for all the advice! I don't know what I'd do without this forum. I think I'm gonna try and make it on day 3, hopefully I have some pain meds left. My surgery is at 7am on Monday and my flight is at 7pm on Thursday, so about 3.5 days. I think I will just opt to use the wheelchair at the big Vegas airport based on your suggestions. The airport at home is small though, but hopefully landing and turbulence won't be a problem.

Edited June 3, 20206 yr by cowgirlcullen

Vegas airport is huge - I've tracked it on my fitbit and it has been over a mile to get from shuttle to gate (depending of course on which gate you end up at). As others have said, I was walking fine at 10 days - but fine is relevant. Can you walk a mile now? If so, you'll probably be fine. If not, you can get a wheelchair (just call a couple of days before) or you can plan to stop and rest along the way. There is lots of seating.

2 hours ago, loridee11 said:

Vegas airport is huge - I've tracked it on my fitbit and it has been over a mile to get from shuttle to gate (depending of course on which gate you end up at). As others have said, I was walking fine at 10 days - but fine is relevant. Can you walk a mile now? If so, you'll probably be fine. If not, you can get a wheelchair (just call a couple of days before) or you can plan to stop and rest along the way. There is lots of seating.

Good to know, thank you! Last time we went to Vegas we drove, but I assumed it would be pretty big. I can walk a mile now just fine, but that is a good point to bring up. Well, I finally found a good place to stay using a site that traveling nurses use to find places, despite the hosts on Airbnb being of no use, so it won't be a problem for me to extend my stay a few days if I don't think I can manage it after 3.5 days. I did get the wheelchair requested though, so I'll just wait and see how I'm feeling. Just hate being away from my partner during this experience and want to get my big butt home lol.