The surgeons that are qualified to do this surgery are rare birds. One of the doctors I interviewed said it took 14 years, including medical school and all of the following requirements to be qualified to do this surgery. The doctors at House do AN and other ear surgeries every day. The Houston AN doctors you interviewed do AN and other ear surgeries every day. Dr Vrabec in Houston does ear surgeries every day. I am not trying to tell you what to do, but I am saying that you live next door to several qualified surgeons right in Houston.
You made the decision to travel halfway across the country for surgery...great doctors there...but the surgery is only part of the equation. Your recover is just as important as the surgery. Now you want to travel around California while you recover. Most recoveries are pretty straight forward, but some of them are difficult, some require followup surgeries, infections, etc.
No one, not even your doctor, can tell you what your recovery will be like. You cannot preplan your recovery. You have no idea if you will be able to travel alone.
Here is my suggestion. Unless you have been told otherwise by a physician, I would postpone the surgery, and give yourself some more time to consider your options. Lots of people are wait and watch patients, and unless your doctors say you need the surgery right away, it might be better for you to wait and get yourself a better plan. You can still go to House or you can stay in Houston...there is no rush to get this surgery done. You just have to a better plan than trying to guess if you can travel alone, or can I stay with relatives several hours away from LA, etc. Get another appointment with the MD Anderson surgeon and interview him again. Search this site for a list of questions to take with you. YOU NEED A BETTER PLAN.
This surgery is not at all like having triplets...congratulations by the way! I had my surgery 3 years ago, and I am still wonky 24/7. I cannot go up and down stairs without some help sometimes, even after therapy and 3 years of practice. Most people have better recoveries than I did, and I consider that I had a pretty darn good recovery, but it took a looooong time. Traveling around by yourself right after surgery is out of the question. Call House and see what they say. Call MD Anderson and see what they say. Neither one will turn you loose by yourself.
Some of my grandkids came to visit us over mothers day. I love them with all my heart. I love you in a different way, but you are one of us, and my concern for you and your family is important. I am willing to bet most posters here will give you advice similar to mine. YOU NEED A BETTER PLAN.
James
