Flying After Surgery

[darrenpalmet]

All,

I just had retrosigmoid eight days ago.  I've done a search for this in the forum, and didn't see many threads.

Any advice on flying after surgery -- 'ideal' timing, potential issues, ways to mitigate them?  I was hoping to fly out exactly three weeks after surgery.

I would have a long flight from NY to LA (5+ hours), then another 16 hours to Sydney.  I'm fortunate in that it will be business class (thanks to wife's company), so I can fold down flat the whole time.  Ample time to rest, but I'm concerned about cabin pressure changes on the inner ear.  I still have swelling and a fair amount of fluid build-up in there.  I know this will get better in the coming 1-2 weeks, but am eager to get home.

I will wait to see what the surgeons say on my check-up next Monday, but I'm open to thoughts.

Darren

[CHD63]

Hi Darren .....

It sounds like you are doing well post-op.  Onwards and upwards!!

Re: flying post-op ..... I flew from CA to DC and on to WV 12 days post-translab four years ago with no problems other than extreme fatigue.  The fatigue was largely due to weather-related flight delays, making the journey five hours longer than scheduled.  I had no pressure changes, except in my "good" ear.

It is a good thing to upgrade to business class.  I would also highly recommend wheelchair assistance in the airports because standing and/or walking for a while after surgery can be very tiring ..... plus wheelchair people (and their caregiver/s) bypass the long security lines.

If you have fluid build-up (I did not), you may want to check with your surgeons before embarking on such a long trip.  It would not be good to get in trouble half way there.

Many thoughts and prayers .....

Clarice