traveling with a 10 mo old infant, 2 weeks out of surgery

ana · January 5, 2010

hi, my name is Ana, I'm going for my surgery in Romania(Jan 15 surgery date), I'm planning to stay for 3 weeks, in the first week i will have the blood work done and the surgery, last two weeks for recovery. I am taking my 11 months old-daugther with me and also my 70 year old aunt will travel with us to help me. MY QUESTION IS : will I be able to travel back to USA a 13 hour plane trip, with one stop in England included, 2 weeks out of surgery considering that I will have my daughter with me? (she will have her own seat)

Thank you!!!!!

i1Linda · January 5, 2010

At two weeks post-op, I could have made that trip. That's about the time I got my energy back and started feeling pretty good. You still might want to get up and walk around frequently.

ana · January 6, 2010

Thank you Linda!!!!

ana · January 7, 2010

Dear Linda, thank you for your help, to be honest with you i was a little bit scared that no one would answer my question, i could see that over 40 people sow my question but only one responded (you)- so thank you again, it really helps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ana · January 7, 2010

At two weeks post-op, I could have made that trip. That's about the time I got my energy back and started feeling pretty good. You still might want to get up and walk around frequently.

Dear Linda, thank you for your help, to be honest with you i was a little bit scared that no one would answer my question, i could see that over 40 people sow my question but only one responded (you)- so thank you again, it really helps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i1Linda · January 7, 2010

Hi Ana -

No problem. I have two young children too, so I can relate. You may still be pretty tired from the trip (I would be anyway), but I remember the 14 day post-op day very vividly. It was like someone flipped a light switch and I had energy again. Good luck on your journey.

bigtex52 · January 7, 2010

Ana, one thing to watch out for and you might ask your surgeon about, for the first 2 weeks, I was restricted to not lifting anything over 10 pounds to avoid developing an incisional hernia. YMMV, so be sure to ask the doctor. Good luck, it will be a great thing once you get it done!

3636millie · January 7, 2010

Ana, you should be o.k. to travel if you plan ahead, which sounds like what you have done. Some suggestions: You might want to call the airlines you will be travelling with and make arrangements for a wheelchair/attendant to meet you at the plane. You can ride in the wheelchair and hold your daughter. Your aunt can hopefully carry the seat you are taking for your daughter. You can also see if they can provide you with your diet you will be on at that time.

Please be sure to walk while you are in the air as much as possible. When not walking remember to do your leg exercises as much as you can (remind your aunt too!).

You will be tired but it will be possible. At 2 weeks post-op, I made several trips to San Diego and back which was 7 hours each time I went. It wasn't bad at all. Just be sure to pack some Protein in your carry on so you can keep your strength up.

Something else to keep in mind: If your flight isn't full, as soon as you take off and can stand up, take a look around and see if there is an empty row of seats anywhere (usually towards the back of the plane). Go there immediately before all the other passengers who are frequent travellers beat you to it and claim the whole row for yourself by putting up the arm rests and laying down. That way you can try and sleep as much as you can. You can also inform the ticket agent at the gate of your recent surgery and ask if there are any available seats next to empty ones that they can assign you to so you have a better chance of getting to lay down.

Best wishes on getting your sleeve. You will love it.

3636millie · January 7, 2010

Ana, I forgot. You mentioned you will be passing through England. If you are, did you pay full fair for your ticket? Sometimes, if you pay full fair, you can take 1 stop (like the one in England) and stay overnight in one of the hotels close to the airport and then continue your flight the next day. You would have to pay for the hotel yourself. If you haven't bought your air line ticket yet this may be a possiblity but ,if you have the tickets all ready, you would probably have to pay a change fee. Just an idea so that maybe you and your aunt could have a break in such a long trip.

ana · January 8, 2010

Ana, I forgot. You mentioned you will be passing through England. If you are, did you pay full fair for your ticket? Sometimes, if you pay full fair, you can take 1 stop (like the one in England) and stay overnight in one of the hotels close to the airport and then continue your flight the next day. You would have to pay for the hotel yourself. If you haven't bought your air line ticket yet this may be a possiblity but ,if you have the tickets all ready, you would probably have to pay a change fee. Just an idea so that maybe you and your aunt could have a break in such a long trip.

I already bought my ticket but i will definitely look for the empty seats and ask for a wheel chair. Thank you! so.... so.... much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ana · January 8, 2010

Ana, one thing to watch out for and you might ask your surgeon about, for the first 2 weeks, I was restricted to not lifting anything over 10 pounds to avoid developing an incisional hernia. YMMV, so be sure to ask the doctor. Good luck, it will be a great thing once you get it done!

that's what i'm afraid of too, lifting the baby will be my aunt's job. Thank you!!!!!!