Air Travel After Surgery

[bini120 163]

Hi All,

I'm a long-time lurker (have learned loads from discussions here - thank you), first post.

My surgery is on 6/21 and I was wondering if any of you got on a plane soon after surgery. We are having our home refloored a week after my surgery and my husband and I are thinking of places we could go for a week to chill as I'll also be off work.

My surgeon says no air travel for 6 weeks after surgery, but since several folks on here have had theirs in Mexico I'm thinking you would have flown back home soon after surgery.

Are road trips any better, as long as we stop to stretch my legs every couple of hours?

Any insights would be appreciated. Thank you!

[scaredandexcited 5]

I flew from Czech Republic to uk 3 days after surgery

It was ok just got someone else to lift luggage

Was very tired when I got home but it was a 12 travel with driving to airport then waiting in airport then flying and then driving home

If you have hubby looking after you and you get blood thinners from doc all will ok I'm sure

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[KristenLe 5,979]

Hi All,

I'm a long-time lurker (have learned loads from discussions here - thank you), first post.

My surgery is on 6/21 and I was wondering if any of you got on a plane soon after surgery. We are having our home refloored a week after my surgery and my husband and I are thinking of places we could go for a week to chill as I'll also be off work.

My surgeon says no air travel for 6 weeks after surgery, but since several folks on here have had theirs in Mexico I'm thinking you would have flown back home soon after surgery.

Are road trips any better, as long as we stop to stretch my legs every couple of hours?

Any insights would be appreciated. Thank you!

The concern would be blood clots. If you travel - ask about blood thinners.

[bini120 163]

Thank you both for your advice!

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[leebick 448]

My doctors say no air travel until after the 6 week post-op visit. Before I had to reschedule my surgery (due to having a horrible chest cold- anesthesiology said NOPE!), we were planning a trip that would occur at 5 weeks post-op. My NP said her only concern was that IF I was to have issues, I'd be too far away to be seen by my doctors, obviously. She said that if it was earlier than 3 or 4 weeks post-op, they'd strongly recommend against air travel because of the blood clot issue, and of course, being far away. I wasn't worried, as we are flying on Southwest; I figured if I had to cancel my flight, at least I'd get my money back. Of course, this is no longer a concern as my surgery has been postponed until after we return from our trip, but those were the concerns my medical group has about travel.

[Kindle 8,667]

I had my surgery in Mexico and three days postop I flew 3 hours and then drove 1 hour. I was planning on driving all the way home, but the roads were pure ice and couldn't see through the snowstorm. I got a hotel room and drove the remaining 4 hours on day four when the weather was better.

My surgeon gave me thigh high compression stockings to wear on the plane and suggested getting up to walk at least every hour. I walked walked walked in the airport and just asked for help lifting my carryon bag onto the X-ray belt and into the overhead bin. I sipped Decaf herbal tea and muscle milk on the plane. And other than having to unpack my bag into my back seat before lifting it into my truck because it exceeding my lifting restrictions, I had no problems. In fact, I plowed my driveway when I got home.

I think the key is just wear compression hose and to get up and move as much as you can. There are thousands of people that have surgery in Mexico and fly within a few days postop and never have any problems. In fact, I belong to 3 different WLS forums and have never read a single post from a Mexico patient that had problems with clots and flying within days of surgery.