Flying Home?

[towerman]

Hi

My surgery is kind of set and I'll be flying in and out of Cleveland. Does anyone have any experience flying after surgery?

I expect it will be 7 or 8 days after the actual surgery, if all goes well. Will I need a wheel chair or assistance? I'm in pretty good shape right now. I just don't know what to expect.

Thanks and regards

Bill K.

 

[kfay]

I flew home on day 9. On my dismissal talk, they told me to use a wheelchair every step of the way through the airport, which I did. Even though you may be in great shape now, you will feel very weak. Use the chair, it will also get you through security much faster.

Good luck to you.

Kim

 

[Ross]

Just make phone calls ahead of departure so that they can accommodate you and all will be well.

 

[Jkm7]

Definitely have a wheelchair ordered. Even though you may think you are up to walking, you will fade very fast. You will need your energy for the trip and don't use it up walking when you can be pushed. You will find in the early days of recovering, when you are tired, there is no well of reserve to pull from.

Many VR's have flown home right from the hospital have done fine and you will, too, or your doctors will not permit you to travel until you are up to it.

 

[ruthienc1]

I flew from Boston to Raleigh on Day 10 and was very glad for a wheelchair! The plane would have required me to climb that little wobbly stairway, so they lifted me, wheelchair and all, on the food elevator and I walked right on. I felt pretty conspicuous but was glad for the help nonetheless. Our daughter met us in Raleigh and the drive home 1 1/2 hrs was a non-event. People working for Delta were unbelievably kind My husband just reminded me that we needed to rent portable oxygen after leaving the hospital and for the trip, too- which the hospital set up- and we later mailed back. It sounds complicated, but wasn't.

 

[hatcoleman]

I flew back from mayo clinic, rochester mn to jackson mississippi. I would reccomend you request a wheelchair when you purchase tickets. Sure helped with terminal changes in the large airports. And i had a choice of airlines, i chose southwest because they have all full size planes. None of the small regional planes. The larger planes are much easier on you. I had no problems flying.

 

[Tbone]

There was a news artical in Readers Digest concerning air travel after surgery. I hope ross copies it & posts it for everyone to see.

 

[Ross]

There was a news artical in Readers Digest concerning air travel after surgery. I hope ross copies it & posts it for everyone to see.

This the one?

http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/surgery-and-thrombosis-healthy-air-travel/article136367.html

 

[Tbone]

This the one?

http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/surgery-and-thrombosis-healthy-air-travel/article136367.html

You got it! I just thought it would be good information for those that have to travel. By the way it goes for long rides in cars also.

You k now what they say "The more you know"

 

[Lionheart]

Bill,
Get a wheel chair for navigating Cleveland's airport, because some of the gates are a very-long walk. Still, you may not need the chair for everything so you might try walking short distances like from the shuttle bus to the check-in counter, and then request the chair at the counter, but it will probably help them plan if you request it earlier. On the plane get up and stretch your legs to prevent clots.

Trust me, that travel day and the day you are released from the hospital will wear you out. Also buy bottled water for the trip after you enter the gates and stay hydrated and maybe bring a snack or two for the flight.

Finally getting home after all that travel will be sweet relief.
Take care,
John

 

[skeptic49]

This the one?

http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/surgery-and-thrombosis-healthy-air-travel/article136367.html

Thanks for that - good info I didn't realize.

Jim

 

[Ross]

Bill,
Get a wheel chair for navigating Cleveland's airport, because some of the gates are a very-long walk. Still, you may not need the chair for everything so you might try walking short distances like from the shuttle bus to the check-in counter, and then request the chair at the counter, but it will probably help them plan if you request it earlier. On the plane get up and stretch your legs to prevent clots.

Trust me, that travel day and the day you are released from the hospital will wear you out. Also buy bottled water for the trip after you enter the gates and stay hydrated and maybe bring a snack or two for the flight.

Finally getting home after all that travel will be sweet relief.
Take care,
John

At Cleveland Hopkins Airport, plan on delays!!!! I can't stress enough how important it will be to take things such as above mentioned items and lots of them.

 

[hall]

I would use a wheelchair for sure. I would not want to walk the Cleveland Airport. I agree, call ahead. I am sure they will be more than accomodating.

 

[towerman]

Thank you all so much. I can't tell you how helpful this has been. Now all I have to do is get the scary stuff out of the way and get to the airport.

Thanks and Regards Bill K.

 

[Ross]

towerman you of all people should know that Oberlin Center near Cleveland is the busiest ARTCC that there is in this nation. They pretty much call the shots all across the country. Cleveland Hopkins does get bogged at times due to flight delays in other areas of the country.

Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZOB) is located at 326 East Lorain Street, Oberlin, Ohio, United States, near the city of Cleveland. The Cleveland ARTCC is the busiest of the 22 Air Route Traffic Control Centers in the United States and the busiest such facility in the world.[1]

The Cleveland ARTCC is one of the most transitioned air traffic control centers in the country, and oversees the airspace over portions of Maryland, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, as well as the southernmost portion of Ontario, Canada.



http://web.mac.com/melissaott/natcazob/Welcome.html

 

[towerman]

Very familar with ZOB and CLE. Hopefully the rain will be else where when I'm returning home. Other than that the delay record to south florida is pretty good this time of year.

I'll still get a wheelchair and assistance when I can

thanks

 

[Ross]

Very familar with ZOB and CLE. Hopefully the rain will be else where when I'm returning home. Other than that the delay record to south florida is pretty good this time of year.

I'll still get a wheelchair and assistance when I can

thanks

You'll certainly welcome it. You won't believe how exhausted you get in just a short distance. It freaks a lot of people out until they realize just what they went through.