Long Distance Commute Post Surgery

[Bina]

I went home by car on day 16.....every slight bump on the road felt like a stabbing, and I was in my Dad's Cadillac for the first hour, then another 45 minutes in my husband's Honda. For me, it was a nightmare.

 

[ponygirlmom]

I forgot to add that you should choose your driver carefully! You need someone whose first priority is your comfort and safety, not getting there fastest! Someone who brakes and shifts lanes a lot will give you an uncomfortable ride. You need someone who is content to leave lots of gradual braking space between you and other cars, even if it means staying stuck behind a "slow car."

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Dude, that's a long time.

Ok, will it be too much for me to handle being a passenger in a car from Tx to Mi?

Ask CHDDoug about his 2 day road trip from Texas to Tennessee.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

You could just stay in Michigan for the surgery, couldn't you? I don't know anything about Lansing hospitals, but there are good hospitals in Flint, Royal Oak, and Ann Arbor.

Why do you want to go to TEXAS?
Are you thinking Ross Procedure with Dr. Ryan?

If not, what's wrong with Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak?
One of our members claims they do more OHS than the Cleveland Clinic.

Or the University of Michigan Hospital,
even if it is ranked a little lower than Beaumont,
it's still a good hospital ... ask GIjanet and her daughter Katie!

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Yes, it makes a HUGE difference, not having a broken sternum! In fact, most people with open-heart surgery are still in the hospital six days after surgery.

MANY, if not MOST, Surgeons are sending OHS patients home after 4 Days if there are NO complications.

That was my experience almost a decade ago after my ByPass Surgery. BTW, my sternum was CUT, not broken.

 

[SHEEPDOG]

Smooth ride is a must

Smooth ride is a must

I only live 45 min from the hospital so flying never was an option. I am almost 3 weeks out now and CRINGE when my wife LOOKS like she MAY hit a bump in the road TOO hard. I would plan on staying in Texas for a week + after you are out of the hospital. I would ALSO MILK the hospital stay for as long as you can.
GOOD LUCK AARON












l

 

[Lisa in Katy]

First off, once you get to Texas, you won't want to go back to Michigan! At least that's what happened to my husband! You'll be so in love with our 100 degree heat!

I was feeling great when I got out of the hospital but I can't imagine that long of a trip in the week after discharge. Mainly because it was hard for me to remain comfortable for long periods of time. However, I spent a lot of time in the car starting a few weeks after my surgery because I was riding with my mom and her real estate agent to look at houses. I will admit that there were times that I was laying down in the backseat and wasn't embarrassed at all!

Lots of people that go to Houston or Cleveland for their surgeries fly home afterwards. Lots even make international flights. Contrary to what's already been said, the majority of these people get home with no incident. There are several on this site. I also know people who've been driven home afterwards. My uncle had his surgery in Houston and went home to Abilene about a week later. That is about an 8 hour drive, and they turned it into a 2 day trip. Our house in Katy to my husband's relatives in Spring Lake/Kalamazoo is about 18 hours. I'd say if you broke it up into about 4 days, with stops every hour to move around, you'd be okay, but the hotel bills would probably run you as much as a plane ticket, if you are trying to avoid costs. If you just hate to fly, I'd say drive, just do it the smart way. You don't need the stress of flying that many people experience. As someone else mentioned, even normal people on airplanes are subject to blood clots, but that's usually tied to long flights, and Houston to Michigan is only about 3 hours.

 

[Jeeb1]

Hi Aaron--I traveled from San Francisco home--about 3.5 hours six days after surgery. My husband drove and it was very hectic for both of us--so much traffic, stops/starts, nausea from the meds wearing off, the tenseness of the whole situation, stopping every hour to walk as per the surgeons directions, etc. It was a miserable time, but I couldn't avoid it because I needed to have the surgery in SF. One thing that I would recommend if you have to do it, is to have someone in another car driving too. My dad followed us back--then he could drive ahead and tell us about traffic, road conditions, etc. Also, if something went wrong, like our car broke down. we wouldn't be stranded.

Tiffany

 

[njean]

Hi Aaron,

All three of my OHS I've had done in Houston. I live in New Mexico so I've had to fly out of El Paso & back. After being released from the hospital, the doctors have always preferred that I stick around for another day or two if possible to see how I'm faring.

After the weakness that I have felt afterwards, driving would never have even occurred to me! Being on the plane & time spent at the airports changing planes, etc., has been grueling enough!!!

 

[pamela]

I had a 3 hour drive home after I was released from hospital. I made certain the surgeon and his resident knew that I expected to do so the day of my release and this caused them to plan to remove the leads at least one day before I planned to travel.

I also made the trip in the back of a minivan with the seat folded down in front of me and enough pillows to cushion a stunt man leaping from the 3rd storey of a building. I had a movie to watch on a portable player with my daughter when I felt up to it and we stopped each hour to allow me to pee (I was on lasix) and walk for a few minutes.

Keeping hydrated and comfortable were our two major concerns and we managed to do both. Granted the drive took 4 and 1/2 hours when it usually only takes 3 but it was an easy price to pay since I'm sure I could have stretched the required journey another 2 and 1/2 hours had it been neccessary.

With that in mind, I'm fairly comfortable saying, barring any unusual events pre-release, that you could travel around 300 (highway) miles a day. Start early, finish early, and relax as much as you can between legs.

 

[Lynlw]

IF you really want to go to Texas and don't want to fly, I would look into a train. People can and have flown, with planning ahead for wheel chairs ect. they work out with the hospital, usually the social worker is a big help. I never had heart surgery, but have taken care of Justin after quite a few and even a 45 min -hour ride can be uncomfortable, especially on a bumpy road, but I can't imagine days worth of travel in a car.
The good part of a train is you could even get a sleeper car and lay down pretty comfortably when you are tired, can stand up and stretch ect. and it is usually quicker than by car.
One thing about flying, especailly if you have to change flights, is I know of 1 person that had to change flights and ran into problems 1/2 way home and was admitted to the hospital over her layover WAY far away from family and her doctors. So this would also be a concern on a couple day car trip, what if you ran into a bump 1/2 way home and ended up in a hospital somewhere between Texas and Mi? IS there a major reason you want to go to Texas? IF you don't want to fly, I would seriously consider looking for the same things closer to home. Not to be rude, but IS Money an issue? if so there are angency that can help.

 

[sue943]

I was driven to my daughter's home eleven days after my surgery with a cushion between me and the seatbelt and it was very uncomfortable as it made the belt tight. It was very hot day and I was feeling increasingly ill and spent five hours in A&E that evening having had a 'funny turn' which turned out eventually to be the onset of digoxin toxicity. I then flew home four weeks after my surgery, about an hour. I was winched onto the plane then off the other end and then wheelchaired to a taxi to get me home.

 

[Lynlw]

I was driven to my daughter's home eleven days after my surgery with a cushion between me and the seatbelt and it was very uncomfortable as it made the belt tight. It was very hot day and I was feeling increasingly ill and spent five hours in A&E that evening having had a 'funny turn' which turned out eventually to be the onset of digoxin toxicity. I then flew home four weeks after my surgery, about an hour. I was winched onto the plane then off the other end and then wheelchaired to a taxi to get me home.

Sue how far was the ride to your daughters?

 

[Lisa in Katy]

What do you people have against Texas? I've read tons of posts where you guys tell people to go to Cleveland for their surgery, but someone mentions Texas, and you act like he wants to go to a third world country. People come from around the world to Houston for heart procedures. We have some fairly well known heart surgeons here - one died recently, and I think it made national news!!!

As for the train suggestion, I can share my experience. I once rode a train from San Francisco to LA, and then a few days later to Houston. I was in a sleeper car, which was very nice. However, walking from the sleeper car to the dining car would be very difficult for someone recovering from heart surgery, just with the normal motion, not to mention the occasional bumps and jolts. Depending on the state, the tracks aren't always smooth. We were on 3 different trains and the dining car was always at the opposite end from the sleeper cars! We had to walk through throngs of people who were in the regular seating, some of which would stand up in front of you without warning. This can be avoided by having room service, or bringing your own food, but it also turns an 18-20 hour drive into a 27-30 hour train trip.

 

[Lynlw]

What do you people have against Texas? I've read tons of posts where you guys tell people to go to Cleveland for their surgery, but someone mentions Texas, and you act like he wants to go to a third world country. People come from around the world to Houston for heart procedures. We have some fairly well known heart surgeons here - one died recently, and I think it made national news!!!

As for the train suggestion, I can share my experience. I once rode a train from San Francisco to LA, and then a few days later to Houston. I was in a sleeper car, which was very nice. However, walking from the sleeper car to the dining car would be very difficult for someone recovering from heart surgery, just with the normal motion, not to mention the occasional bumps and jolts. Depending on the state, the tracks aren't always smooth. We were on 3 different trains and the dining car was always at the opposite end from the sleeper cars! We had to walk through throngs of people who were in the regular seating, some of which would stand up in front of you without warning. This can be avoided by having room service, or bringing your own food, but it also turns an 18-20 hour drive into a 27-30 hour train trip.

I don't have anything against Texas and would make the same suggestion to anyone that wanted to go anywhere far, but did not want to fly.

 

[queenie]

Aaron, I am currently sitting in the Cleveland Clinic waiting for my AVR on Monday. I flew here last Sunday night one way. Can't imagine doing that on the flip side. After my first OHS 5 years ago I rode 4 hours home stopping once to get out use the restroom and walk around. I was still pretty drugged up so it wasn't horrible but, in no way comfortable. My brother-in-law will be picking me up this time in a diesel pusher motorhome. I will be switting in a recliner and using the restroom just steps away. The food situation will be a lot better also for my 10 1/2 hour ride home. Every bump in the road is uncomfortable so this is the best option for me. You need to expect it could take a few days to actually make it home from Texas as you have to stop every hour or so for 10 or 15 minutes of being up walking. It will be arduous but, after being here 6 days before the surgery already, I know I can't wait to get home asap! I support your decision to go the Texas, even though we are young, we still deserve the best care, Our conditions are not hangnails, it is serious business, and we have a lot of life to live, let's do everything we can to make that happen.

 

[Lisa in Katy]

You're right Lyn that the train is a great option to flying and sometimes cheaper and faster than driving (though not faster in this particular case). Unfortunately, not all states have maintained their tracks as well as others, particularly in parts of the country where train travel is not as popular, and it makes the ride more rough. I remember the porter telling us that the train had to slow down when it got into New Mexico because of this. It's still a great way to travel, but I wanted to point out that you might be confined to your room for part of the trip, so be prepared.

 

[Lynlw]

You're right Lyn that the train is a great option to flying and sometimes cheaper and faster than driving (though not faster in this particular case). Unfortunately, not all states have maintained their tracks as well as others, particularly in parts of the country where train travel is not as popular, and it makes the ride more rough. I remember the porter telling us that the train had to slow down when it got into New Mexico because of this. It's still a great way to travel, but I wanted to point out that you might be confined to your room for part of the trip, so be prepared.

The reason I even thought of a train, is I believe Janet and Katie take the train from texas to Mi. so figured there was a route in the general area that wasn't too bad

 

[witzkeyman]

don't make any decisions like that until after surgery. you'll be squeezing that pillow. lol

 

[Lynlw]

don't make any decisions like that until after surgery. you'll be squeezing that pillow. lol

Are you suggesting waiting until after surgery to figure out how to get home from the hospital?