OHS #2 - Feb 3rd/2010

[NikD]

Hi all, so my date is set. Feb 3rd will be OHS #2 and I will be undergoing valve-sparing aortic root replacement (David Procedure) and mitral valve repair. I'm doing well with everything and am very optimistic about how much better things will be when this is all said and done. I do have a question that I wanted to ask everyone: for those of you that have had surgery away from home, any tips for the trip home? What was your travel preference? I'm from Michigan and will be having my surgery at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. I was initially thinking that flying would be best, but I wanted to get other people's suggestions/thoughts. What was the flight back like? Did you have to make special arrangements with the airline company? The drive is about 8 1/2 hours, so I'm not to keen on that. Especially for the trip back home.

Thanks again for being here.

Nik

 

[Ross]

Wear the lightest possible clothing you can. Wear shoes that you can simply slip your feet into without having to bend over and tie the darn things. Of course, you'll have to dress according to climate, so if your winter like, an over sized sweat shirt and some thicker gym pants with drawstring waste would be good. Of course, nude is good too, but it might be a little chilly and distracting to passengers.

You could do the 8.5 hour drive, but it certainly wont' be any fun and you'll need to stop frequently and take a walk. Flying would be my choice if it's affordable.

 

[kfay]

I flew from the Mayo clinic in MN to NC. I think I flew home on day 9 post op. It will be a very tiring experience, but was very doable. When I was discharged from the hospital, they told me to use a wheelchair the entire time I was in the airport, which I did. We did call the airlines in advance and schedule the wheelchair, but you can wait and do that at the airport.

I would definintely choose flying over driving if I had the choice, but others felt more comfortable driving. Oh yeah, take a pain pill before you start your journey!

Best of luck to you.

Kim

 

[Duffey]

I put you on the calendar, Nik.

 

[Jkm7]

I also would opt for flying if possible. Just hope for no travel delays. Take as few things as possible to make luggage handling at a minimum for whoever is accompanying you. Be sure to keep your pain and other meds in a small carryon with you. Bring a small cough pillow with you to use on the airplane so you don't have to risk using one of their fillthy ones should you need to cough/sneeze. Think of what will make you comfortable and concentrate on ease for you and whoever is traveling with you. (I assume you are not going alone as you surely could not dream of driving yourself. Seeing as this is your second OHS, I recognize you know that. )

All best wishes.

 

[Lily]

Good points, all. I was thinking that it might depend on how much control you'd like to have of the situation.

There's not much control when you're a passenger on a commercial jet. It's a regular cattle chute. Germy too .

And, if you travel by car, someone else would be driving, as the previous comment mentioned? I was only about 2-3 hours away and my doctors wanted me to get out and walk around the car, I think every hour; but I didn't do it because I just wanted to get home (my husband drove). But I tried to move my legs and feet a lot for circulation. They also wanted me to protect my chest with a large pillow in case of an airbag deployment.

But you've done this before and probably know all of that. Best wishes.

 

[catwoman]

Nik:

I know that American Airlines has a place on its online reservations form for wheelchair request. I expect that others do too.
A friend who relies on wheelchairs at airports & I flew to Oregon and I did both ticket reservations, and it was very easy to find the wheelchair request online.

Not sure how to handle the return flight date. I would probably consult with the hospital -- perhaps it has a concierge desk that could advise you on how far out to request return flight. If it has to be changed, perhaps the concierge desk could handle that for you.

 

[NikD]

Thanks all. I definitely think I will end up taking a flight back. I'm not interested in that long of a drive, especially in post-op condition. Appreciate all the feedback and suggestions!

 

[Jkm7]

Just want to mention that I am one of those who found the second surgery much easier on me than my first. Hope you have an easy time with your second. I think it good for people having re-ops to know that sometimes the second is easier. (I had same hospital, same surgeon, some same support staff four years apart.)

 

[NikD]

Minor delay... just found out that surgery will take place on Feb 5th, not Feb 3rd. Small delay. I'll take 2 days over 2 weeks anytime.

 

[mainframe]

I'd like to say my 2nd surgery was easier than my first but that wasn't the case and I'm sure you won't share my experience.

The airliines should also allow you to pre-board prior to all the other passengers so mention that when you make your reservation or call the airline if you get your tickets through cheap tickets etc. It was kind of nice to be able to do this even though I didn't fly back for 2 months after my surgery.