Traveling after Valve Replacement

[JHuck]

I will be going on my first vacation since my aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement surgery last November. My first question is will flying have any effect on this surgery. Next, should I avoid amusement park rides because of the mechanical valve or the fact that I'm on coumadin?? Just would like to know any limitations!
Thanks,
JHuck

 

[Ross]

Hi and welcome.

You won't have any problems flying and there really aren't any limitations on roller coasters, but anything that produces significant G forces on your body may be a problem. I think I'd avoid any ride that has a sign saying something like not for heart patients.

 

[Phyllis]

No problem flying- Dick flew 8 weeks after surgery and again at 10 weeks. There have been people on the forum who have flown home after surgery.

 

[catwoman]

Piece of cake on airline travel this long post-op.
I flew about 6 weeks post-op. No problem, since other than my carry-on show cat, someone else handled my luggage (I checked it, carried the cat in his special airline carrier). It was a problem 2-3 weeks later, due to a 3 or 4-hour flight delay for my evening flight.

Since my husband is not a fan of amusement parks, it's been years since we've been to one, so I don't have personal experience with rides post-op. I did dance like a fool at my niece's wedding, which was 4 months post-op. I remember thinking that night that I felt so wonderful and that it had been quite a long time since I had felt that good.
That was in October 2003 and I still had good days/bad days through February 2004, depending on whether I had worked a full day on a Friday, then traveled long-distance afterward to get to a cat show. I learned to pace myself.

 

[nia]

I flew for about 12 hours straight, two months after MVR (tissue valve). The airline required me to get an approval letter from my surgeon for administrative reasons, but the actual flying went fine. Advise from the surgeon was that I should drink plenty of water and walk around once in every hour or so since blood is easier to clot on the prosthetic valve.

I don't know much about amusement park rides...haven't been to one in about 13 years.

 

[palzsy1]

I will be going on my first vacation since my aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement surgery last November. My first question is will flying have any effect on this surgery. Next, should I avoid amusement park rides because of the mechanical valve or the fact that I'm on coumadin?? Just would like to know any limitations!
Thanks,
JHuck

I flew 3 weeks after my aorta valve replacement. Was exhausted meeting my connections but other wise went fine. Went due to the fact my sister was in her last weeks of life due to cancer. Was extremely had not being able to help with her care as much as I would have liked too. Don't know about the amusement rides. Have been afraid to try them myself. Just started feeling really really good. Didn't to mess it up. But I think I may be trying some this summer cause I do love my rides. It does take time which I didn't believe before the surgery or even after. Hard to think it effects the body for so long. Have fun on your vacation!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jan]

I went on holiday to Florida ( from the UK so it was a long flight ) 8 weeks after AVR and had no problems,

but I never visited any theme parks

Have a great vacation


Jan

 

[twinmaker]

My first OHS (valve repair) was done at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco back in 1974. My husband was in the army at the time stationed at Ft. Lewis, WA so the army flew us down to San Fran. for the surgery. I flew home two weeks after my surgery on an army plane that transported patients. They made me lay on a bed (sort of a cot) for the trip but all went well.