Guest sdejong Posted May 12, 2008 Report Share Posted May 12, 2008 Hello, I am new to this forum and I was hoping to have a few questions answered..... My sister and I are set for surgery on July 1, 2008 (the start of my new life). Can anyone tell me how flying after surgery went. I will be flying to Washington state and it should take about 5 hours including the layover. Any good ideas would be very helpful. > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will T Posted May 12, 2008 Report Share Posted May 12, 2008 My flight home was a non-stop and took 4.5 hours. The most difficult part for me was having to go to the small restroom on the airplane in order to relieve some of the built-up gas. I also had to drink water or juice, no sodas.... and no snacks. That was tough. I wanted some of the pretzels but skipped them. If I had to make a recommendation, I would go and purchase small snacks before boarding the plane that are allowed. Dr. Gabrielle will tell you things you may eat the first days, and stock up on several of those. willT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sdejong Posted May 12, 2008 Report Share Posted May 12, 2008 Thanks... Just trying to cover all of my questions... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busymom34 Posted May 12, 2008 Report Share Posted May 12, 2008 Hello, I am new to this forum and I was hoping to have a few questions answered..... My sister and I are set for surgery on July 1, 2008 (the start of my new life). Can anyone tell me how flying after surgery went. I will be flying to Washington state and it should take about 5 hours including the layover. Any good ideas would be very helpful. > I was banded on 5/7/2008 and the trip home was probally the worse part. I dont think it was because of pain or anything I just think I was so ready to get home that it seemed like it took forever. The only problem is the room you have if you do not fly first class. It seemed really crowded flying continental airlines. Other than that I had no pain or gas problems. Just make sure you get your pain meds so if you need to you can take them before the flight and you will be able to rest on the flight. I would do it again in a minute!!!! Good luck You will have a really good time. =D> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calicat Posted May 12, 2008 Report Share Posted May 12, 2008 I live in WA state, and if you can - take the non-stop flights! They are less than 3 hours. Alaska Air offers them several times daily. I upgraded to first class on the way home - just in case I needed the restroom, or I was uncomfortable. I still was uncomfortable, but it was better than being scrunched in the coach seats. Will you make it? Of course, just depends on what you want to tolerate. You're recovering from surgery, so if you can swing it, treat yourself and upgrade. Jet Blue is also flying non-stops to San Diego now from Seattle. Hope that helps!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fat2nrml Posted May 12, 2008 Report Share Posted May 12, 2008 Hello, I am new to this forum and I was hoping to have a few questions answered..... My sister and I are set for surgery on July 1, 2008 (the start of my new life). Can anyone tell me how flying after surgery went. I will be flying to Washington state and it should take about 5 hours including the layover. Any good ideas would be very helpful. > Hello and welcome!! I flew from Pa. and I also had lay overs. [i flew out of a small local airport to Ohio then on to Cali] It was OK, I made sure I took Phazyme so the gas pain wouldn't be so bad. I have to say, lugging around my suitcase was the worst part. Pack light and have a suit case with wheels. I kept water with me at all times and sipped. I wasn't in alot of pain, just uncomfortable. The pain meds they gave me at the OCC made me sleepy so I only took them at night because they helped me sleep better. You can take tylenol or advil before the flight to help with discomfort. I brought a book with me and read to help pass the time. It was all worth it and I'd do it again in a minute!! Best wishes!! Darlene :-h Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mona-camille Posted May 12, 2008 Report Share Posted May 12, 2008 Stay an extra day at the hotel before flying home. I did and the flight was no problem and I came from PA. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barbflorida Posted May 12, 2008 Report Share Posted May 12, 2008 I flew from Florida, and had a stop (no change) in San Antonio. The flight was fine for me. I had surgery on Thursday and was back at my desk in Florida on Monday. I did a lot of walking on Friday in TJ and I think that was a big help because the only real discomfort I had was gas and walking helps with that. So I'm sure you'll be fine and just think, it's the beginning of your new life. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4mygirls Posted May 12, 2008 Report Share Posted May 12, 2008 I had my surgery a day early so I was able to have an extra day to heal before heading home to my girls. The flight was still pretty uncomfortable for me. The pain for me was high in my chest like I had a burp stuck. I had a hour and 1/2 or so plane ride to a Salt Lake and then about 4 hours back to Boise. I got an gourmet slushie and enjoyed that A LOT!! Good Luck with the flight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bek Posted May 24, 2008 Report Share Posted May 24, 2008 I had a long flight and honestly, the worst part was the air left in the stomach from the laproscopic....i just had to make sure i had something to drink constantly....slushy drinks at that point are fabulous! Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LENA23 Posted May 28, 2008 Report Share Posted May 28, 2008 HI....I FLEW HOME TO FLORIDA AND THE BEST TIP I CAN GIVE IS TAKE (2)GAS-X STIX BEFORE YOU BOARD IF GAS IS A PROBLEM FOR YOU THE DAYS BEFORE BECAUSE IT IS JUST TOO HARD TO WALK AROUND ON PLANE. I WENT WITH A FRIEND TO HAVE SURGERY THAT I MET IN ATLANTA AND COMING BACK FROM SAN DIEGO SHE SAID THE GAS PAIN IN HER SHOULDER AND CHEST WAS REALLY BAD WHILE WE WERE ON PLANE. I TOOK THE GAS-X BUT SHE THOUGHT SHE WOULD BE OK. I SLEPT AND LISTENED TO MY I-POD MOST OF THE WAY. GOOD LUCK!! LENA23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessi Posted May 29, 2008 Report Share Posted May 29, 2008 Someone mentioned early on about stocking up on snacks?? We are not supposed to eat any solid food for 21 days... but we sure can drink. I found drinking water really helped with the gas... Make sure you have plenty of water and get up occasionally to go to the restroom even if you don't have to go just to walk. This helps releve the gas pains. We had a 6 hour drive to Phoenix to pick up our son and then a 5 hour direct flight to DC. Trust me, WALKING helps. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my_friend_amber Posted May 29, 2008 Report Share Posted May 29, 2008 I'm with mona-camille - staying an extra day made such a difference for me. I was able to walk out almost all of the gas in my tummy and a lot of the soreness in the incision sites (specifically the port site.) I didn't take anything after I got out of the OCC - not phazyme for gas, not pain meds, nothing - and I think the reason is because I totally stuck to drinking only what we are allowed to and a lot of walking around while in Tijuana. Staying an extra day will cost $92 total (at the Lucerna anyway) and it was a $92 well-spent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittycat Posted May 29, 2008 Report Share Posted May 29, 2008 My flight home was a non-stop and took 4.5 hours. The most difficult part for me was having to go to the small restroom on the airplane in order to relieve some of the built-up gas. I also had to drink water or juice, no sodas.... and no snacks. That was tough. I wanted some of the pretzels but skipped them. If I had to make a recommendation, I would go and purchase small snacks before boarding the plane that are allowed. Dr. Gabrielle will tell you things you may eat the first days, and stock up on several of those. willT Question, snacks to eat for the first few days? Can you eat during the first few days? I will be on clear liquids only for 4 days post op???? Thanks Cathy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom12 Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 Question, snacks to eat for the first few days? Can you eat during the first few days? I will be on clear liquids only for 4 days post op????Thanks Cathy Dr. Ortiz patients are on liquids for 21 days. Today was my first day off. Clear liquids, then yogurt drinks, then protein drinks, then creamy soups (still liquid) until you reach 21 days. Only snacks are things like pop sicles that turn to liquid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dontondan Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 First I would tell you to try and get a non-stop flight if you can. I didn't have any problem on the plane with hunger, you can get water or juice on the plane, no need to stock up, you will be newly banded so shouldn't have any hunger, just keep hydrated on the flight and say "no thank you" to the pretzels or peanuts. If you are worried about being hungry just take a packet of boullion and ask for hot water. So simple. Save one of your pain meds for prior to boarding so that you won't have the discomfort and use Phazyme or Gas X in case of gas problems. Sit on an aisle seat and get up and walk if you need to then you won't have to crawl over people to get up. San Diego to Seattle is usually just a 2 hour flight....not long at all. Take a nap, read a good book, you will do fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YorkieMommy Posted June 8, 2008 Report Share Posted June 8, 2008 I flew from San Deigo to SeaTac the day after surgery. I took some liquid tylenol before boarding and then held the airplane pillow and blanket on my stomach during take off and landing. I also had some gas x strips while on the plane. I was a little uncomfortable, but excited to get home to my own bed. My husband picked me up from the airport and had a pillow so I could put it on my belly during any bumpy roads. Don't bring snacks. You can only have liquid and you'll pay a lot (I think mine was $3.65) for a juice after passing through security. Then I didn't even open my juice, I just had the flight attendent make a half water half apple juice drink when the drink cart was making the rounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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