Recovery Taking a Long Flight

TeeBizzle
TeeBizzle Member Posts: 17
in Kidney Cancer #1

Hi everyone. I was recently diagnosed with RCC. Had an open partial nephrectomy on Aug 15th. Have an upcoming flight to Japan from NYC stopover in China on OCT 12. 

First leg is 16 hours, then a quick layover, then 4 hours. Is this too much?

I'm relatively young (according to the drs) 38 and healthy, active. But still on a 3 month restriction of no lifting over 20 lbs. Don't worry I'm forcing my wife to carry my bags around.

I walk at least a mile daily But it's still pretty painful especially when sleeping and I'm wondering if 2 months later will be enough time.

Comments

  • Canadian Sandy
    Canadian Sandy Member Posts: 784 Member
    #2
    It would have been to much

    It would have been to much for me but everyone is different. I’m older so that has a lot to do with it. 

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #3
    Everyone is different

    TeeBizzile

     

    At age 59 I flew from Detoit to Seattle for a weekend 6 weeks post Neph. I couldn't have done it 2 weeks earlier. See how you feel about Octtober1 and make a decision then.

     

     

    icemantoo

  • TeeBizzle
    TeeBizzle Member Posts: 17
    edited September 2018 #4
    Thanks ill use the 1st as a

    Thanks ill use the 1st as a cut off date. I have my follow up this friday, so ill see what they say my limitations are as well.

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #5
    I couldn't have done it but

    I couldn't have done it but then you're a lot younger than me. What does you surgeon/doctor think about this trip?

    ETA: Saw your surgeon was Dr. Russo at MSK. So was mine. Go with whatever he thinks; he's amazing!

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #6
    TeeBizzle said:

    Thanks ill use the 1st as a

    Thanks ill use the 1st as a cut off date. I have my follow up this friday, so ill see what they say my limitations are as well.

    Its your decision

    I  just offered my 2 cents. You have to be comfortable with it. There is no right or wrong answer.

     

    icemantoo

  • a_oaklee
    a_oaklee Member Posts: 566 Member
    #7
    Whatever you decide I would

    Whatever you decide I would make sure that you move your legs at intervals.  Walk the aisle of the plane.  It's bad to be stationary for anyone, let alone a postop patient.  People get blood clots in their legs and can have a stroke.  So use a timer and wiggle around and walk.  

  • JoeyZ
    JoeyZ Member Posts: 210 Member
    #8
    Just what a_oaklee said, walk

    Just what a_oaklee said, walk around at least once an hour to prevent clots. Otherwise, I think you'll be just fine. Just my own opinion, with a little layman's knowledge tossed in for good measure. I couldn't have done it, but I'm also older and I had a radical, open neph and a very long recovery. 

    I say go for it IF you truly feel up to it. With doc approval, of course. Follow your gut instincts. They are usually right about everything, anyway! 

    Safe and fun travels to you!

  • TeeBizzle
    TeeBizzle Member Posts: 17
    edited September 2018 #9
    APny said:

    I couldn't have done it but

    I couldn't have done it but then you're a lot younger than me. What does you surgeon/doctor think about this trip?

    ETA: Saw your surgeon was Dr. Russo at MSK. So was mine. Go with whatever he thinks; he's amazing!

    Yeah he's great. Wait times

    Yeah he's great. Wait times are abysmal because he talks to patients for as long as they want.

  • TeeBizzle
    TeeBizzle Member Posts: 17
    edited September 2018 #10
    Thanks everyone. I normally

    Thanks everyone. I normally make sure i walk around, plus we stop in china so there's going to be no shortage of that on the plane and I won't look weird. I'm just worried about the length of trip we're debating doing a shorter trip somewhere else if we can find cheap last minute flights and going to Japan some time next year. Either that or drive to another state for a quick vacation.

  • JoeyZ
    JoeyZ Member Posts: 210 Member
    #11
    A week after my radical, open

    A week after my radical, open neph, we drove home to Boise, Idaho from OHSU in Portland, Oregon where I had the surgery. We did stop every hour, even for 5 minutes and it helped so much to get out and walk around a bit. Keep that blood flowing. That was an 8 hour drive. It was hard, as I had 17" of cuts and they had just removed some 130 staples and there were no outer stiches. I used a travel pillow to buffer between me and the seatbelt. 6 months later it's a ton better but I am still using that pillow! Not all the way healed yet. It has been slow going.

    All the best whatever you decide to do!

  • TeeBizzle
    TeeBizzle Member Posts: 17
    edited September 2018 #12
    Canceled trip

    Thanks for everyones input. I decided to cancel the trip to Japan and go somewhere closer and drive there. I could probably handle it with mild discomfort, but im not able to bike around or do any ninja stuff like I wanted. Plus we walk a lot and after 8 hours walking around will be exhausted. I feel like half assing Japan would be a waste of time and money. I can go full **** next year

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