Robotic Partial Question

Is there any way you could drive there and then fly back home? You could do a one-way car rental or have someone take you down there...  

I was in the same boat as you.  Live in OKC and had RPN at MD Anderson in Houston.  Driving to Houston takes anywhere from 6 1/2 hours to 10 hours depending on how you hit traffic.  I drove down for surgery but flew home.  My family helped with logistics of it all.  I spent two nights in the hospital, four nights in a hotel, and then on post-op day 7 I flew home by myself.  Short flight, 59 minutes from wheels up to landing.  If you do fly take advantage of any pre-boarding they do for people with "medical needs".  That way you get a good seat.  It's one of the only times I played the cancer card... 

Good luck to you.  You are getting treatment at a great organization!  

I had a robotic partial one year ago. I had a 1 hour car ride home 2 days after and it was fairly uncomfortable. Regardless of your travel method, make sure you have a pillow for “hugging“ your abdomen when you cough, laugh, hit rough roadways Etc... Wear a dress or very loose clothing. I couldn’t handle pants for any length of time until 3 weeks or so after surgery. Remember to keep pain meds available and stay ahead of the pain. Good Luck to you!! I go for my 1 year scans on the 25th. 

I had a radical, open neph in March. Rough surgery, 17" cuts. In 7 days, I did an 8 hour car trip home. We stopped every hour to get out and move at least a little. I survived!! I also took 10 mgs. oxycontin every 3 hours. Of course I did not drive. 

Logistics are easy enough to figure out, but the long haul is the hardest. One thing is vital: A travel pillow to place across your stomach then place the seatbelt over top of that! Made life a lot easier. 

I am 64 years old. If you have someone to do the driving, you ought to be just fine. 

I found out fast that you just do what you have to do. When push comes to shove, we can do more than we think. I did not take any unnecessary risks and was very careful in everything.

The worst was getting in and out of bed. My husband had to lift my legs off the floor and swing them onto the bed, fast, and I'd holler every time it hurt so darned bad. I'd tell him, "Just do it!" He hated hurting me. Poor man. Sometimes I think all this was harder on him than on me.

I personally hate flying so I was thankful to take the car trip and get home. I was never so happy to be home. I was not sure I'd even BE home again at the time. If you want to, read my profile and you'll see why. Here I am, 6 months later.

Hang in there, I wish you all the best. I think you'll surprise yourself.

I think I would plan to stay a week at your daughters place.  Do you know when your postop appointment is?  I would go to that before coming all the way home.  

You could have a talk with your daughter that you just want to rest at her house and she should go to work.  You can just lay around, sleep, watch movies.  She doesnt need to be with you all day.  

It would sure be nice if a friend came to drive you all the way back home.  Many stops along the way.  Perhaps you know someone who would love to do this for you.  I dont think its asking too much.  

Sorry to hear of the surgery. It sounds like since just a partial that is good news! Truthfully, i would not buy plane tickets for the return home, you never know what can happen between now and then.  Sometimes they say partial but at times have had to do full removal, which is a longer period of rest. Hopefully that won't be your case but getting a plane ticket back sounds like a risk, alot of walking, waiting and standing. If you were my  mom i would let  you stay right in the middle of the living room until you were good and rested!   You should give yourself at least a week to 10 days before traveling. Maybe a nearby hotel?  Sending good vibes for a great successful operation and recovery and safe trips back and forth.

WhiteFeather said:

Thank you

I'm single and live alone so I will have to figure out how to swing my own legs into bed.  haha

A helpful tip on the gettin in and out of bed........my wife found that at least for her, it was easier and less painful to crawl in to bed on her hands and knees then roll into a comfy position rather than sitting on the edge then swinging her legs up into bed.