Post-op flying and clothing question

[sbx]

I'm having surgery in just over three weeks and will be flying back & forth to Florida by myself. I'm wondering how much you guys were able to carry a week post surgery? Should I restrict the amount of stuff I bring to a minimum so I don't injure myself? Is it a bad idea to wear a backpack? And will I be able to put something in the overhead compartment if I'm not supposed to move my arms over my head? Sorry if these are stupid questions, but I've never flown or had surgery before.

Yet another question: How long after surgery until you were able to get a t-shirt over your head? I'm just trying to plan out if I have enough button up shirts to last.

Thanks.

[Chamillion]

Honestly I think having to carry any bag will be a bit difficult a week post op. Your range of motion is pretty limited at 1 week, and I think it'd be very easy to over-extend and stretch out the incisions. A backpack should be okay, especially if you can just keep it on the floor in front of you on the plane. If you need to bring something bigger than a backpack you should check your bag rather than carry it on, because you definitely won't want to reach up to the overhead compartment. Pulling a bag on wheels behind you just at the airport will be okay, check it and let them transport it for you the rest of the way.
Also I wore a t-shirt for the first time at 2 weeks post op.

[Kreuzfidel]

I wouldn't recommend a backpack if you're intending on wearing the straps over your shoulders. 

A small dufflebag or some kind of carry-on with a single shoulder strap would be okay (that's what I took).  I would try to ensure it's small enough to put underneath the seat in front of you vs. the overhead compartment.

I was wearing a t-shirt, like Chamillion, at about 2 weeks post-op.

[Bimmer Guy]

Ditto, to every suggestion/opinion Kreuzfidel gave:

1) No backpack, use a duffel.  If they make a small duffel on wheels that can fit under the seat, even better.  My laptop even felt heavy hanging off of my shoulder.  No way using the overhead.  As an aside, Garramone says lift nothing over 5 lbs the first week.  The fact that you will be in FL will help because you can pack light clothing.


2) I put a t-shirt on over my head as soon as the bandages came off 6 days later, but that was because I was too excited to wait to see what it would look like (my GF helped me).  You should definitely plan to wear only button downs for the first week or more.  Two weeks is a good bet.  Don't worry so much about having enough shirts.  I wore like the same two the whole time I was there (I was at NBR).  The whole time you are recovering you feel like ->-bleeped-<-, so you aren't going to worry putting on a clean shirt, everyday.  I just went to my local cheap clothing store and bought the cheapest, softest 3 short sleeve button down shirts I could find.  I knew I would be sleeping in them, possibly getting blood on them, etc.  Don't take a shirt you really care about.

[aleon515]

1. Yep agree with everybody here. I took a man purse. It was actually a bit more than I probably should have carried tbh. I was okay.  I have an iPad which I take everywhere instead of my laptop.
I think a duffle or smallish carry on with wheels.

2. I maybe wore a t-shirt 2-3 weeks after the bandages were removed. I would not take one unless you have help. All of a sudden I knew I could put it on. Of course if you have help there should be no problem with suitcases and so on. Take one suitcase and one carry-on between you and your partner or helper.

I agree re: taking very old very soft button down shirts. A little large helps as you have the bandages and drains to cover up. Somewhere at NBR are two gaudy shirts I left behind medium male size. It's true that it helps that you're in Florida. I took a somewhat lightweight hoodie which I appreciated because NBR was a little chilly. It's possible to spill a little blood,etc on yourself changing drains esp if you need to do this by yourself.


--Jay

Ditto, to every suggestion/opinion Kreuzfidel gave:

1) No backpack, use a duffel... The fact that you will be in FL will help because you can pack light clothing.


2) I put a t-shirt on over my head as soon as the bandages came off 6 days later, but that was because I was too excited to wait to see what it would look like (my GF helped me).  You should definitely plan to wear only button downs for the first week or more.  Don't take a shirt you really care about.

[sbx]

Thanks for the responses guys. I was mostly just concerned with how to travel with my laptop since I don't want to check it in luggage obviously. I'll probably just get a small case or bag for it and leave the backpack at home. And I probably do have enough shirts since I probably won't care about rewearing them while I'm recovering.

[Ayden]

I wore the same three when I was recovering. You won't be doing much to make yourself sweaty, so you won't have to worry about them being too dirty. I had a light hoodie I wore with a very loose tank top on the flight back home. (I could easily pull it over my hips instead of my head) but I did end up changing into my spare button up on the way.

When I flew, it was a big ordeal. I had a very small carry on sized suitcase that I checked on the way home and a very small shoulder bag. I ended up putting my laptop in my checked luggage since it was heavier than I thought. But I also had a kindle, a 3ds, medications, an extra shirt and a few snacks since I was making an international flight. I slept most of it so I didnt end up using any of it. I agree with everyone else though, you may want to have something you can easily carry in your hand and not on your shoulder. I actually think the right scar widened for me a bit due to traveling. Of course, I was going for a very long trip so it's possible that if it had only been a few hours it wouldn't have been as bad.

I would say go with a small case or shoulder bag for your carry on and make sure it'll fit under the seat. I could barely lift my arms to wash my hair comfortably for the first few weeks, let alone up to the over head bins on a plane.

I was wearing tshirts maybe.... The second or third week after surgery. I'm at around 5 weeks post op now. I stil have a hard time with tighter tshirts like my athletic shirts, but I can get most cotton ones on and off without help.

[SWNID]

my surgeon said backpacks are ok and that was what I carried.

[sbx]

I wore the same three when I was recovering. You won't be doing much to make yourself sweaty, so you won't have to worry about them being too dirty. I had a light hoodie I wore with a very loose tank top on the flight back home. (I could easily pull it over my hips instead of my head) but I did end up changing into my spare button up on the way.

I like the idea of pulling a tank top on like that. I'll have to see if any of mine are large enough to fit that way.

my surgeon said backpacks are ok and that was what I carried.

That didn't irritate your incisions at all?

[SWNID]

No, my backpack does not have a chest strap so nothing touched my chest.

[King Malachite]

I haven't had my top surgery yet, but I think it's a good idea to avoid wearing a backpack.  Is it possible to ask the person sitting near you on the plane or the flight attendant to put the carry on in the overhead compartment?  That could be an option.  I say pack as little as possible to avoid possibly over-exerting yourself.  Brett and Ayden make a good point about the shirts.  Personally, I'm not going to be changing into a new shirt every day.  I would think that's less taxing on you as well by not doing that.

[aleon515]

I don't know why you can't ask someone to help you. I usually need help since I'm so short. Nobody minds helping out.

--Jay

I haven't had my top surgery yet, but I think it's a good idea to avoid wearing a backpack.  Is it possible to ask the person sitting near you on the plane or the flight attendant to put the carry on in the overhead compartment?  That could be an option.  I say pack as little as possible to avoid possibly over-exerting yourself.  Brett and Ayden make a good point about the shirts.  Personally, I'm not going to be changing into a new shirt every day.  I would think that's less taxing on you as well by not doing that.

[harlee]

How much room is actually under the seat in front of you in a plane? I'm thinking about getting a bigger carry on bag just so I can take more food

[sbx]

How much room is actually under the seat in front of you in a plane? I'm thinking about getting a bigger carry on bag just so I can take more food

I'm flying Southwest and their underseat space is apparently either 19x19x9.5 inches or 19x14x8.5 depending on the seat, which is way bigger than I thought. I'm mostly just paranoid about my laptop getting broken, all of my other stuff will probably fit into a suitcase that I can check.

[CursedFireDean]

How much room is actually under the seat in front of you in a plane? I'm thinking about getting a bigger carry on bag just so I can take more food

From someone who has done a lot of flying on different planes, don't count on more than an average backpack's worth of space. You may get lucky and have extra room but you may also get the seat with the life jacket under it so it has a lot less room. I took a trip recently, flew in three different planes with a backpack, and in one I had to smush it under while another I had plenty of space. I wouldn't take more than a backpack if you want it under the seat.