Quote from: AbbyJ on January 10, 2011, 10:35:58 PM
A question for those that have been there... I was planning on driving with my partner to my SRS appointment, and then driving back after I was released. (Well, he'll actually be behind the wheel, fwiw.) But now I hear that a two or three day trip cross country may not be the best thing after SRS. We'd be going from San Mateo, CA to St Louis, MO on the way back.
Is a trip by care totally unbearable?Is there any reasonable length of time I could stay in San Mateo to make it more manageable? (As in stay an extra 3-4 days?) We were thinking of staying at an inn each night on the way back as I don't want to drive. Would this be sufficient chance to dilate? My main concern is that I absolutely hate flying.
With someone else driving, you possibly could do it. Staying an extra few days wouldn't hurt either. Much depends on how well you recover from surgery.
Realize, though, that you will be extremely debilitated and sore from the surgery. And you would be extremely uncomfortable for sitting for days in the car. If you could ride lying down in the back seat, that may take some pressure off.
Also, your dilation regimen indicates that you should dilate throughout the day. So while you would be able to dilate in the evenings when you stop and morning before you leave, you would be unable to do so during the ride. Though I have never dilated in a moving car, I can't expect it to be very comfortable. You might be able to pull into rest stops along the way and dilate in the car, but privacy is an issue.
I would discuss this with your doctor. Dr. Bowers, I assume? She may have additional considerations as well. Dilation is the single most important part of recovery. At the early stages of recovery depth is most important to maintain, since it can be the most easily lost, and most difficult to regain. And it is completely in your hands to maintain. So take her advice very seriously.
Delaying the schedule for a day or so for a flight is one thing, but an extended road trip with an erratic dilation schedule could make it difficult.
-Sandy
