Flight after surgery

Going through breast cancer treatment Surgery
1

Hello friends, I am flying to MD Anderson in Houston in a few days for a double mastectomy (without reconstruction) and I had a few questions about post operative recovery.

  • How long do you think I will need before I am able to to handle a 3 hour flight? Our surgeon said the next day, but that seems way too soon for me. I will be traveling with my son who can help me with my luggage.

  • How long were the drains in place? Would this be a complicated issue on the plane?

  • Is there anything I should bring with me to help with post op recovery? I will have to sleep upright after the surgery, right? I’m assuming I should bring garments that button/zip up instead of ones that I have to pull over my head, correct?

As far my medical background, I am 65 years old and have Parkinson’s but am generally healthy otherwise.

Pretty nervous about the whole experience, any thoughts would be sincerely appreciated.

2

okletsdothis I didn’t have a mastectomy but I did have one drain which I had for 4 days after, the length of time you will have drains in varies from person to person do please speak to your team again about this, you can always use the ask the nurse facility on here too or phone the number and speak with a nurse. Button front pyjamas and zip cardigans or zip fleece with pockets we’re comfortable post op. Take it one day at a time and bc now is here for you do please ask away, I’m sure others will pop on too with tips and help :two_hearts: :two_hearts: :sparkles: :sparkles: Shi xx

3

First off, I totally understand your nerves—it’s a lot to take in! When I flew after abdominal surgery, I found that taking a business class flights made a huge difference. The extra space and ability to recline were lifesavers, especially since I couldn’t sit upright for long stretches. If that’s an option for you, it might make the flight more comfortable. Regarding the drains, mine stayed in for about a week, and while I didn’t fly with them, I’d recommend keeping them secure with a drain pouch or something similar. Definitely stick to button-up or zip-up tops—they’re so much easier to manage.