To go abroad on holiday (EU) 2 days after DH has major surgery?

I think it’s because most of us who have required any sort of hospital appointment or treatment have had to wait months and months and months, sometimes even years, for it and have sometimes had the frustration of having appointments changed or cancelled with very little notice. Little surprise that we tend to be ‘weird’ about the NHS and tend to grab onto opportunities to be seen with both hands. If I were waiting to have life-changing surgery like the OP’s DH is, I certainly wouldn’t be worrying about my two weeks in Madeira.

People are so weird on here about anything to do with the nhs. When people are having lots of surgery or regular treatment it is common to have to move appointments for important school/work stuff and holidays. I’ve had to do it before.

If they say he can’t fly straight after, then I’d ask to move the appointment. If he really wants to get it out of the way then you will have to cancel the holiday, but it would be a shame.

Did you miss that OPs DH is having a finger amputated (so more risk of infection) and that he willl have his arm in an elevated cast.

OP - from what you describe your DH must be in a lot of pain and will be desperate for his op. i would never ask someone to delay an operation for a holiday. And even if he is allowed to fly, it takes a good few days to recover form GA and he will be in a lot of pain, and without being too grim if they give him strong painkillers he will have to be dealing with constipation, drowsiness etc.
Really not ideal on holiday.
Is there anyone who can look after him (just to pop in a couple of times for the first few days and help with anything he needs) and you go away either on your own or see if a friend/ family member will come.
Its not practical for him to go, and he is perfectly reasonable to not cancel his op. (hopefully he won't get cancelled on the day of the op as sometimes happens)

you want to have the surgery AND not lose money on the holiday. The only option is to delay the surgery to after the holiday. I can’t imagine there would be any joy in going on holiday, by air, two days after a GA and an amputation. Wound will need checking, dressings changed, antibiotics administered, he’ll probably still feel a bit woozy. The worst option is to have the surgery and then go away.

I get he wants it dealt with asap, but this is just the way the NHS goes with dates and you can’t afford to lose the 2 grand. What else is there really.

I have clawed hands and have had around 6 tendon surgeries on various digits , including tying tendons together and other delights.

I think if you go it will be an awful holiday and he risks ruining the op so it just isn't worth it . I have been very fortunate with surgeons being happy to change dates of ops and sure he would have similar success.

I totally get why he wants the op ASAP so if does not hang over him but I think he will regret the holiday - try and get him to be patient and delay the hol as I can't tell you the pleasure of being able to hold a toothbrush after a wait for surgery and physio!

Elective just means booked rather than emergency. Doesn't mean it's private.

This is unfortunate. It's always the way hospital appointments come in same time as holiday.

As your insurance won't pay I'm assuming you'll loose a good amount of money.

Is your dh definite about not going on holiday 1st ? It would be lovely to have to a relaxing break before the operation, then you can both focus on his recovery, obviously depends on wait time.

The only thing is if you do travel after the operation you'll have to declare this, bumping up your insurance, most are up to 6 months but some insurance companies are longer.

I'd check the waiting time, then make a decision.

If it's elected surgery presumably you are private ... Just make it for when you come back

My sister had her Dupuytrens contracture operated on and then two days later went skiing, hers affected her thumb and first finger on her right hand, she's left handed and doesn't use ski poles so figured it'd be fine... and it was.

No one had any concerns about flying or infection management (abroad doesn't have more/worse germs than here unless you're going to some third world country with no sanitation)... they weren't overly chuffed with the skiing part of it, mostly concerns about her falling on it, but she just ignored that.

I think surgery that would improve his ability to perform self care trumps holiday - but also if he wants to go on holiday after surgery... thats fine! Unless he is planning on digging in the shite barehanded, I really don't see how being on holiday is any sort of increase in infection risk! I also don't see how this is more work for you, you have to help him now, whether you're at home or not.

I can’t believe your first thought was anything other than “oh no will have to get onto the travel insurance and cancel”

Delay the holiday, not the surgery. This isn’t even a question. Come on.

Yes. Pay to change your booking to another date.

This is what you need to find out asap. If he can have the surgery immediately on returning from holiday then go with that. Otherwise it’s difficult and you may need to postpone the holiday.

This is what you need to find out asap. If he can have the surgery immediately on returning from holiday then go with that. Otherwise it’s difficult and you may need to postpone the holiday.

If the hospital offer a chage of date shortly after your holiday, that would be ideal.
Otherwise, there is no way he can be fit to fly and travel on holiday following a joint amputation, it would be reckless and he will be in pain.

I doubt his consultatnt would be happy with that. Flying carries risk of DVT for a start. (I had to have surgery abroad and flew 3.5 weeks later and had to wear compression stickings etc. Surgeon cleared it but insisted on seeing me day before departure and I got warned about DVT synptoms to look out for). And also, what if he got an infection, or worse, sepsis, and you'are so far from home?

Your travel insurance probably won't cover anything related to the surgery. Even though it's Portugal so part of EU and with a Global Health Insurance Card for EU healthcare, tif he ended up in hospital or seriously unell, that won't cover extra costs of your having to stay longer or any special flights home.

Hopefully he'll see sense and delay surgery. Or you cancel the holiday.

^ This

Bonkers. It's a common enough operation and you could put it off a few weeks. My BIL had it done earlier this year. He'd been waiting for a while and was offered a date which would have been the week before a holiday. He said no and got it booked for 6 weeks later.
He would probably need his dressing changed and it may still be very painful after only two days.

Very unlikely that he’d be ok’d to fly that close and you’d be mad to risk infection etc.

My family have a history with dupreten’s, my grandad has the same surgery as your husband is having. It did help but it’s not an easy surgery. I would expect your husband to need to rest and will be in a lot of pain.