Flying long haul three months after a full hysterectomy?

[Nikkicarole]

Having a full hysterectomy on September 1st and asked Consultant how soon after I can fly long haul. We plan to fly to South Africa end of November. Consultant confirmed after two months, flying not an issue as long as wear compression stockings and move around frequently. DH very excited and booking flights, safari and excursions as we speak. Does anyone have experience of travelling so soon after?

Are you having a robotic hysterectomy? Healing time is faster. I had one and trying to remember exact timescale. You might just be ok but if you could stretch it to December or Jan you might find it easier.

If you are flying UK to SA then it isn’t that long of a flight, more like “mid haul” I think you should be fine if no complications but make sure you update existing travel insurance or take out new policy as soon as you book it.

Have a great trip.

I think that’s a bit tight. They say that you should have six weeks off after a hysterectomy, and that’s for keyhole surgery. I do remember that I did recover quicker than expected, but ti wouldn’t have been up to a long haul flight or big holiday that soon.

what about travel insurance? Have you considered that? Or complications post op? Or not keyhole surgery which is a bigger op?

I would be more concerned about the bumpy safari roads to be honest. If all goes well then you should be healed mostly but could be a bit less fit etc. I would recommend wait to after the surgery to book to make sure there were no complications

IME if it’s Keyhole you should be fine, I was back to normal a week later , it’s two months?

Thanks all. Unfortunately flights are already booked… but obviously if I am struggling nearer the time, he will have to take someone else. It is due to be keyhole surgery but you never know do you?!

So laparoscopic full hysterectomy next Tuesday. Want to do a crib sheet for my husband so he knows what to expect. Any tips on what to include? Have warned him that may have to kick him out of our bedroom and king size bed with en suite for first few nights lol! But is there anything you wish you had spoken about pre op?

12 hours is not a “mid haul” flight. Anything above 8 hours is generally considered long haul.

Agree looks like we're heading for another "well I fly Ultra Longhaul" argument for no reason.

UK to somewhere like the eastern Med would be midhaul, anything beyond that is Longhaul...I wouldn't like to put a time criteria on it.

UK to SA generally needs augmented flightcrew so that's defo Longhaul as far as the industry goes.

The difference between Longhaul/UltraLonghaul is really only relevant to crew

Get heating pads for your shoulders, theyexpand your insides with gas so they can see what they are doing and it seeps out of your shoulders over the post op days..and makes them ach

Get a load of pillows so you can prop yourself up to sleep as it might be more comfortable that way

Expect to be told you cant lift anything heavier than a half full kettle for 2 weeks and maybe 4 post op. This means you arent doing any clothes washing, cooking (more than a piece of toast) changing sheets, hoovering, food shopping etc. it also makes opening. Tight containers difficult.

Get some big knickers that come up to your waist. They can be more comfortable over the wounds

Loose waisted clothing works best too

No driving for a while,

Get a big ish table set up at your bedside with a big sippy cup of water, chargers, tossues and medicines. I had a sippy cup woth a straw that was big enough to last all day, but i didnt have to pick it up to drink from it, I could just lean over a bit and slurp. Also get a rubbish bin and a pile of single serve snacks.

Great idea to kick DH out of your bed for a bit. You will likely need to roll about like a whale to change position rather than rotating on the spot like a normal person

Basically DH is going to have to run the house on his own for at least 2 weeks plus be on hand to make you meals and bring you stuff for the first few days

I prepped a load of meals and froze them. Made sure everything in the house was washed and back in drawers, Set up a cooking plan for the first 2 weeks and had online food deliveries timed to arrive that synched with the plan. But then I do all of the household stuff normally

I had DIEP which was no flying for 2 months and flew across the world alone just after that. There was no issues with flights - I did let flight company know and they were really good and gave me extra legroom seats for free Virgin gave me 3 extra legroom seats which was very kind of them, one was already generous. The only issue was lifting luggage but you can work round that especially as not alone.

Are you comfortable saying why you are having it? I’m asking because the reply differs then.

In any case, having flown long haul and gone on safaris, I think the problem might be the Jeep bumping up and down all the time
for hours on end rather than the flight itself.

No personal experience but my stepmum had a hysterectomy a month or two before flying out to the Philippines.

A friend took a flight this morning just over a week after surgery to remove a lobe of her lung - it should be fine 3 months out.

You'll probably be fine but it's a bit how long is a piece of string scenario.

All going well should be fine but I had just my ovaries out and it took 3 months to recover as I had a reaction to antibiotics plus an infection which took ages to clear.

I wouldn't put pressure on yourself ,you want to be fighting fit and really enjoy the holiday.

I had a tummy tuck & muscle repair and flew long haul at 7 weeks post op
i was still uncomfortable and swelled a lot during the flights, luckily it was a fly & flop holiday rather than being expected to do anything
i I wouldn’t have been up to safari jeep