How long before I can fly long haul?

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Im due for THR late Sept/earlly Oct.  I should like  to go away somewhere warm for Christmas.  Does anyone know the recommended time before you can do a long flight please?

2

Hi

I had my op mid january and I fly to NZ mid July.

To be honest I think I'll only just be ready for a 24+ hour flight! The thought of sitting in the cramped conditions does not fill my heart with joy!!

BUT it depends on how well you recover. I'm taking a long time because my hip was sooo bad before it was done that my muscles had gone to waste and they're slow to build up again. i'M 65 BTW.

I would suggest you don't book anything until after the op, and quite a while after the op as well. many people on here have done really well for about 6/8 weeks then hit a wall. Your recovery is more important than a holiday.

Good luck

3

My surgeon told me 3 months post op for long haul.

Good luck

Paula

4

12 weeks or you wont get insurance and you MUST tell your travel insurer and wear flight socks!! Dont rush it as DVT is always a possibility ....

5

Thanks Martha, I appreciate your answer.  I have my eye on a cruise around Hawaii, flying from Heathrow to Los Angeles.  If we go we would upgrade on the flight so as to ensure we had good leg room.  I think maybe this is too close to my op.  Hey ho, there will be other years!

6

Thank youPaula, maybe  the op will be too near Christmas for me to attempt to fly to Los Angeles even if we upgraded on the flight.  I've just Googled this question and one surgeon said 6/8 weeks before flying long haul.  You seem to get different advice about all sorts of queries regarding THR.  I will just have to believe in fate, if we are meant to go we will go, if not there is always next year.  

7

Thank you, insurance is something I hadn't considered.  Hawaii will just have to wait for another year I guess.

8

i seem to remember reading that it was 4 months. You probably need to ask your surgeon that when you go in. 

9

Thanks Helen, the advice seems to vary from Hippy to Hippy as you may see.  I think I will just have to wait until I see my surgeon and if he says I may go then fine, if not I will just have to accept his decision and live with it.  Trouble is we have already cancelled a special Ruby anniversary holiday for October and I would like something nice to look forward to after my op. A new hip is not really my idea of a special anniversary pressie! I was thinking something small, red, sparkling set in gold!  My husband on the other hand looks relieved.

10

I had booked to go to Singapore for the GP, (economy class) had op Feb 15 and told 12 months so yet again different consultants, different advice, how cofusing for us patients!!! ;-(

11

3 months for long haul but also check with airline.

I'm 9 days post op and am going to Florida in October. Surgeon has confirmed it's fine

12

Royal college of surgeons , recovery tracker sugests 12weeks for long haul flights. But every one is different so ask your consultant. Good luck, Jay.

13

Hi Jennifer

Golly gosh, so much conflicting info!

I was told 6 weeks post op check, and if that went ~ OK anytime after that....taking normal airline DVT precautions.

someone wrote to check with your insurance company, probably best.

tho taking the advice here I DID check re my driving after 6 weeks and one day, with my car insurance co, and they couldn;t have been less interested....

Sooo, listen to your heart and bod!1

Mic

x

14

Hi jennifer louise --- I have been in the travel industry for over 40 years ( seen lot of changes >>wink and just returned from Los Angeles to Holland after 34 years ... one thing I want to tell you is that around Christmans time, (from November-December-January) it rains quite a lot in Hawaii - more than any other time of the year - days are short too (less daylight, less sun and possible lot of rain) - I hope I didn't upset you ... warm aloha 

15

Thank you sooooo much for your reply Renee.  I had almost made up my mind not to book this trip and your reply has confirmed that this would not be the trip for us this year.  My surgeon is very 'old school' and I can't see him advising me to take such a long flight, upgrade or no.  We are planning a tour of the U.S. National Parks in 2016 and I will just have to focus on getting back to full health and fitness for that.  Are you pre or post op and how are you doing?  Jx

16

Hello jennife louise,

glad you've come to a good decision.

isn't this an awesomeforum: fancy finding someone who has actually gone to Hawaii and can advise!

your surgeon you said is very old school ,and mine is 'anything (within reason) goe's!

but you've listened and made the best decision for you, and hopefully this forum has helped!

Mic

x

17

Thanks Mic, I will just have to be patient and see this through, all the ups and downs.  Worse things are happening to friends at the moment, some people we know have no future to look forward to as they are suffering terminal illness.  I think it is time to count my blessings..... But Hawaii for Christmas sounded wonderful.  Where do you live?  I am in Norfolk UK.

18

you are welcome .... how do you feel about the Caribbean ? shorter flight to Miami and weather is a bit more stable - 

I worked for one of the biggest American Tour Operators : customer service aka complaints department, for 8 years and with great pleasure ... well, this is not a travel forum - 

I am 13 weeks post-op tomorrow - what can I say? It definitely takes longer than I expected - (found out my other hip needs THR as well which is not really helping too much with recovery of this one) - if not for this forum, I don't know what I would have done .... whatever I  (we) am going through, others have/Had the same experiences and so, to me, it is all part of this interesting journey .... 

take care and enjoy this day - big hug

19

Hi again,

Well i worked in the Caribbean for UNICEF for 3 years, and yes tis hot in dec, but cos of Christmas holidays, airlines increase their fares mightily....

Just a little more info!

Mic

x

20

Hi Mic, thanks for your message.  We had thought of sailing from Soithampton to the Caribbbean but were advised not to.  We took a Christmas/New Year cruise out of Miami and I have two words "Never again". We waited nearly two hours for our luggage and as for the Immigration Officials they need some serious customer relations training in my opinion.  The place was heaving with people. We opted for LA as hopefully it wouldn't be so manic.  Having read all the comments I think this is a non starter.  But thanks to everyone for their thoughts and experiences.