How long to wait after lobectomy for long haul flights?

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  • Post
    • November 15, 2016 at 9:37 am
    Jubes
    Participant

      Hi all

      i am seeing my doctor tomorrow to have sutures taken out and of course I will be guided by him, but just interested to hear if anyone has heard of any problems from someone flying after a keyhole lobectomy?

      I was planning to fly to New York for Xmas to see my grandsons (a 10 hour flight and a 14 hour flight we are stopping in Seoul overnight) but it is only 5 weeks after my operation to remove the lower left lobe

      the doctor called my family after the op and said it could not have gone better and wants to put it on YouTube to teach other surgeons the procedure. Apart from that I have virtually no pain. I was in icu 2 days after the op, then third day on the ward and got the drain out 4 th day home and since then just panadol. I taught the next day and went to a concert and gave a speech at my friends retirement. 

      So I think it went very well. It's just gat if there were the slightest risk of collapsed lung or other complication I would put off my travel plans as I am not insured for a pre existing condition and I know how expensive these things are over there!

      anne-Louise 

       

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • November 15, 2016 at 8:20 pm
        cancersnewnormal
        Participant

          Definitely best answered by your surgeon, but we have a small airplane and flew up to see our son, shortly after my chest tube was removed…… that was nearly 7 weeks post op, and the persistant air leak still managed to remain sealed for the trip. We went up to 8500 feet, and most commercial flights are cabin pressurized to 8000. Much shorter flight though… I was only airborne for about 2 hours there and 2 back. You sound pretty mobile and "back to normal". Should be ok. Surgeons typically have "heal time" clocks set. Hope you get to go and enjoy the Holidays!!!  : )

          • November 15, 2016 at 8:20 pm
          cancersnewnormal
          Participant

            Definitely best answered by your surgeon, but we have a small airplane and flew up to see our son, shortly after my chest tube was removed…… that was nearly 7 weeks post op, and the persistant air leak still managed to remain sealed for the trip. We went up to 8500 feet, and most commercial flights are cabin pressurized to 8000. Much shorter flight though… I was only airborne for about 2 hours there and 2 back. You sound pretty mobile and "back to normal". Should be ok. Surgeons typically have "heal time" clocks set. Hope you get to go and enjoy the Holidays!!!  : )

              • November 15, 2016 at 8:26 pm
              Jubes
              Participant

                Wow niki! You've done it all!! Thanks so much. I think my surgeon is a genius so I totally trust him. Not only does everyone become reverent in his presence as he is so softly spoken, but he is only 30, was the only person to get full scores! In his medical exams and has worked with the developer of the non invasive techniques in Edinburgh and the us. But it's so good to hear from this forum to back up any decisions I make!! I figure if he's putting my op on YouTube it must be a good one!!

                • November 15, 2016 at 8:26 pm
                Jubes
                Participant

                  Wow niki! You've done it all!! Thanks so much. I think my surgeon is a genius so I totally trust him. Not only does everyone become reverent in his presence as he is so softly spoken, but he is only 30, was the only person to get full scores! In his medical exams and has worked with the developer of the non invasive techniques in Edinburgh and the us. But it's so good to hear from this forum to back up any decisions I make!! I figure if he's putting my op on YouTube it must be a good one!!

                  • November 15, 2016 at 8:31 pm
                  cancersnewnormal
                  Participant

                    I asked my surgeon for video. He looked at me as if I were crazy. I know he records them to use as a teaching tool. Maybe it didn't go so well? ha! If you don't mind sharing the link on YouTube, there is a warped part of me that would love to see one! ha!

                    • November 15, 2016 at 8:31 pm
                    cancersnewnormal
                    Participant

                      I asked my surgeon for video. He looked at me as if I were crazy. I know he records them to use as a teaching tool. Maybe it didn't go so well? ha! If you don't mind sharing the link on YouTube, there is a warped part of me that would love to see one! ha!

                      • November 16, 2016 at 10:12 am
                      Jubes
                      Participant

                        I did the interview today and I think he still has to edit. He told me today that he tried a new technique to make the surgery less invasive. It took about 40 minutes longer than usual. I will post the link as soon as it's up

                        i am really so amazed that I have no pain!! I just have a 3 cm scar just under my right breast (completely healed already) and a bandaid over where the drain was in my back

                        anne-Louise 

                        • November 16, 2016 at 10:12 am
                        Jubes
                        Participant

                          I did the interview today and I think he still has to edit. He told me today that he tried a new technique to make the surgery less invasive. It took about 40 minutes longer than usual. I will post the link as soon as it's up

                          i am really so amazed that I have no pain!! I just have a 3 cm scar just under my right breast (completely healed already) and a bandaid over where the drain was in my back

                          anne-Louise 

                          • November 16, 2016 at 10:12 am
                          Jubes
                          Participant

                            I did the interview today and I think he still has to edit. He told me today that he tried a new technique to make the surgery less invasive. It took about 40 minutes longer than usual. I will post the link as soon as it's up

                            i am really so amazed that I have no pain!! I just have a 3 cm scar just under my right breast (completely healed already) and a bandaid over where the drain was in my back

                            anne-Louise 

                            • November 15, 2016 at 8:31 pm
                            cancersnewnormal
                            Participant

                              I asked my surgeon for video. He looked at me as if I were crazy. I know he records them to use as a teaching tool. Maybe it didn't go so well? ha! If you don't mind sharing the link on YouTube, there is a warped part of me that would love to see one! ha!

                              • November 15, 2016 at 8:26 pm
                              Jubes
                              Participant

                                Wow niki! You've done it all!! Thanks so much. I think my surgeon is a genius so I totally trust him. Not only does everyone become reverent in his presence as he is so softly spoken, but he is only 30, was the only person to get full scores! In his medical exams and has worked with the developer of the non invasive techniques in Edinburgh and the us. But it's so good to hear from this forum to back up any decisions I make!! I figure if he's putting my op on YouTube it must be a good one!!

                              • November 15, 2016 at 8:20 pm
                              cancersnewnormal
                              Participant

                                Definitely best answered by your surgeon, but we have a small airplane and flew up to see our son, shortly after my chest tube was removed…… that was nearly 7 weeks post op, and the persistant air leak still managed to remain sealed for the trip. We went up to 8500 feet, and most commercial flights are cabin pressurized to 8000. Much shorter flight though… I was only airborne for about 2 hours there and 2 back. You sound pretty mobile and "back to normal". Should be ok. Surgeons typically have "heal time" clocks set. Hope you get to go and enjoy the Holidays!!!  : )

                                • November 16, 2016 at 10:14 am
                                Jubes
                                Participant

                                  Also they have done the pathology and it was indeed a 1.5cm tumour with lots of scar tissue. Had not spread and no evidence of melanoma in the scar tissue of the nodes that he removed. I will post final pathology when I get it on December 1

                                  • November 16, 2016 at 10:14 am
                                  Jubes
                                  Participant

                                    Also they have done the pathology and it was indeed a 1.5cm tumour with lots of scar tissue. Had not spread and no evidence of melanoma in the scar tissue of the nodes that he removed. I will post final pathology when I get it on December 1

                                    • November 16, 2016 at 10:14 am
                                    Jubes
                                    Participant

                                      Also they have done the pathology and it was indeed a 1.5cm tumour with lots of scar tissue. Had not spread and no evidence of melanoma in the scar tissue of the nodes that he removed. I will post final pathology when I get it on December 1

                                        • November 16, 2016 at 2:52 pm
                                        cancersnewnormal
                                        Participant

                                          No signs of spread, and now it's GONE! YES! Your surgeon sounds like a bright and innovative guy!

                                          • November 16, 2016 at 2:52 pm
                                          cancersnewnormal
                                          Participant

                                            No signs of spread, and now it's GONE! YES! Your surgeon sounds like a bright and innovative guy!

                                            • November 16, 2016 at 2:52 pm
                                            cancersnewnormal
                                            Participant

                                              No signs of spread, and now it's GONE! YES! Your surgeon sounds like a bright and innovative guy!

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