When to travel again?

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#1 Post by **at long last** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:27 am

I am so excited! My double jaw surgery is scheduled for December 1 (exactly 1 year to the date that I had braces put on). I get to celebrate my birthday, go on a cruise in the Caribbean and indulge in Thanksgiving in the weeks leading up to the surgery.

But, I need some advice from all of you that have gone through surgery. Against all my doubts, I started dating a great guy during this time in braces and preparing for surgery. For the winter holidays, he is going home to Europe (we live in Ohio) for a month and wants me to come over as well. It would only be four weeks after surgery and I may postpone for 2 more weeks, so 6 weeks after surgery. Not planning on doing any physical activities but was wondering how swollen and painful it will be 4-6 weeks post-op. The timing is terrible for a visit to Europe but I have the time to go and would like to make the trip if at all possible. My boyfriend is extremely supportive so he would do everything to make my trip comfortable, but don't want to make the visit horrible for both of us.

I'm going to be asking my surgeon but wondered what everyone's experience was.

#2 Post by **soleil4716** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:10 am

I am 6 weeks post-op. I think I can travel at this point. But I only had the lower jaw surgery and have not had any complication so far.

Now, with airline travel you have to deal with pressure changes at high/low altitudes and that can bother your TMJ areas but then again we have had people in this forum who flew to Costa Rica for surgeries, so this may not be a big deal.

If you go, make sure your know the addresses of some doctors/hospitals near the destination where you are going just in case something goes wrong.

So, it will all depend on how you feel 4-5 weeks after surgery.

#3 Post by **OzzysMom** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:40 pm

The flying part shouldn't be a big deal. I flew home from Costa Rica on day 12 after surgery and it was fine.
The concern will be if you are having other issues w/healing or any complications. My class reunion was scheduled exactly a month after my surgery and I thought all would be fine. Then I had a problem with a shooting pain coming from my tmj joint down my neck. It was most likely caused by something I was doing while sleeping but I was concerned and at the last minute, decided not to make the long trip to my reunion.

You will have swelling, but most of your swelling will go away the first 2 weeks after surgery. After that, it's a gradual process and there isn't much you can do but give it time.

Most likely, you will be fine for travel. It helps that you have someone understanding and supportive by your side(I believe that would help with healing too). Just make sure that everyone understands what type of diet you'll need(liquid, blended, soft-chew) and also that it may hurt for you to talk long periods of time. At that time, my tingles were at their peak and I was going crazy with it. Also...if you are going to make the trip...Call the airline ahead of time and request a special meal. Nobody told me about that part of it and on my trip home from Costa Rica, there was nothing on the plane I could eat. I got a smoothie at a place by the gate but they would not let me take it on the plane. The flight attendants looked for yogurt or something for me, but there was nothing. I was so hungry.

Anyway, you have a lot of great things happening in the next few weeks so enjoy your cruise(good opportunity to gain some pre-surg weight with all the yummy food).

Wishing you all the best,
OM

#4 Post by PJ » Mon Nov 09, 2009 4:51 pm

Yeah, I agree that at 6 weeks--assuming you have no complications--you should have no trouble traveling--but understand that you will still likely have some discomfort, and eating will still be quite a challenge, as you may not have the range of motion you hope for. At any rate, a trip to Europe sounds like a wonderful distraction from the recovery process.

Sounds like you found a great guy!!

#5 Post by **Tribal** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:02 pm

I travelled at 6 weeks after surgery as well with no problems. If you still have trouble with congestion at that point, just pick up a decongestant at the drug store to take before your flight, other than that you should be good to go at that point.