Flying or Driving to travel for surgery?

[fortitudine]

I can't believe the prices for Air Canada! I know we paid over $1100 Calgary to Vancouver a couple of weeks ago. Are there no seat sales? With your husband travelling, do you have any aeroplan miles you can use to fly?

[Katie]

It's not just Air Canada...United was almost the same, as were most others I've checked. It is also the amount of time it takes to fly that relatively short distance that is convincing me to drive....hours waiting in airports will not be fun. The direct flights are the more expensive ones of course.

We do have air miles, but have been using them up for family emergencies as well...life doesn't always go as you plan, does it!

It will all work out in the end...still need to get a surgery date yet, so jumping the gun just a bit But I'm hoping for late May or early June...fingers crossed.

[Nairek]

Katie,

When I left Lenox Hill after my 6 day stay, I hired a car service & paid $225 for the 2 hour drive home. There was absolutely no way I would have been able to handle the 15 minute subway ride & then the almost 2 hour train ride home. The subways in NY are usually jam packed. Especially on the Lexington Ave. Local. I've been on the subway, with my cane, & never once did anyone ever give up their seat for me. Sad society we live in.

I was told that it was not advisable for me to be sitting upright for the ride home. I was told to sit in the front seat & lay the seat back. Of course I didn't listen Since I'm short, I was able to more or less stretch my legs out while sitting semi-upright in the back seat. I had my husband bring down some pillows to prop up against my upper & lower back to keep my spine straight. We had a town car so it was comfy & the driver knew I just had spinal surgery & he did everything he could to make the ride as comfortable as possible.

You should also know that with lumbar fusion, sitting tends to be more uncomfortable than with ADR. If you are "blessed" like I was & have incisions in both your belly & back, it's going to be tough to get comfortable.

As for seat belt laws in NY, if you are sitting in the front seat, you have to wear a seat belt. As far as I know, if you are sitting in the back, it is not required. Just make sure you don't play Super Woman if your husband hits the brakes!

There is an "AirTrain" from JFK airport to the local subway. You just have to figure out which line to get on to take you out to Lenox Hill. I'm not very city savvy so I won't even venture to guess on that one.

My sister has flown to Toronto a few times for work. I can see if she may be able to suggest any low cost carriers for you.

Sorry I can't be of more help to you.

Karin

[Katie]

Why did you have incisions both front and back?

I've talked to a couple of others who have had similar surgeries and had no problem with driving home by dividing up the trip over two days, so this looks like the way to go.

[Nairek]

Originally Posted by Katie

Why did you have incisions both front and back?

I've talked to a couple of others who have had similar surgeries and had no problem with driving home by dividing up the trip over two days, so this looks like the way to go.

They went in thru the front to put the cage into the disc space. They went in thru the back to put screws in to make sure the cage stayed in place. I didn't find out until the morning of my surgery that they were going to go thru the back as well.

Driving back home looks to be more economical than flying. Breaking it up over a few days sounds like the best way to go. You should be given a prescription for pain meds the day that you leave the hospital. If you can, try & get it filled before you leave so you have something for the ride home.

[Katie]

Oh, I plan to take lots of good stuff with me when I leave home I can't take most meds, so have a very select list anyway. I'm not going to take a chance on trying something new that might make me sick...a fate worse than death, I would think!

That sounds like a giant OUCH! Why did they not let you know what was coming in regards to two incisions? I feel a little more involved with your surgery as we are going to have the same doctor

[dridobits]

Katie, I don't know if this will help but I posted travel tips I picked up from my own trips. I think I put it in "travelling to Germany" folder". Best, D. Tried to pm you also.

[Nairek]

Originally Posted by Katie

Oh, I plan to take lots of good stuff with me when I leave home I can't take most meds, so have a very select list anyway. I'm not going to take a chance on trying something new that might make me sick...a fate worse than death, I would think!

That sounds like a giant OUCH! Why did they not let you know what was coming in regards to two incisions? I feel a little more involved with your surgery as we are going to have the same doctor

I found out the Monday before surgery that MVP denied me for ADR. The medical manager & Dr. Bitan were suppose to speak by phone the next day so Dr. Bitan could argue why I should have the ADR. The medical manager never called Dr. Bitan the next day. He blew off the appointment. On Wednesday, the both of them had a discussion & the medical manager still denied coverage for ADR.

I believe it was Wednesday or Thursday afternoon when Tom called me & put Dr. Bitan on the phone & Dr. Bitan gave me the bad news about not being able to have the ADR but said I could still have the fusion. At that time, I wasn't ready to give him an answer on the fusion. I called Tom on Friday afternoon & told him that I would go forward with the fusion. Unfortunately, there wasn't much time before the surgery to discuss how it was going to play out. (Surgery was scheduled for 4 days later). I guess that's really my fault since I should have told my boss to kiss my butt & tried to get the info during my lunch break. The woman is pure evil & always has a tendency to be around when I make these calls from my cell phone. She was actually standing behind me when Dr. Bitan gave me the news about the denial for ADR. (I actually have 3 incisions from the fusion )