I currently live in Indiana, so I would need to travel to have my surgery.
Did anyone fly to where they went, or drive?
How long were you in the hospital afterwards?
How much time were you off of work?
Many of our members have flown to the state where they had surgery. Some have flown home as soon as the day after surgery though we recommend staying until the post op appt. incase any problems arise soon after surgery. Usually the post op appt is w/in a week after surgery.
ES surgeries, even with vascular decompression, is usually done outpatient, however, if there is a problem during surgery, or if bilateral surgery is done, a one night hospital stay can be ordered.
We suggest taking 4-6 weeks off of work to give your body a good start on healing w/o work stress, however, we have members who pushed themselves to go back to work the same week as surgery. Those cases are few & far between, & the people were either self-employed or risked being fired if they took off anymore time. If you can’t get that much time off, then request 2 weeks w/ permission to start back part time for a couple of weeks, or to work from home, if possible. You’ll likely find your energy level is low for 1-2 mos post op so having to push yourself to go to work can slow recovery & make you feel more miserable in the meantime.
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There have been posts about people who flew home after surgery, with advice for this , like asking for a wheelchair at the airport, getting ice packs filled on the plane, bring extra cushions or pillows for whichever way you travel…
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I’ll add to @Jules list, pay for the best seat you can afford on the plane flights if you fly. Having room to stretch out &/or recline will be very helpful if your flight is long.
The benefits of a wheelchair, even if you don’t think you need one are that your whole trip to the departure gate will be extremely expedited i.e. you get to go to the front of the security check line, you get to go to the front of the elevator line if you’ve got to go up or down stairs, & you’ll be taken straight to your gate.
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I agree with @Isaiah_40_31 on transport,. It was painfully expensive, but I justified it by using retirement funds, I figured if I didn’t have the surgery, I might not need them anyway. I flew back from CA to NH on JetBlue Mint and was honestly so glad I did. The seats lay completely flat (or you can keep them inclined), which made a huge difference post-op. Not all flights have Mint, though.
On the way out, I flew coach and really wished I hadn’t. It was uncomfortable, and the person next to me had a cold, my only thought was “I cannot get sick before surgery.” I wore a mask the entire time, but it added a layer of stress I didn’t need.
If it’s within reach financially, the upgrade can make a big difference, both for comfort and peace of mind.
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Thank you everyone!! I appreciate all of the information!
I will keep everyone posted when I know more. I am getting Botox on Friday, so hopefully that goes well 
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I hope the botox injection is very helpful, @Kgreene. 
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