GCS recovery question

[Terri1769]

Hi all,

I'm scheduled for GCS on 10/1 with Dr. Bluebond-Langner in NYC.  We'll be traveling from Atlanta, Georgia.  My biggest question is on the travel method as we try to decide between driving and flying.  My Wife is very concerned about flying due to the COVID pandemic.  My concern with driving is that it might be absolute misery driving for fourteen hours.  Anyone have any experiential advice that might help one way or the other?

 

Also, if you have any recommendations on where to stay in Manhattan or any other advice, I'm all ears!

 

Thanks,

Terri

[Jackie C.]

At least with driving you can recline. I took the train. Don't do that.

 

So long as you can stay well-leaned back (I mean mostly flat) you should be able to tolerate driving without too much discomfort. The big issue is pressure on the surgical site. They'll probably give you a pillow to sit on but it's not really enough. Your wife should probably avoid as many rough spots as she can too. You won't enjoy being jostled.

 

I'm kind of with your wife on the flying thing. Until airlines seriously upgrade their filtration systems, I wouldn't chance it. From a practical point of view: After your surgery, coughing will SUCK.

 

Hugs!

[Jani]

When I had surgery I flew home after 10 days.  It was a 3 hour flight.  Another woman who was a day ahead of me was in the other apartment.  She drove home alone, a 14 hour drive.  Not sure I would have done that but its doable.  She was 20 years younger than I. 

 

Jani

[VickySGV]

And yet a different experience here.  I came home from San Francisco to Los Angeles being driven by two relatives.  Distance was 840 miles from their house where I left my car.  They wanted to go to two tourist traps, er-- scenic historical sites that were not the most direct route, but it was about 6 hours driving each day and less than freeway speed through some beautiful scenery.  We stopped at some decent motels in each place where they could go shopping and sightseeing while I did my self care.  Very good restaurants, and we did do rest stops in between the stopping points. I did have my doughnut cushion, but actually found their car seat comfortable with a disposable bed pad.  We got back to their house on day 3 and I stayed with them for 3 nights since one of them is and LVN.  I did the hour and a half drive from their house to mine  No ill effects from the trip itself.  On the trip up to San Francisco we had taken a direct rout that took 14 hours.  If you folks can deal with the gentle and scenic stuff for an additional day or two.  Do the drive.

 

The only drawback really had been that while I was in the hospital and was in my hotel room for 6 days they had gone major shopping in the San Francisco  area, and it was a bit more cramped on the trip home.  Sigh.

[Lexi C]

Het Terri. I have not had my yet but if your heading to NYC.

1) if you can stay with a friend or fam mem do it. Otherwise, You will be ask to fill a contact sheet and self Quarantine for 14 days. You will have to give notice to  the city and they will check up on you via telephone. You will not be allow to enter the hosp until day 15. I can tell from exp, grow up there.  Hotel are super expensive in the city. I don't think they have any hostle open up yet..

your Best Bet, find ARbb or there's some ok motels Queens which  is one of the five boroughs . Roosevelt Queens is ok and its close to the city. So is Long Island City, which is diff then Long island. Brooklyn is super expensive as well.  and the Bronx and Staten Island are a bit far. 

There 's some cheap place in Long Island but make sure they are bye the Long Island railroad, cus drive in NYC sucks, but parking there " FORGET ABOUT IT". if you need any help shoot me em. Congrats 

[VickySGV]

@Lexi C If she has just been discharged from a hospital in the state I would think that would be a passport through the state, especially if it says she has been tested.  I was tested for a ton of things when I was admitted for GCS and I don't think they will do surgery if the even suspect a problem. 

[Lexi C]

oh that good to hear. that's great new. Actually that makes sense cause my surgery is in two weeks and i doing a whole bunch of test on sunday Terri if you still need anymore info on were to say then em.

[Terri1769]

Thanks so much!  I'm leaning more toward the drive at this point.  It will be long and uncomfortable but neither of us really wants to go through an airport.

 

We found a hotel in Manhattan that we can afford, but only if we don't have to stay that additional two weeks for quarantine.  I've asked the surgeon's nurse for clarification.

[KathyLauren]

Hi, Terri.

 

My trip home was half an hour by car, then an hour and a half in the air, and another hour and a half by car.  It wasn't too uncomfortable, though a longer trip certainly would have been.  I had a donut cushion to sit on.  No lifting, so I let the cab drivers do all the lifting.  I also arranged for a wheelchair at both airports. 

 

Mine was right at the start of the pandemic, so things weren't shut down yet.  The plane was full.  I would be a lot less comfortable about it now, that's for sure.

[Lexi C]

Cool Terri

Not sure where in the City yr staying, but NYU hosp  is  thein middle town east and two other big hosp are  uptown. I think Columbia is up there. Hopefully yr in a good hood. Most of NYC has being gentrified and hoods have being clean up. But you still have Upper East side past 98 st that not so hot and upper west side past 135 st not so hot. Congrats be safe