Hi all, First I want to thank all for sharing their tips and experiences on this site.
I have been "lurking" for awhile now. This is my first post! so here it goes:
I am having rotator cuff and labral repair surgery in New Mexico, and must fly home day after surgery. I chose a trusted orthopedic, but must travel from Midwest to NM. I could stay a day or two longer if I must. Has anyone reading this flown a day after surgery. I will have someone dropping me off at airport and meeting me at destination. Any tips or opinions would be appreciated!

hi HP; i just had my surgery on thurs, and if at all possible, consider staying a day or 2 until you get your strength back. i was also a former flt attendant, and i honestly don't think i would have been any shape at all to get on a plane so soon. (i am a very active person too, and had been working out right up until the night before the operation!)
Good luck and hope all goes well...(you also may want to ask if they can give you anti-nausea med thru the IV before you get released...I got really ill after i got home (surgery was at 745. i was leaving the surgi-centre at 1015am)
Take care! Sherri

Dasher,
Thanks for the info. I will ask for the anti-nausea medicine. I am not looking forward to my recovery time. I am also apprehensive regarding surgery. (labral tear, cyst, possible rotator cuff tears) I would be facing possible shoulder replacement if I put this off. How is your recovery coming along?

hi HP, recovery is coming along ok,...kinda slow, and i am just exhausted today, even after 11hrs of sleep. I think the sitting around is wearing me out more than anything, because i am usually so active...this is the first morning i haven't needed to take a pain pill...i'm going to try to stay off of them too. I think i will try to take a walk later just to get my legs moving...

Hi HP. I would recommend you put off flying as long as you could. I was in lots of pain the day after surgery and very high on pain meds. If you must fly soon choose a seat where you will be the least likely to be bumped. Also try to carry no carry-ons as you won't be able to reach under the seat nor really lift anything overhead. I'm sure the flt. attendant can help you with your seat belt as I can't imagine you getting into it yourself. You will probably want to carry an ice pack with you for comfort. You may want some anti-nausea meds for the flight too, especially if you have you have pain meds you don't know how you will react to. Good luck to you and hope you have a safe trip. Plan on being exhausted upon arrival since this surgery just seems to drain everyone. Let your friends baby you. My first long trip by car(4+hrs) did me in and that was a few weeks after surgery.

Hi, I wish you the best of everything regarding your up-coming surgery. I have now had 2 labral repair surgeries-Im about 4 weeks post-op 2nd one. I can not imagine flying the day after surgery,alot of post-op pain, on heavy duty pain meds which may also make you nauseated. If you can I would wait as long as you can. Let me know if u have no choice and I will try and give tips to make flight more tolerable!