Another travel question ...

Do you think I'd be OK to get a cab to Paddington from St John's Wood and then get a train to Oxford on the morning after I'm discharged?

I'm going to go and stay with a friend after my BA but I feel really guilty about asking her to take time off work, come down to London, stay overnight etc etc. I'd feel much better if I could just get myself up to her place and then just let her make a fuss of me then!

What do you think? It's quite a short journey (50 minutes) and it'll be in the middle of the day so no rush hour pushing and shoving to cope with ...
Thanks!
A xx

I know everyone feels different but i couldn't of done that, after my op i felt fine but on the morning after my BA, the local anaesthetic has run out and i felt dizzy and weak (couldn't even zip up my bag) and got driven home and every little bump made me flinch, but you may feel fine hun, however theres no way of knowing until the day i guess! sorry couldn't be more help x

Thanks Nads,
I guess it's a bit of tricky one - perhaps I should stop trying to be so independent and just let her come and stay with me - I have known her for over 20 years and I'd definitely do the same for her! Just feel bad about making her use up 5 days of her holiday for that ...
A xx

I would hun just to be on the safe side, i felt completly fine but you may be in more pain than me as i had overs.

x x

Wouldn't hurt to ask her hun, couldn't she just pick you up on the day to make sure you get home ok? SH recommended i get picked up by someone and supervised after my op x

Yes, you're probably right - I should just ask her to do that...

At what point did you feel you'd be OK by yourself? I know in the notes it says you should have someone with you for 24 hours after discharge, but do you think it might be best to have someone for a few days longer?? I was planning on buying in a load of M&S ready meals and paper plates so I'd have no cooking to do!

sorry for all the questions! And I suppose it's going to vary so much from person to person anyway ...

fanks ...
a xx

Hey hun, from what I know, they won't discharge you from hospital if someone is not there to pick you up - the only other alternative if no one can be there is to have the cosmetic company organise transport for you with a driver to your final destination, but I don't know how much that costs...

I felt ok enough to make my own food and potter around after taking lots of painkillers! lol Day 2-3 were the most sore then after that it gets a bit better everyday, if you get some ready meals in you'll be fine on day 2 hun, buy lots of bottles of water to hand too x

Hello Annie!!

I would think you will be O.K. but, I do not think O.K. is good enough. First off, you are asking, so I imagine it is a concern to you? also trying to help others?, there is enough to contend with without extra concerns. Where will you feel more at ease afterwards?

I had quite a bit of travelling before and after my op. which I done without any support. Anyway I had a half hour cab journey, an hour flight there, then the Gatwick /Heathrow express, followed by a tube journey and five min walk. On return I replaced the tube with a cab. I was wasted!!! It was not the actual mode of travel, it was all the walking at airport and pushing and rushing of communters when you are 'High' that exhausted me. I recovered at home alone too. I would do it all again, but if you have a choice a little bit of friendly support from a friend and a hug (gentle) when needed is worth it's weight in gold I would say. They probably want to help so dont turn them away. Relax and enjoy they are soo worth the journey xx

Hi Annie, I personally wouldn't recommend it. I was going to get the train but am now so glad I didn't. Especially with you going home the day after, because for me that's when I was probably feeling the most tender. If your friend can pick you up there is a part of the hospital where you can drive straight to the door.

With regards to having someone stay with you ideally if you can have someone the first 3 days that would be great because you do get tired easily, even better if you can have company for longer as it's easy to over-do it these first few days (as I'm now finding out!)

I'd accept any help that's available hun, and I'm sure your friend will be more than happy to help you out xx

Thanks Mia!

She does seem quite keen to help out ... and in all honesty I would rather just go straight back to my own home afterwards ... just feel I shouldn't 'impose' on her ...

I've known her for ages but she's very much someone who 'lets nature take its course' as far as her appearance goes and I was sure she'd give me the "what on earth are you doing that to your body for" lecture. But she was remarkably supportive when I told her about it - I was quite surprised!

A xx

shiningmoonbeam wrote:Hi Annie, I personally wouldn't recommend it. I was going to get the train but am now so glad I didn't. Especially with you going home the day after, because for me that's when I was probably feeling the most tender. If your friend can pick you up there is a part of the hospital where you can drive straight to the door.

With regards to having someone stay with you ideally if you can have someone the first 3 days that would be great because you do get tired easily, even better if you can have company for longer as it's easy to over-do it these first few days (as I'm now finding out!)

I'd accept any help that's available hun, and I'm sure your friend will be more than happy to help you out xx

Thanks SMB,
Good advice - looks like I'll be taking her up on her offer to help for a few days ... I do feel guilty about it though :oops: . I suppose I think that because it's elective (and cosmetic) surgery I shouldn't rely on other people to run round after me ... Oh well, we can't be invincible all the time I suppose!

So how are you feeling anyway? A little more tired than the first day or two?

A xx

cakey_baby wrote:I would hun just to be on the safe side, i felt completly fine but you may be in more pain than me as i had overs.

x x

moonmar wrote:Hey hun, from what I know, they won't discharge you from hospital if someone is not there to pick you up - the only other alternative if no one can be there is to have the cosmetic company organise transport for you with a driver to your final destination, but I don't know how much that costs...

Thanks CB and MM,

think I will get her to come and pick me up after all - think I was underestimating how tired I'll be afterwards!

A xx

Thats what friends are for hun! Its not everyday we have surgery, like you said you would do it for her dont feel guilty

Very wise decision Annie!! I think, it is soo good to have your own bed :) and familar environment and to be in control of your own recovery.

It is your body, and elective surgery or not should not be an issue between friends. I think it is more a case of ignorance in the nicest possible way, if you have not felt the need for something you are uneducated on the procedure and process. So, I am sure your friend will do her best to offer the support she can to ease your healing process. I wish you well xx

Annie66 wrote:
Thanks SMB,
Good advice - looks like I'll be taking her up on her offer to help for a few days ... I do feel guilty about it though :oops: . I suppose I think that because it's elective (and cosmetic) surgery I shouldn't rely on other people to run round after me ... Oh well, we can't be invincible all the time I suppose!

So how are you feeling anyway? A little more tired than the first day or two?

A xx

Glad to hear it, and don't feel guilty, I'm sure she'll be more than happy to look after you and enjoy some catching-up time with her buddy!

As for me I think because I've felt so well pain wise I've probably over-done it. Did the nursery run with my little boy morning and evening and went into town to get a new sports bra and then felt quite giddy & exhausted when I got home, I think my body's trying to tell me something, I'm just not used to sitting still, guess I'm going to have to learn!! xx

shiningmoonbeam wrote:. Did the nursery run with my little boy morning and evening and went into town to get a new sports bra and then felt quite giddy & exhausted when I got home, I think my body's trying to tell me something, I'm just not used to sitting still, guess I'm going to have to learn!! xx

It's interesting to hear this - seems like in the early days people aren't in pain as such (thanks to co-codamol!) but just get tired very easily (hey, I'm a quick learner, I've been on these forums for about 9 months and that message's only just hit home!)

shiningmoonbeam wrote: I'm just not used to sitting still, guess I'm going to have to learn!! xx

Yes, I think I'm going to have big problems with that too ... and boredom!

mia wrote:I am sure your friend will do her best to offer the support she can to ease your healing process. I wish you well xx

nads wrote:Thats what friends are for hun! Its not everyday we have surgery, like you said you would do it for her dont feel guilty

Thanks ladies,

She was the first person I've told about it (apart from a couple of friends who live in the states and have had cosmetic 'work'). But I've known her for so long I would have hated to kept it secret from her. And it was quite a relief actually, particularly when she didn't "go off on one" (as a lot of people do about cosmetic surgery ...! ).

And of course i'll have all you lovely ladies to talk to as well

xx