Too soon after surgery? Should I cancel the cruise?

[cruiseonthebrain]

I am looking for raw feedback from folks who have had a total hip replacement and then wanted to cruise. My surgery was last Tues (one week ago) I am walking with a crutch and can drive. The cruise is Aug 23rd and will involve a cross country flight. The cabin involves a step over the edge tub.

 

If you were me would you try to do the cruise or cancel? This is the only chance I will get to do an Alaskan cruise and, unfortunately, I think I will be doing it solo, if at all.

 

What would you do?

[Triship]

A difficult question to answer. I would first of all have a word with the doctors and physio and talk it through with them. These people would be the best to answer your question and also how you feel things are going with the recovery.

[Host Walt]

I agree with Triship.

 

After undergoing a major surgical procedure in April 2015, I asked my doctor what he thought about us taking a transAtlantic (14 day) cruise in October.

 

His answer was very short. "The only thing you should be sailing is a rubber ducky in your bathtub."

 

His concern was that unexpected bad things can happen that close to the surgery and it would be a real problem if we were 7 days away from a US port and specialist medical resources.

 

We canceled the TA and booked a 4 day California Coastal sailing in late Sept. 2016 (Ensenada and Catalina from San Pedro - LA) where if something did happen I would be close enough to the right kind of medical help. (We live in LA.)

 

If you feel you can handle the physical aspect of your recovery and your doctor feels that you can handle the stress, go for it. (I would suggest, however, going on a smaller ship (a mid-size HAL ship for example. We sailed on the Ruby Princess which was very difficult because of its size - 3,000+ passengers.)

[Essiesmom]

I think you should go for it, with the advice of your doc. But try to get a HC cabin, even if it is an inside. Or move to category that has just a shower. I once shared a table with a woman who had had both knees replaced, about two months apart. She was walking with a cane. She said she was about a month out of the second surgery, and in a rehab facility, and wanted badly to go home. the doctor told her she could go home if she had someone to cook for her, do her dishes, make her bed, and a place to walk for rehab. she told him 'I know just where I can get that' and booked at least three consecutive cruises. Lots of that walking can be done on a ship...EM

[xxoocruiser]

I am looking for raw feedback from folks who have had a total hip replacement and then wanted to cruise. My surgery was last Tues (one week ago) I am walking with a crutch and can drive. The cruise is Aug 23rd and will involve a cross country flight. The cabin involves a step over the edge tub.

 

If you were me would you try to do the cruise or cancel? This is the only chance I will get to do an Alaskan cruise and, unfortunately, I think I will be doing it solo, if at all.

 

What would you do?

 

What I would do vs. what you would do has no relevance to the situation. Things that need to consider are your overall health, how well you've been doing with physical therapy, whether you should be traveling by yourself after a recent surgery, if there were any complications during or post surgery and if the doctor is concerned about the cross country flight which could present a possible issue with blood clots. Bottom line this calls for a discussion with your doctor and not for CC.

 

Being that you're most likely past the final payment period do you have cruise insurance ? Would this be covered or considered to have been a pre-existing condition in which case it may not be covered ? Either way the point is you still have over 2 months to before the cruise so whether you cancel today or later probably isn't going to make much of a difference in what you might get refunded with or without insurance.

[fair-winds39]

I am looking for raw feedback from folks who have had a total hip replacement and then wanted to cruise. My surgery was last Tues (one week ago) I am walking with a crutch and can drive. The cruise is Aug 23rd and will involve a cross country flight. The cabin involves a step over the edge tub.

 

If you were me would you try to do the cruise or cancel? This is the only chance I will get to do an Alaskan cruise and, unfortunately, I think I will be doing it solo, if at all.

 

What would you do?

Wow, that's really soon to be able to drive. I had a total hip replacement but I wasn't scheduled to cruise until the following year. I'm overly cautious, and I think as others have said there can be complications that crop up. One thing I was told was not to be impatient and try rushing the healing process. That said, I would definitely discuss it with the surgeon at your follow-up appointment, and with the physical therapist. It sounds like you've made great progress already.

 

If you decide to cruise, and you probably already know this, I would get the little card that states that you've had a hip replacement. It will help when you go through security prior to boarding. I was checked separately, not walking through the regular metal detector check-in.

[Stevi]

Hip replacements are usually something that requires much less recovery that a knee replacement. I went back to work after 3 months when I had my knee replaced. Folks I know who have had hip replacements were back to normal in much less time than I was with my knee You are just shy of the 3 month mark when your sail date comes up. If you have the luxury of waiting before making a decision I would wait a while to see how you recover. Once your recovery can be better judged then I would be asking your physio what they think. Work on your exercises and be patient with your recovery. I suspect you will be fine for August.

[cruiseonthebrain]

Thank you all for the feedback. There is some great information and things to consider here. For those folks with the knee surgeries- goodness bless you because I know that is extra hard.

 

I am going to have a long talk with my doc tomorrow. I hadn't thought about complications that may still come up a few months from now. I had a rare (non-contagious) infection on a cruise in January and could not get to proper medical for 5 days. What should have been a routine office visit turned into two ER visits and a surgery, another week inpatient in ICU, and another surgery. So unavailability of full medical care will be something I explore with my doctor.

 

I love the story about the person who did her knee rehab on consecutive cruises- that is absolutely brilliant.

 

I am realistic enough that I cancelled my Alaskan snorkeling excursion in Ketchikan (I really wanted the bragging rights :-) but I am still hoping to be able to cruise. Of course, in the long run, health is much more important.

 

Thank you all again for the great advice.

[payitforward]

I would be more concerned about the flight than the cruise. I haven't had my hip done, but have had my knee done twice, and have a chronic pain condition. Flying in coach pretty much does me in. When I travel, I always go a day in advance so that I can "recover" in my hotel before I need to do whatever I've gone there to do.

 

For the cruise, I would rent a scooter "just in case." The walking tends to be far more than you do at home, and can pose a challenge. I would also request an accessible cabin so that you have room to store the scooter, and can avoid that step into the shower.

 

Good luck! I hope you go and have a fabulous time.

[LondonTowner]

I have had both hips and one knee done. Hips do heal much quicker than knees and are less painful because they are less complicated. I had initially been told by my hospital consultant to wait for six weeks before driving, but after the second hip I could drive within four weeks.

 

Obviously everybody is different, but I agree with the person who said take a scooter with you. Although you are supposed to walk and exercise you may find the distances too far. I would also want to have a shower instead of a bath. Even though you may be able to get into and out of a bath at home, it may be different on a rocking ship.

 

You need to discuss all this with your doctor. Between them and how you are progressing and feel a better decision can be made.

[Chunky2219]

Ask your medic and also your insurer.

 

For our voyage last November I was told, "Yes, okay to cruise but make sure you're in helicopter range of the shore so no Carribean or transatlantic trips" I was amazed that my insurer didn't want to load my premium but this year, with a suspected broken rib four weeks before sailing my insurer wanted a wacking great extra premium. I hope and trust that your medical advice will be as good as mine was and your insurer will be accomodating.

 

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[cruiseonthebrain]

So I think this is actually a good thing so far. My doctor said a could fly two weeks from now- which is earlier than I have to. He does not think there will be any future problems with being away from medical on the cruise (I know we are both hoping as there is no way to tell the future).

 

But modern medicine is a little like magic. I can pretty much walk fine with no cane now and it is about 3.5 weeks post surgery. I am just having trouble getting used to the leg length difference.

 

I did cancel the Ketchikan snorkeling trip. I am considering a helicopter tour but I don't want to push it and they are really expensive.

 

Anyway I should be able to take the cruise of my dreams but I will just have to adjust my dream activities.

[Stevi]

So I think this is actually a good thing so far. My doctor said a could fly two weeks from now- which is earlier than I have to. He does not think there will be any future problems with being away from medical on the cruise (I know we are both hoping as there is no way to tell the future).

 

But modern medicine is a little like magic. I can pretty much walk fine with no cane now and it is about 3.5 weeks post surgery. I am just having trouble getting used to the leg length difference.

 

I did cancel the Ketchikan snorkeling trip. I am considering a helicopter tour but I don't want to push it and they are really expensive.

 

Anyway I should be able to take the cruise of my dreams but I will just have to adjust my dream activities.

 

I'm glad to hear you are doing so well post surgery. Have a wonderful time on your cruise.