@bdiver1verizon
wow, so sorry to hear what happened to you, so thank you for this. I work once or twice week with a trainer for strength so it's nice to know that can help pre surgery. I was thinking I might stay at least a week as some have suggested even more. My flight home would be on one of the smaller jets so most uncomfortable seats there are. ugh. Just heard from my local office and can't get in for his opinion on doing it here until November, so guess I am in limbo till then. The pain in recovery doesn't worry me as much as how to do things myself so my husband isn't having to do things for me and maintain the house etc, for very long.
I don't know if its appropriate for this site... but if it is, can you say who your
Mayo surgeon will be?

@bdiver1verizon
The relief after surgery made it worth it for me, despite being still early-days in recovery. I have my leg back.
There are 3 distinct phases of fusion-healing. Phase 1 is inflammatory healing over the first 5 days post surgery (proteins and enzymes coalesce around the wounds and new hardware/grafts). Phase 2 takes up to 12 weeks after surgery and forms the early stage of osteoblasts creating new bone to fuse vertebrae and grow over implants (hardware). Phase 3 is consolidation (strengthening of the new bone material), which occurs up to 12 months after surgery, but may be as short as 6 months.
Only after Phase 3 can the BLT restrictions be fully lifted.
I have the pedicle screws too, which will shorten my recovery period because these rods provide additional stability.
Sitting for too long over the first few months is not recommended as this obviates the natural curvature of the spine and slows the fusion process, so ensure when you fly, you sit and stand intermittently, often.
I have started navigating full flights of stairs (one week after surgery), and actually conduct my home-physio sessions using the stairs as one part of my recovery (on advice from the physio).
The L5S1 level is a relatively simple level to operate on since the vena cava and aorta bifurcate immediately above this level, and so a vascular surgeon is not necessary for a L5S1 ALIF.
My surgeon was a neurosrgeon, not an orthopoedic surgeon.

@bdiver1verizon I have Harrington Rods from surgery 46 years ago with pain and nerve issues now. Can you please let me know who your Mayo surgeon will be? and assume it's at Rochester location? Thank you!

@bdiver1verizon Oops my apologies! I see that you provided your surgeon's name in a previous reply. Wishing you a smooth surgery and speedy and full recovery! Please let us know how it goes.