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Has anyone traveled for their meningioma surgery?

Posted by Texastrails @jnf, Apr 7 8:40am

Hi--has anyone traveled for their meningioma surgery? If so, can you tell me how long you stayed close to the surgical center, and when you were released and felt comfortable heading home? Also, did you fly or drive home? Thank you so much!

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eyou | @eyou | 10 hours ago
In reply to @wadekirsten "I also live in Alaska-as soon as I found out I had a meningioma I went..." + (show)
@wadekirsten

I also live in Alaska-as soon as I found out I had a meningioma I went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester. I had gamma knife almost one year. I had a great experience. Much better than the care here in Anchorage....much better.

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Thanks for your comment. I went to Mayo Rochester and am on watch and wait. For surgery I would likely go there or Seattle. Did you look into Seattle doctors at all? Fairbanks doesn't have a neurosurgeon.Thanks!

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wadekirsten | @wadekirsten | 12 hours ago
In reply to @eyou "I live in Alaska I have a that question too. If I ever have to get..." + (show)
@eyou

I live in Alaska I have a that question too. If I ever have to get surgery I will get it in lower 48. I was thinking I would stay near the hospital to recover for at least a month (with family). The healthcare situation is very limited/poor where I live.

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I also live in Alaska-as soon as I found out I had a meningioma I went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester. I had gamma knife almost one year. I had a great experience. Much better than the care here in Anchorage....much better.

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1 reply
Texastrails | @jnf | 2 days ago

Thank you. I’m having a crainiotomy, unfortunately! Glad you had such a good outcome!

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dlc1953 | @dlc1953 | 2 days ago

My Gamma Knife was in March, 2024 and I travelled to Europe 1 month later. No problems. I didn’t need to see the surgeon at all until 6 months later. I’m not sure what type of treatment that you’re getting, but, I thought that I would throw that out there. UofP where I had my Gamma Knife was an hour from my home. I walked in at 6:00am and walked out 3:30pm. No issues. Good luck.

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thomhorowitz | @thomhorowitz | 3 days ago

Travel post op should be smooth. Trains are tooo bumpy. Driving depends on the car and the driver.

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Texastrails | @jnf | 4 days ago

Thank you so much!

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mlew | @mlew | 5 days ago

My surgery was in Seattle at Harborview hospital. I live about an hour and a half drive and found a place called Collegiana Hospitality House.
https://www.uwmedicine.org/patient-resources/lodging-options/the-collegiana
Definitely recommend for anyone coming to Seattle for surgery.

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Texastrails | @jnf | 6 days ago
In reply to @mkoch "UCSF was an hour and a half away. My daughter and husband were going to stay..." + (show)
@mkoch

UCSF was an hour and a half away. My daughter and husband were going to stay with me throughout, alternating 12 hour shifts. They rented a studio on Air B & B, or VRBO. It was not that much more expensive than a hotel/motel, but of course, hotel rates in San Francisco are high. The plus was it had its own kitchen. Counting the day of the surgery, whereby I had to arrive at the hospital at 6:30 a.m., I was there for 3 days. (So just two days post surgery.) I was eager to get home. But I had a short road trip. I think if you are flying you should run it by your surgeon. Even before my surgery, I always felt pressure in my head on take-offs and landings and maybe the doctor would recommend a decongestant or something post surgery. You'll be on a lot of meds going home and I wouldn't make the decision on my own to mix a decongestant with the other meds. (In years past, my primary care doctor advised me to take a decongestant 45 minutes before take-off.) Maybe it would be better to stay another night or two at a hotel/VRBO just to make sure you're feeling fine if you are flying. I think I would prefer a road trip if the commute from the hospital is 5 hours or less.

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Thank you so much for your reply! I will likely have to travel by plane to a neurosurgeon, since most of my options are several days driving and staying in hotels along the way, which seems like a lot post-surgery.

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eyou | @eyou | 6 days ago

I live in Alaska I have a that question too. If I ever have to get surgery I will get it in lower 48. I was thinking I would stay near the hospital to recover for at least a month (with family). The healthcare situation is very limited/poor where I live.

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