Japan. HELP!!

 This is just my luck. I have booked a flight to Japan at the beginning of may. I am so excited to go on my first trip to Asia! Of course the day after I book it I have what I think is a gallbladder attack. I'm gonna make an appt. with the doctor and see but I'm so scared now because I dot want to go through surgery and go on a 24 hour journey to asia. I will be sitting on 3 different planes for a total of 19hours. That can't be good. I'm so scared of having a blood clot! Is there anything else I can do to hold of the surgery until summer? I don't think it's the safer route to have the surgery. I can't change the dates when I go to Japan. What does everyone them?

 Laparoscopic gallbladder removal is a very simple procedure with very limited required recovery time.  You still have over two months until your flight! That is plenty of time to have the surgery and recover.  

You are not at any greater risks for blood clots on a long plane flight right after surgery than any other time, B****he issue with blood clots on flights is the SAME as the issue right after surgery... that you are not moving your legs for long periods of time.  So even a very recent surgery is really irrelevant as far as blood clot risk on a plane.  Do foot exercises and get up periodically and walk up and down the aisle to limit risk on a plane.

Lora

 Don't worry about it.  If it's a gall bladder attack, you'll be on a fast-track for surgery and have more than a month to recover from it.  That's totally fine.  By the way... it's a good thing you'll be on three different planes.  That means you'll have layovers and the trip will be broken up into reasonable segments.  

You'll be fine.  

Just retd from a Japan trip in Jan.and the planes have lotza people walking around n lotza leg room. Ps enjoy!! I miss it

Thank you so much. I guess Im just worried because I dont know when they could fit me in. I have an appt. wed to see if its my gallbladder. Then if it is God knows how long it will be before surgery. Im just bummed because this is the trip of a lifetime for me and the thought of being sore like I was the months after RNY is heartbreaking to me not to mention how nervous I get about blood clots. You really think its not a huge risk?? My longest flight is from Chigago to Tokyo which is almost 13 hours. I planned on sleeping the whole time, thats probably a no go now huh? 13 hours not sleeping would be like TORTURE.

 You don't have to stay awake the entire 13 hours (but you had really planned on sleeping for 13 hours?!?)!  Just get up and walk a bit or flex your calf muscles well a few times during that time period and be sure to spend some time in between the individual flights walking.   I have a significant history of blood clots and have never had a problem with developing a clot while traveling even though I have done a LOT of overseas traveling.  I have never even known someone personally who developed one.  Yes, being immobile in a seated position increases the chance of a blood clot for people who are predisposed to them, but it is a small chance and I think you are worrying too much.   Lora

Congrats on your upcoming trip!  I will keep my fingers crossed for you - hopefully this gall bladder scare turns out to be nothing.  :)