Walk around on those long flights!

[Mosca]

For my traveling friends. I don't participate too much here, but I still read, and care.

Mrs and I flew to Vegas last month.

Saturday, she started feeling light headed, dizzy, couldn't keep her balance. I took her to the emergency room, it turns out she has pulmonary embolisms in both lungs, and in her left leg. It was deep vein thrombosis, and the doctors think it was from that flight. We were in middle/window seats and just stuck it out for the 4 1/2 hours.

She's doing okay, there was no cardiac damage from the additional strain, but she's still in the gray area for the clots being stable; but every day is a little better, she's been on heparin and Coumadin, when they are sure she is stable she'll be released and stay on the Coumadin for 3-6 months, at which time she'll be reevaluated, and may need to stay on it.

She and I are on the higher risk side; 60ish, overweight, somewhat sedentary in life. But a friend of ours who is active had the same thing happen, the clot went to her heart, and it was too late.

So, move around on those flights and road trips of over 2 hours. Your life is at stake.

 

[JudyH]

Thanks for the reminder. Good luck to your wife.

 

[vacationhopeful]

I try on EVERY flight to get the aisle seat ... and have no problem getting up for those "trapped" ... another reason besides to asking for 2 bags of chips /peanuts from the flight attendants.

Get well soon!

 

[Passepartout]

Ditto the aisle seat and doing laps. At a minimum, alternately twirl your ankles and flex them. I've been down with DVT tho missed the embolism. Lucky, I guess. I still take blood thinners, and double up on aspirin a few days before a long car or plane trip.

We have one coming up in a few days, but it's on a Southwest milk run so the sedentary time is not long.
Sending best wishes to Mrs Mosca.

Jim

 

[yoohoo]

On international flights, the planes are usually dual aisle and you are only one seat at the most from an aisle. I usually get up every two to three hours to walk. I go down one one aisle cross over to the other aisle at the restrooms; I do at least three loops. On my last loop I stop at the gallery to pick something to drink.

 

[visor]

Compression stockings with around 15-30 mm Hg should prevent that and the inevitable lower leg swelling from sitting that long.

 

[Passepartout]

Compression stockings with around 15-30 mm Hg should prevent that and the inevitable lower leg swelling from sitting that long.

Another excellent suggestion. Don't leave home without 'em.

 

[presley]

Thanks for the reminder and I hope your wife is doing well now.

I hardly ever fly, but when I fly on those direct to Hawaii, my feet swell up so much I have to loosen up my shoes. I always wonder if that means I shouldn't fly.

 

[Sugarcubesea]

Our family flew to Seattle this past May and when I got off the flight my ankles were all swollen and my doctor told me it was because I did not move around every 2 hours…

For our upcoming trip to Hawaii, I'm going to make sure I get up every 2 hours and thanks for the reminder….

 

[Sugarcubesea]

Compression stockings with around 15-30 mm Hg should prevent that and the inevitable lower leg swelling from sitting that long.

I purchased some compression socks but I can't get them on… Ugh for me

 

[Passepartout]

I purchased some compression socks but I can't get them on… Ugh for me

There is definitely a technique for putting them on (and off). Stick your thumbs in them and bunch them up all the way to the toes, then stick your foot in it and sort of roll the stocking over the foot/ankle and up the leg. You cannot just pull them up. Reverse the procedure (I enlist the wife) to get 'em off.

 

[moonstone]

A suggestion for putting the compression stockings on. When I worked in a long term care home we had to put them on many residents.

The first thing is, that to be most effective, they should be put on first thing in the morning, before getting out of bed. If you wear a pair of rubber gloves (like for washing dishes) you'll find you'll be able to grab the stockings & pull them up evenly without "burning" your fingers or loosing your grip.

If you are confined you your plane seat you can also bend & straighten your legs/knees as much as space permits. Also rotating your ankles (think drawing a circle with your toes) for several minutes every hour. Any movement will help.

~Diane

 

[PamMo]

Mosca, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your wife! I can't imagine what a shock that must have been to you both, and I'm SO glad that your wife's embolisms were caught - and treated - in time. Thank you for posting here. It's a good reminder for all of us, as we've gotten accustomed to tight quarters on long flights.

I've been on some inter/transcontintental flights where the flight attendants have announced we should not block the aisles, and I started to feel bad about walking around and stretching my legs. You've made me think twice about my timidity. Thank you.