LE and International Travel

ohio4me

My job requires travel and, occasionally, that means out of country. I'm looking for experience/ advice/ input from seasoned travels, especially those going out of country or long hours in the air.

1) Am I at greater risk with multiple flights in a one day? I have a least 3 flights to destination in 15-24 hours (depending on flights). Two short 1-1.5 hour flights and one 8.5-10 hour flight.

2) Does length of flight have any effect on LE? Or is it just altitude and not time?

3) How do I find medical care (and therapist) if needed? Is there a website for travelers that wil help me find a lymphedema therapist?

4) How long do I wait to fly home if I have a 'big' flare up while gone? If I stayed in the USA, I could rent a car and drive.

5) What is the risk of flying with LE? Greater or same as without?

Currently, my destination is Genova, Italy. Sea port town, been there twice but that was before BC and LE. Things are different now.  I would be glad to have international travel a thing of the past (been there done that) but I don't know if that is an option with my job.

It's my fault for being the SME for the product. Sometimes it doesn't pay to know it all

crystalphm

I don't know the answers to your questions, but I flew to France right after my mastectomy and I did wear compression and a gauntlet for travel at all times. I also did arm elevation and open and shut my hand while elevated. Just kept moving more or less.

Being new to all of this, I was quite nervous, until walking along a french small town area, I saw a medical area for "lymphatic drainage". I was amazed by that, that such things are available (it was a manual lymph massage service). So there are places in Europe where this is more advanced than here in the US.

I personally took medications with me, antibiotics in case of any serious swelling or redness. but then I tend to be very cautions and travel with my own meds for lots of issues, so this was easy to add.

ohio4me

crystalphm - thanks for the information. It's good to hear of successful international travel. I can relate to the nervous part quite well.

I did find a clinic in Genoa, Italy (my destination) that does microsurgery for lymphedema so I assume the care I would need is available somewhere in the city - it's just finding it. I've been twice and didn't see any signs for MLD (that would be ideal) but then I wasn't looking at the time.

Hoping someone chimes in with additional info. I may have escaped this trip but I know it will come up again and I need to understand what is best for me.