Long haul flights

Anonymous

Long haul flights

mitziandbubba

I don't have LE but of course I am at risk. My husbands family lives very far away and the flight is 18 hours. I'm very nervous about this. I know the newest research seems to argue against a sleeve for at risk individuals during flights but 18 hours? I can't get out of taking this trip as much as it makes me nervous.

MinusTwo

Mitzi - Are you familiar with Step Up-Speak Out? I've put the link below.

Personally I will continue to wear sleeves for flying. And of course gauntlets or gloves are required. I put the sleeves on when I leave for the airport and keep them on for an hour after landing. I have mild breast & truncal LE. It's been my goal that it will NOT spread to my arms.

Be sure to get up & walk around. Drink lots of water. "Punch" your arm(s) up and clench your fist several times on a regular basis. I know - people might think you're nuts but so what. I try to put the side more at risk on the aisle so I can more easily move & rotate the arm.

https://www.stepup-speakout.org/

Traveltext

Of course, we’re all different, but my recent experience is this. I have no lymph nodes in my left axilla and I’m super cautious gardening etc, treat scratches and so on. However, as a regular long-haul flyer (16 hours plus) I don’t wear a sleeve and never have the slightest swelling. I’m more concerned about DVT and thus always wear compression stockings.

edj3

Timely thread for me as I head out to the Philippines on Saturday. I've got four flights, two are long haul, one is medium and one is shorter at 3 hours. I've been debating the same thing. I have the sleeves because I did travel very soon after my surgery and my OT recommended it. Adding to my personal situation is that I had a tumor removed from the back of my arm and then had to have it re-excised to get clear margins. That incision, while healed, is puffy.

But I would rather NOT wear a sleeve for over 24 hours. Blah.

edj3

I'll add an update. I called my OT and laid out the situation. She suggested taking my sleeve/gauntlet and that way if I need it, I've got it. So that's what I'm going to do.

Traveltext do you wear the compression stockings because you are on tamoxifen?

mitziandbubba

Thanks everyone for the input. I am feeling much better about the long flight!