Should I fly?

Options
2»

Comments

  • hymil
    hymil Member Posts: 826
    edited July 2011
    Welcome to the boards Boeing-flier, so glad you got back in the drivers seat. I love it when my pilot is a lady, makes my trip even more special. My youngest cousin is a commercial pilot and I feel so proud of her! You must have a headful of occupational health risks between the flying and LE and DVT stuff and then all the screening, security and radiation kerfuffles. Power to you! Smile
  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited July 2011

    Flyer, welcome!Smile

    Just wanted to add a note (or two) on flying with a compression sleeve. First, it does have to fit well. Here's information on how to judge a good fit:
    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/proper_fitting_of_lymphedema_garments.htm

    And second, if you're wearing a sleeve, you definitely need hand protection, either a glove or gauntlet (fingerless glove). Here's why, from an expert in the field:
    http://lymphedivas.com/lymphedema/gauntletandsleeve/

    Be well!
    Binney

  • Boeingflyer
    Boeingflyer Member Posts: 4
    edited July 2011

    Hymil,

    Thanks for the note!  I was in London last week.  Always love going there.  I'm in Singapore now, Hong Kong tomorrow and everytime I come to these 2 lovely cities I always say "Thank God for the British Empire!"  Makes it so easy to get around here with everything being in English.  Just have to be careful crossing the streets as they do not paint on the curb "Look Right" as they do in London.

    Yes, we have a plethora of health concerns for us flyer types.  I'm doing everything I can to mitigate a recurrence, but if I start having bad signs again I will have to quit doing the long-haul flying.  I love flying to Hong Kong, but we go near the North Pole to get there and that's where the most cosmic radiation is.  My onc told me that radiation is a known cause of BC, so I do worry about the polar flights. 

  • Boeingflyer
    Boeingflyer Member Posts: 4
    edited July 2011

    Binney,

    I do have a glove, but shortly after I started wearing it, I ended up with "trigger finger" in my thumb.  The doctor didn't think the 2 were related, but I do.  I've tried putting it on again and it puts too much pressure on my thumb and makes it hurt again so I quit.  Its been a few months, so maybe I'll try it again.

  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited July 2011

    Flyer, if that doesn't work at least give a gauntlet a try. You sure don't want lymphedema in your hand if you can avoid it.Frown

    Flying is a great life -- if you don't like the weather in one place, you can just move on!Laughing

    Stay well!
    Binney

  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited July 2011

    Just wanted to report that our health insurance paid my claim for the compression sleeve and gauntlet. Admittedly, our health insurance is very good (we've had worse so I know how that can be) but FYI in case anyone wants to try. I downloaded the form from Blue Shield and it only take a couple mins to complete. I only had SNB and no symptoms (and want to keep it that way).

Categories