Flying

Hoping you all could give me some advice. Mother's Day weekend will be my first flight post BMX/Exchange.



I saw a PT in December due to some very mild swelling around my bra band on my SNB side. The two ladies (certified LE) did not agree on whether it was actually LE or still post surgical swelling aggravated by my trying to cycle several miles. They taught me message and recommended a glove/sleeve for flying. But they could not write the prescription. My PS office said THEY do not write those prescriptions, ask my BS. I did. She said she does not write them either and gave me the card of a doctor who supposedly specializes in LE. called my insurance and first they said they don't cover sleeves because you can buy compression stockings at Walmart. (Ugh!!!! ) When I said these are NOT stockings and must be measured for and should be covered under the 1998 BC Act they looked again and said they MIGHT be covered. Oy!!!



Meanwhile I went to a ladies medical boutique where a lovely angel measured me and fitted me and we are ready to go. DH said just buy it and be done!!



My first question is what level of compression do you use while flying? 15-20 or 20-30?

Second question: underarmour tee...does the shirt sleeve go over the compression sleeve or vice versa?

Third question: i am self conscious about my gigantic implants showing up in the screening. Do you all have experiences to share of any difficulties with scans?



Thanks so much!!

Dulcigirl, I believe that if you have an LE diagnosis, the compression is 20-30; if 'just' at risk, lower compression is often prescribed.  As for the shirt, get a men's short-sleeve UA, which should put the sleeve just at or a slight overlap over your compression sleeve. For me, the women's version cuts too high into the armpit, and the men's overlaps by about an inch. Fortunately, the overlap bottom of the UA sleeve is not terribly snug, so it does not over-compress.  We need to avoid double compression.

Can't comment on implants from experience because I did not go that route, but even if they do show up in the back-scatter scan, no one but the TSA officer in a  nearby room sees the screen, and well..you have to believe they've seen everything by now. I don't think there will be any reaction.  On the sleeve/gauntlet or glove, I've gone through TSA screening in my compression get-up many times.  Once in a blue moon someone asks about it and wants to do the explosives scan (they swab your hand/wrist/forearm with a little bit of gauze and then stick the gauze in an analysis machine). It's never delayed me but 20 seconds or so, and rarely at all. 

Dulci, I actually doubt the implants would appear on the back-scatter monitor, because they're behind your muscles.  I think those TSA machines see through our clothing, but muscles...that would be more X-ray than the machines are purported to be sending our way!

I hope your PT tells you to wear the garments for a few hours at a time each day in the days before you take that flight, so you can get used to the feel and help your arm adjust gradually. 

I sure hope all continues to go well.  Sounds like you're on a roll!

Carol

I'm not in the least bit embarrassed about the glove/sleeve. Just my big new boobs. :-)