Flying with Lymphedema?

Options
Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited August 2016 in Lymphedema
Flying with Lymphedema?
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • debbis
    debbis Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2016

    After almost 5 years, I developed LE in my left arm. Months of PT & compression, & now I wear a sleeve & glove all day & a ready wrap at night. Question- we're flying out west next month, and will spend a week at high elevations in Montana. Anyone have any advice about wearing/not wearing garments during flight? What about hiking in the mountains? Would like to avoid trouble while there...

    Thanks!

    Debbi

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 1,455
    edited July 2016

    My LE is milder than yours, so you will likely need to continue all you are doing now to control LE.

    I hiked for two weeks at Glacier National Park last summer. I wore compression when flying, including a compression shirt, since my LE is mostly truncal. I hiked without compression, though I was prepared to use it. Deep breathing has always helped control my LE, so that likely really helped counter altitude problems. Not sure it even would have been a factor. I did not use a back pack. Instead used a fanny pack. I had to limit swinging my LE arm, pumped my arm fairly often, and used only one walking pole with my non-LE arm. If I'd conditioned with walking poles before arriving, I might have been able to use both. In the end, I managed just fine.

    I also kept well hydrated. It's a dry environment most days, at least when I was there.

    I hope you have an equally successful trip.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pjparsons
    pjparsons Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2016

    I had major swelling after a 3 hour flight. I wore my sleeve on the plane but it was not enough to stop my arm from swelling. My therapist said I would benefit from being wrapped for flying. As much as I dislike being wrapped, I dislike my arm being that big even more!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories