International Travel with TE's - UGH!- Should I be worried??

Peacetoallcuzweneedit
Peacetoallcuzweneedit Member Posts: 233
edited October 2017 in Breast Reconstruction

Hi ladies - I am recovering from BMX June 1st. I had my final fill July 5th and my PS wanted to go ahead and schedule exchange BEFORE my trip to Greece ( planned wwwwwaaaayyy before cancer showed up at my door - I going to see my grandmother's village!) which is Sept 1st. My BS offered her input and helped with deciding to hold off on exchange until after Greece. I am holding off, but will be traveling with my coconuts from Los Angeles to Greece on two very long flights ~13hrs. I had a SNB on my left side and my BS is not worried about lymphedema risks, but has recommended a compression bra for all flight travel regardless of duration of flight. Anyone used one in flight and has it impacted arm?? Has anyone slept on long flights and not gotten up to move around every hour as recommended and been ok? ( my brain is in overdrive)

Ladies I am kind of laying awake at night wondering - wth??? Is this smart to do? Anyone with any advice??? Anyone out there who has flown international with their TE's? So appreciative of any advice and time given...hoping we all continue to heal in any way we need it. - peace

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • macb04
    macb04 Member Posts: 1,433
    edited July 2017

    Hi,

    I flew to Ireland from Seattle almost 3 months later( after Exchange to my Implant), last spring and had some issues with swelling in my arm which scared me. I had gotten a Compression Sleeve before I went. It was a 9 plus hour trip. I went swimming as often as I could, which was a pain, as it was a trip across the city to get to the pool. Hopefully you will be staying somewhere with a pool. I was staying at my MIL's house. Going there again this Sunday. Arranging pool access again, as well as bringing the Compression Sleeve on the flight, just in case. I haven't had any real issues in a long time, so haven't worn the Compression Sleeve since last trip, last summer. I had 19 lymph nodes chopped out, so worse off then you, but I do know of women who got Lymphedema even with just a SNB. Sorry, not meaning to scare you, but doctors really don't know , and I figure you want the truth, not just some platitudes.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Peacetoallcuzweneedit
    Peacetoallcuzweneedit Member Posts: 233
    edited July 2017

    Thank you macb04! I do want the truth....I was concerned about my arm as well on the SNB side. Were you fitted for a compression sleeve? I am considering getting an appointment with a Lymphedema Therapist just to hear what they have to say about it. Did your swelling occur immediate after the flight? I have read that I need to keep compression garments on after the flight to adjust....I thought there were more risks on these long flights. Safe and event free travel wishes sent your way for the upcoming journey!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • geeyes
    geeyes Member Posts: 5
    edited July 2017

    Hi,

    I will be flying international (20+ hrs) late next month, with TEs. It will be almost 6 months post BMX.( i did not have the exchange yet due to radiation following BMX). I have not heard about compression bra/ sleeve. is this something BS recommends? And is it recommended for air travel always? I haven't discussed my travel plans with my BS...

    As an aside, my TEs make it super uncomfortable to sleep every night. (Wish I could remove them at night and curl up comfortably in bed!!) I worry about this too for the travel.

    Wishing you a safe and fun trip! We will be flying around the same time..

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Bootscootin
    Bootscootin Member Posts: 70
    edited July 2017

    Anyone who has had even one lymph node removed is at risk for lymphedema. Wearing a compression sleeve and gauntlet or glove on flights is a good idea even without a lymphedema diagnosis.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • geeyes
    geeyes Member Posts: 5
    edited July 2017

    Thanks Bootscootin. i will look into getting one before flying out..

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • macb04
    macb04 Member Posts: 1,433
    edited July 2017

    You need to get fitted, and insurance is required to pay for at least some portion of the cost of Prescribed Compression Sleeves or gloves. You can also just buy additional Compression Sleeves if you want as well. It is ideal to be fitted initially by a Lymphedema Specialist who will tell you the right degree of compression required in your particular situation. Sleeves are graded by degree of "tightness", and the tighter sleeves are for worse Lymphedema situations that need a stronger amount of compression.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sassa
    Sassa Member Posts: 1,588
    edited July 2017

    Just an FYI for something I noticed when flying with TEs.

    When I flew, I notice my chest area would ache after landing. I finally realized that the change in air pressure during flight (lower in the air) and then the increase in pressure upon landing had probably affected the saline volume - think of how a thin water bottle looks after a flight.

    This slight expansion and contraction seem to cause my chest muscles to ache.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • meg2016
    meg2016 Member Posts: 287
    edited July 2017

    I've been to New Zealand, India, and Europe twice with mine and getting ready to go to India again! I have had no issues other than tightness around the TE during flying and after landing. I often just sit with my arms behind my headrest or up on the ceiling to try to keep joints looser and stretch. The first couple of flights I wore my compression sleeve, but I kept getting tingling fingers with it, it did well for shorter flights but caused its own issues on much on longer ones. I tried a couple of different custom fitted sleeves but none seemed to not cause me to have circulation issues. So I tried not wearing the sleeve (I realize this is risky but I was weighing two bad choices) and had no issues. I don't wear the sleeve anymore when I fly. I do try to get up every couple hours and really stretch well unless I'm asleep (sleep if you can sleep.) Exercise the day before and when you arrive also can help. I would still recommend you get a sleeve and use it if you can, but other than that just wanted to assure you that you shouldn't have any issues with travel.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ready2bedone
    ready2bedone Member Posts: 95
    edited August 2017

    I am 2 months post op and flew a couple of weeks ago overseas. Had no issues with my TEs at all - not even through security which surprised me a bit. I wore the compression sleeve for the long flight there but didn't bother on the way back. No swelling. I did wear compression socks though because I have had a DVT in the past.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Peacetoallcuzweneedit
    Peacetoallcuzweneedit Member Posts: 233
    edited September 2017

    I am posting to just conclude this post and let any other of my BC survivor sisters know what my outcome was regarding my question, especially if anyone searches this topic in the future.

    My left TE expander failed ~3wks before my scheduled flight. I actually had it replaced and flew with a 1wk old incision. Went to a Certified Lymphedema Therapist about 3wks before flight was fitted for compression sleeve and gauntlet. Went to be fitted for my compression bra about 2 weeks before flight and used my "good side" to get a good fit. Both my sleeve/gauntlet and bra needed a week lead time to arrive at my home on time. (keep this in mind if this applies to you)

    1) First flight --> 10hrs then layover with another 3hrs flight plus layover plus another 3hr flight because we ended up missing connection. Wore my sleeve, gauntlet, and bra --> no problems --> got up moved around and also slept....no problems....drank over 4L of water. Took sleeve off as soon as we got off plane (following rec from my Lymph Therapist)

    2) Flight Home: ~2hr flight then another 14hr flight.....did exact same thing....and no problems.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hipposinnyc
    hipposinnyc Member Posts: 9
    edited October 2017

    Hopefully you had a lovely trip to Greece in the meantime without any issues !!

    I just went through a third surgery and my PS believes that all my problems might be flight related. I had a mastectomy with imidate reconstruction in 9/16 and flew with that Tissue Expander just 4 weeks after my surgery to Europe. My mom had suddenly passed away after complications with Pancreatic Cancer and I wanted to be there for her funeral. We flew business class (ouch $$$$), so that I would be comfortable enough and we used the wheelchair service, so that nobody would accidentally bump into me. I wore a professionally fitted compression sleeve and a gauntlet. --> other than some tightness in the chest area, I had no major issues.

    Soon after that I flew again, also without issues. Then I had radiation and flew again. Tightness in chest area was much worse after the next flight and I started wearing a compression T-Shirt, which somewhat helped. After a couple more flights I discovered that my TE must be leaking as it became smaller within a week. In August of 2017 my PS scheduled surgery for the exchange to the silicone implant on a Friday for the following Tuesday. He thought that the leak might be related to ripples occuring with expansion and retraction during and after the flight (think water bottle).

    With my silicone implant I waited six weeks before I flew a couple of times domestically for work. My chest went bonkers. Lots and lots of swelling, very red, shiny and waxy skin, extremely painful. When I got back home it got a little better, but figured I should see my PS. He scheduled surgery for the very same day and I am now his first patient ever that went from Silicone implant back to TE.

    He is very careful saying that it might have been for other reasons, but there is at least anecdotal evidence, that my problems have been flight related.

    So I'd say two things: a) if you had lymph nodes removed, you are ALWAYS at risk for lymphedema -> you should wear a professional fitted compression sleeve (my insurance did not pay for it and they are expensive $70+++ but certainly better than the alternative) and b) have your PS's phone number with you to call immediately when something seems off. It is also a good idea to have antibiotics with you just in case the PS determines that it would be safer to take some after you called him, as you might not be able to fill a prescription in Greece or wherever you travel to...


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories