Flying for the 1st time

tlgio17 - there is contrary info on this subject as we have already seen here. But my encounters with two women before I had full-blown lymphedema, made me tell everyone to wear your sleeves when flying.

The first woman was my radiation RN who came into my appointment wearing a sleeve. She was 18 years out from lymph node removal when she flew 4 hours from Ohio to Arizona without a sleeve and bam, full-blown lymphedema.

The second woman I met in the waiting room at my large cancer center. She had only 1 node removed and had no trouble with lymphedema after 3 years from node removal. She had a ONE HOUR flight, did not wear a sleeve, and bam, full-blown lymphedema.

My lymphedema therapist said that you should continue wearing your sleeve after the flight for as long as your flight was - 2 hour flight, wear sleeve throughout flight and 2 hours post flight

I can never quite understand why women don't want to wear a sleeve while flying to protect themselves. Trust me, wearing a sleeve for a 3 hour flight is much easier than wearing one every day for the rest of your life! Sorry, it is summer, my sleeve is hot, and my arm is really, really swollen today because I did a little gardening yesterday! My lymphedema anger and frustration comes out! Can't hold it in some days! LOL

I had a trip last month. My lymphedema specialist and my doctors said to get the sleeve, glove, and the swell spot. Put them on an hour before the flight and leave them on for two hours after landing.

During the trip sometimes we would have elevation changes of 7000 feet in a very short time, so I needed to wear them on those days, too. I am glad I did.

I flew on a 14 hour flight 8 days after surgery. I didn’t have any problem. Didnt have to wear a sleeve.Got 3 nodes out.

I have a sleeve and gauntlet for flying, but haven't worn them yet since I have not flown. My CLT said to not wear them for the first time on the actual flight but to try them out ahead of time. How long is long enough to try them out? I have no plans to fly, but you never know. I'm afraid that the sleeve will <<give>> me lymphedema that I don't have (I have a tad of truncal that is pretty well controlled), but I'm not sure it's a valid fear. She did check the fit of the sleeve when we got it.

I don't have lymphedema. I was fitted for sleeves and gauntlets and wear them for flights over an hour, heavy yard work, and my dance class if I have any swelling for any reason (like hot weather). There's no research that shows this to prevent lymphedema, but it has been the consistent recommendation of every medical provider except my surgeon (who said "you won't get lymphedema," a statement that can't be supported). However, I've had several friends who developed lymphedema after shoveling or raking, and possibly after a flight. One person knew she was doing heavy yard work without sunblock or a sleeve, but kept going and had a month-long LE flare.

For exercise or other exertion of the arms, the recommendation is to build up gradually, stop what you're doing if it begins to hurt (in other words, no "feel the burn!" business), and to alternate different uses of the arm. I'm about to go outside to garden. That means sunblock and long gloves to prevent damage to the skin, and rotating my activities (15 minutes shoveling holes, a short break and some water, then 15 minutes of planting).

It's hard to sort out, but I'd rather do something that may be preventive. If nothing else, it provides the peace of mind of knowing I did what I could.

Appreciate the insights here everyone.  I haven't flown since mastectomy in January, but prior to that regularly traveled by air.  Will be getting back to that schedule next month, and I have ordered a sleeve.  My team hadn't discussed the gauntlet - can anyone share a little more information?  My first flight will be 2 1/2 hours, but then in August we're doing a long-haul, 8-plus and then another 2, so I am definitely planning on wearing whatever may help avoid LE.  I've only had 2 nodes removed - one SN during mastectomy and then an enlarged one 2 weeks ago.  

Thanks so much.

For those without Lymphedema, my LANA-certified PT does not recommend gloves or sleeves for patients like me (few nodes, no radiation, normal weight). She said that there is no definitive evidence, but in her experience wearing them when you don't have Lymphedema can actually trigger it. (This is not the advice given to those who already have it, of course!)

I've flown quite a few times since my surgery. So far the longest flight was 4 hours. No problems. I'm flying to the UK next month, a direct flight that's 9 hours. I have no intention of wearing anything for those flights, either.