Flying dvt weight...

[ThreeBeanChilli]

Hello.

I'm very heavy and not super active and I'm flying to Australia in a couple of months.

Just wondering about dvt risk and what I can do. I've got really anxious about it now 😬

Just wear the socks, move about as much as you can and drink as much water as you can. And if you feel unwell, don’t put it down to a chest infection. Just go straight to A&E and tell them about your flight.

I don’t mean to frighten you; once you’re diagnosed I think they’re very easy to treat. But they’re certainly not worth taking a risk with.

Absolutely this @Nagado , my haematologist says I am the safest person on the plane because I am the one who is taking all the right precautions! I still fly long haul and I just follow all the “rules” and remain vigilant.

Gosh that sounds really frightening
!

I get cramps/like shin splints on the outer of my lower leg when I walk more than. 6 or 7 minutes and have done on and off for a few years now and that originally made me worried. Now they decided my "blood clot in my lung" wasn't I guess I'm scared it could have been elsewhere but presumably they'd not have let me go for that. I'd love an ultrasound of my lower legs. I guess as it's both it's unlikely clots...

And yes I so will be taking all the precautions o. The plane.

I dont quite understand how compression stockings work - doesn't that restrict circulation?!?!

Also they say don't wear tight clothing. O live in leggings but they're just everyday next leggings ans not particularly tight. Or is that tight?

@Nagado did you have your subsequent clots while on blood thinners? I’m terrified of dd getting another but keep telling myself if she’s on thinners she should be ok. But then I also worry if she has an accident she could bleed to death.

she got sent away from a&e twice and the gp once in the couple of months before diagnosis. Both times she had an ecg which was ok and was told it was anxiety. Looking back I’m sure it was clots. The day she was diagnosed the triage nurse actually rolled her eyes at me behind dd because she asked dd how bad the pain was and dd said 9 out of 10 and was then asked what painkillers she’d had and said none. She obviously thought it was nothing again. I agree the medics don’t really consider it with younger people. There was something in the paper recently about a woman in her 20s who died from a PE after the paramedics said she was fine.

I have sent you a pm with my "story" - do make a cup of tea first!

My "very heavy" would guess at size 26 + friend is in Oz at the moment and does the journey every 2 years. She does what you have been advised to do on the plane and does heel/toe exercises as much as possible. She does like an alcoholic drink but will never have one on the plane and sticks to water and chooses a light menu. She does say she has to sit with her legs up for a couple of days when they get there but they are there for a while so doesn't spoil her holiday.

@CormorantStrikesBack No, all three while not on thinners, so hoping it doesn’t happen again now that I’m on them permanently. I know it can and does happen though, so I’m always conscious of it. I know it’s easier said than done but do try not to worry about her too much. I would hope they’ve told her about not taking NSAIDS (Anadin, Ibuprofen etc) while on her thinners. She needs to take care if she knocks herself but I find I don’t tend to bleed any more than I did previously if I cut myself or give blood (although periods were a bloody nightmare before I changed onto Apixaban). I have blood tests every six months to make sure the thinners aren’t damaging my liver. It is an ongoing management thing, but she’d have to be very unlucky to have more problems.

FishPie yes that would be my kind of weight. What's the feet up once there thing about?

(I'm currently having a "crash" me/cfs day and in bed at the moment. I an wondering if the nurse/someone could advise me in general about sedentary days but they don't all see the me/cfs and just see me as large (me came first...)

It’s easier for the blood to flow around your legs if they’re elevated. Don’t cross your ankles though.

Thanks @Nagado thats reassuring. Dd has actually asked about moving from rivioxiban to apixiban due to heavy periods and abdo pain but the GP said they’re all the same and wouldn’t discuss it even though I’ve read the clinical trials saying otherwise! I’m going to send her back with print outs! 😁

You need to start to be more act and lose some weight, obviously. Walking is excellent and the best way to ensure the health of your circulation. When you change planes in Hong Kong or Singapore, don’t sit in a lounge. Walk as many steps around the airport as possible. Keep walking even if you’re slow. Don’t use the moving walkways - just keep walking.

Well yes that would be ideal Wick! But I have limited mobility due to me/cfs which led to the excess weight gain in the first place and now I have pain issues with my feet so I can't walk more than 7-8minutes... it wasn't just that I fancied pies 🙄. If I could just easily get the weight off I would have.

If you are overweight you need to ensure you get plus sized stockings (where you measure your calves and ankles to establish the right size) otherwise they too tight

For the compression stockings? Can I measure myself and buy or do they need to be "fitted". And yes intentionally wearing something tight seems juts but I do know that's what you're supposed to do!

Hi I'm afraid aspirin is going to do very little for prophylaxis of vte , sorry to disappoint ...but good fitting stockings are an idea..below knee , and ask GP to prescribe . Pharmacy can measure . Go on thrombosis uk to look up flight risk , and I would talk to your GP about your risk and what to do . Sounds like other people have all given good advice re exercise and also keep hydrated . No alcohol.

I just ordered these for Dd, I measured her myself. I like the fact there’s proper leg measurements for the different sizes. They are very hard to put on! She was kind of between sizes and we went for the smaller size.

Thanks I tried to do an e consult with my Dr which means they'll look at my.message in about 2 weeks time then probably arrange a phone call!! It's really hard to speak to a dr but at least if I've started the ball rolling now I have the chance to speak to a gp before I go.

I do know they all have different specialisms so hope they do know about flights and dvt risks- I'd happily speak to a nurse if they knew tbh!

Thanks everyone and yes will take note of the exercises, won't drink alcohol.

I assume its okay to sleep on the plane though?

I started on Rivaroxiban and my haematologist (female) told me that no studies had been done but she had lots of anecdotal evidence that there was a huge difference. And she was right. I’ve gone from not being able to leave the house to being back to completely normal. I’d ask to see a different GP if they won’t budge. Good luck!

What is your BMI? Can you lose weight before you go?

@CormorantStrikesBack ask GP to ask advice from local haematologist as they are not all the same. Dabigatran comes out well in trials for bleeding associated with periods.

Sorry @CormorantStrikesBack Thrombosis uk website should have loads of advice about this for you to quote .

OP , the GP will definitely be able to work out your risk , I hope you get the answers you need.

If you read the whole thread and apply maybe 44 seconds of critical thinking, you'll realise that your comment is thoroughly unhelpful and a bit insulting.

Thanks Oblivious 🥰.

Even just walking slowly for5 mins then stoping and sitting then walking again really helps. Take it slowly but just keep moving. Could you use a luggage trolley as a kind of walker, to help take some weight off your feet and ankles.

I do this trip about once or twice a year and keeping gently active helps in many ways - it reduces the awful ankle swelling, and also helps a bit with jet lag. If you go through Changi (Singapore) at certain times there’s a swimming pool open - that would help and would be non-load bearing on your feet and legs.