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 😬

I'm about 120kgs and short and bought Boots own compression stockings for recent flights to/from US. I have enormous calves and I was miserable with them, I really struggled to get them on and I spent the flights trying desperately to stop them wriggling down (even though they were unbearably tight), they were so uncomfortable and they ended up around my ankles.

I think someone of my/your weight must be able to buy XXL ones for basic use and comfort. There was no point in me buying & wearing the Boots ones, for all the good they did! However I don't have any lingering clots (AFASIK!).

Have a wonderful time!

You are insulting. Losing 10% of body weight makes a huge difference to your health. With a couple of months to go losing half a stone to a stone is viable. I know. I’ve done it and I have health conditions which hinder weight loss. People like you and OP ridiculing me for making a perfectly reasonable suggestion of losing weight is why the NHS is on its knees. Not taking responsibility and just wanting more and more drs appointments and for someone else to sort out the fundamental problem which is obesity. If OP is healthy enough to travel across the world surely restricting calories and losing a few pounds is not an offensive course of action.

Even if you can't walk much, you can exercise your calf muscles while sitting. Point your toes forward, then up. Repeat several times. You can do this sitting on the plane as well. Circle your feet one way then the other way. It is your calf muscles that are effective in keeping the blood moving.
When you put you compression stockings on, lie down and elevate your legs first.
Be extra careful on the return flight to follow all the rules. Be vigilant about any symptoms once you get home.

Thanks yes I will try and get some advice about sizing. Hopefully a google and the Pharmacist will help there. I'm a regular shoe size but obviously much wider than average calves!

Endof and others suggesting seated exercises- thankyou yes that's really helpful thankyou 😁.

My Dr has sent me a message with a link to a patient info sheet with a bit more detail about exercises and what to look for so even without an appointment that's really helpful and confirms a lot of what's said upthread.

So plan will be
Water lots
No alcohol (I don't really drink much irl but might have had a glasss just because - but will avoid it completely)
Ankle exercises.
Walking on the plane when practical.
I have a 6 hour break so will move around and so ankle exercises when seated.
Compression stockings. I'll look at getting those in Feb half term.

Thankyou all for your help 😁

Novelby - so much I could say.... but I haven't got the Spoons currently to reply so will leave it for you to work out why that's not actually helpful.

Someone tells you (very politely, all things considered) that if you’d rtft you’d understand why your suggestion isn’t helpful. And instead of actually reading the thread, you’ve decided to double down and accuse people of insulting you during their attempts to break down the NHS? Interesting decision 🙄

Have you got the same conditions that the OP disclosed? At the same stage? And with similar severity of symptoms? Because, unless you have, you would have sod all idea how difficult it was for the OP to exercise unless you did something really radical and read the sodding thread where she clearly explains why she won’t be entering any triathlons anytime soon. It’s absolutely irrelevant what conditions you have. You aren’t the OP and you have no idea what she’s dealing with.

Nobody is ridiculing you for suggesting that weight loss is likely to reduce a clot occurring. If anyone is ridiculing you, it will be because you’re showing yourself right up.

Calorie restriction results in weight loss not exercise. If the OP is mobile enough to travel half way across the world I don’t see how suggesting losing some weight in the two months she has before she goes is offensive. It’s offensive to suggest that people with health conditions can’t lose weight. My original advice was not said with malice but all your reactions are intended to insult me personally. My reply defending myself is because of the attacks by the OP and other posters.

I've never once started a pleasant, reasonable response to someone with "What's your BMI?". I suggest that you don't lead with that maybe?

Nobody has attacked you. You were blunt, appeared to have paid no attention to the thread and made assumptions about OP's health (which you continue to do).

OP has already said thanks but no thanks to what you have proffered, might be an idea to just leave it there.

Thankyou Novelby for your really helpful suggestion. It's amazing that I could get to such a size without ever having thought "maybe I could lose weight".

I am so grateful for your comment as I had truly never thought about that before... glad its that simple :)

I asked valid questions that are relevant to the risks the OP is taking when doing such a long haul flight. I think a previous poster actually said ‘obviously lose weight’ but their thread hasn’t been dissected and they have not been ridiculed by so many of the other posters like I have.

The one thing that will have the biggest impact on OP’s risks when flying long haul at a a size 26 or bigger is to lose weight. That’s a fact.

Aspirin is not recommended anymore for long haul flights to reduce the risk of DVT/PE.

If OP gets compression socks fitted incorrectly they will actually INCREASE the risk of DVT and PE.

It’s all good and well the OP saying oh I’ve not thought about losing weight sarcatically to me however, it’s not me flying long haul at her ‘heavy weight and 26 and above size’ and the risk OP is taking is very high for DVT and PE. Belittling me, being sarcastic about 2 valid questions I asked without malice that you say is blunt (I disagree a question is a question) won’t change the facts.

I hope OP does have a safe flight but denying that losing weight is an option is just an illogical way to tackle the risks OP is exposing herself to.

Oh ffs are you really like this irl?!

I got my stocking off Amazon. Just put in plus size or xxl compression stockings and various options came up, you can do your own calf and ankle measurements. Too tight and they are very uncomfortable as a pp said - you want something that does what you need it to do but not leave huge welts round the tops of your calf

No need to swear OP!

NICE guidelines attached.

Speak to your GP as according to these guidelines you have 2 risk factors (limited mobility and obesity) for DVT/PE maybe 3 with your previous ? PE you maybe eligible for a low level heparin. This may invalidate your insurance though so you would need to check.

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/dvt-prevention-for-travellers/

It's appears so.

You are bullies in real life aren’t you? That is how you come across to me ganging up and bullying.

FFS, will you give it a rest?! You are the only one causing upset here. You’ve not read the thread. You were politely advised to read it before commenting any further and instead of doing that, you’ve carried on posting with suggestions about weight loss that the OP has clearly explained are not an option for her and accusations that she’s harming the NHS with her attitude. She’s well aware of the sodding risks. That’s why she posted, looking for support and advice. All you’re doing is causing her extra stress and possibly making her more frightened than she already is. And she hasn’t told you to piss off. She’s taken the high road and only used sarcasm when you kept on needling her, and you’ve got the brass neck to complain that people aren’t being very nice to you?

It’s offensive to suggest that people with health conditions can’t lose weight. Who the fuck suggested that people with health conditions can’t lose weight?

You join the bullies and swearing to get your point across group. Just bullies through and through.

‘Have you got the same conditions that the OP disclosed? At the same stage? And with similar severity of symptoms? Because, unless you have, you would have sod all idea how difficult it was for the OP to exercise unless you did something really radical and read the sodding thread where she clearly explains why she won’t be entering any triathlons anytime soon. It’s absolutely irrelevant what conditions you have. You aren’t the OP and you have no idea what she’s dealing with.‘

@Nagado your banging on about exercise here when I’ve never mentioned exercise! I politely pointed out weight loss is more about calorie restriction and you ridiculed me and banged on about exercise! You are the one showing yourself up not me.

I have read the thread and I’ve offered evidence based advice too. Have you even read the thread?

I am probably about same weight or near enough. I used to have the same pain in my calves, even walking a few steps of a a 100 yards. I'd love to say its something else but it is due to my weight and if you aren't used to walking your muscles are weak. I lost a stone and focused on weight training to strengthen my muscles and started walking more and its gone away.

I'm saw in your post about how you gained weight and obviously its also maybe less easy for to lose it as you csnt exercise in the way i can just pop off to the gym so maybe see what type of strength training you can do within your limitations but keep at it as try your best to lose some as that pain will go away and you will walk more.

I can now walk pain free all the time although I now have some issues with my hip bit my physio was honest with me saying I have weak glutes and core and if I work on those ill be completely norm again and to keep losing weight as its contributing to my issues.

Its hard to hear but I accept it and continue on my journey to lose weight.

Also I did long haul flight and I got an aisle seat and got up to move and stretch quite a lot and drank water. I didnt have the socks though. I was fine

Ahh, you’re one of those people. You go through life voicing whatever thoughts pop into your head and not caring who you upset and when someone calls you out on it and tells you to pack it in, you cry ‘bully’ and play the victim.

I think a previous poster actually said ‘obviously lose weight’ but their thread hasn’t been dissected and they have not been ridiculed by so many of the other posters like I have might have been because the OP replied explaining why it wasn’t an option for her and that poster didn’t keep coming back and insisting that the OP just adjust her attitude and try harder. Unlike you.

Also, I swear like a navvy, in all situations and not just to get my point across. I know it probably suits you better to believe it’s just me being extra horrible to you, so do feel free not to believe me.

Are you on a wind up now? I mentioned exercise because the OP has said she has mobility issues. And because she’s a grown adult and clearly not stupid, I’m working on the basis that calorie restriction may already have already occurred to her.

@nagado have you no self awareness at all! Have you read what you’ve written it is nonsense.

Oh I get it now you can read minds and you like to make assumptions too silly me for not realising that about you 😂

It’s like arguing with an egg mayo sandwich. Utterly futile. I know you won’t be able to help yourself, so feel free to have the last word on me. I won’t reply and you can go to bed feeling thoroughly vindicated about how you put a nasty bully in her place 👏

You do have some self awareness @Nagado your final post admitting you are a ‘nasty bully’ shows this to me. My apologies I stand corrected.