Fly

[Sue5453]

Has anyone got to Airport ready to go on holiday and start with A F and have you got on the plane and still gone on your hols as I am going on holiday But not had AF for 18month till yesterday morning at 4 o’clock and I went to doctors At 9 but gone back to been ok so worrying now if that happens when I get there do I fly or not I am only taking Apixaban blood thinner nothing else for it as I only got it 18 months ago becouse I had very bad chest infection that was 2016 the one befor that was 2012 and had bad chest infections so it was said that’s what brings mine on so don’t know what happened other morning

[Bshersey]

I decided to fly from Boston to San Diego on business 10 days after my ablation. I got my first post-ablation AF attack in the Lyft on my way to the airport. I was panicked. It eventually went away. I had a few more during the week in San Diego. But they eventually went away also. Give yourself plenty of time to rest. And figure out where the nearest ER is in case you need to make a stop.

[Bshersey in reply to Bshersey]

It also helps that post-ablation, my heart rate stays pretty low even when I get periodic episodes. Hovers right around 90-100 during the episode and then goes back down after. That makes it easier not to worry so much.

[BobD Volunteer]

Many times but then I used to do lots of interesting things when in AF as I never let it rule my life. . Stay well hydrated and enjoy your trip unless you are one of the very few who always need hospital treatment. I expect it is the anxiety of the trip causing your problem.

[Flo2pen in reply to BobD]

Morning BobD... so then its only been 2 months since my 2 ablations. Is it still a good idea tho to travel on airplane that is, even tho I still feel the palpitations?? I feel them religiously in the wee hours of the morning...then it eventually subsides...

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Flo2pen]

Why not? You can stay at home and feel rubbish if you have an event or go on holiday and enjoy the change of scenery when you don't. Try not to let your life be ruled by fear. Just plan carefully so as to avoid too much stress, stay well hydrated and avoid alcohol which might be inviting problems especially in hot weather.

[MMurt in reply to Flo2pen]

I went to Spain 1 week after my first ablation against advise from hospital

Bad mistake, I think you need to rest until you feel back to normal

[Peddling]

Yes, I have, often. It’s the anxiety which is the devil, but if you usually cope with your af, without having to go to hospital, you will be OK. Stress management is the bigger problem.

[CDreamer in reply to Peddling]

Absolutely.

[CDreamer]

Yes happened to me, just took it very slowly and went step by step saying I’ll just get to the airport and see how I feel - I’ll just check in and see how I feel - I’ll just get on the plane and see how they feel - got on plane - deep breathing exercises when I got into my seat and half way through the flight I converted to NSR. I did have my Kardia with me and I didn’t feel unwell in any way. Nothing further happened and I had a great holiday.

I would say I’m not a worrier, I know how to monitor myself and what to do and I mostly self-convert to NSR without drugs or cardioversion within 5-7 hours. I’m not advising doing it - very much up to the individual - but I have and I am determined not to allow AF, or anything else, to stop me doing what I want to do, I am anti-coagulated by the way.

Oh.....always make sure you have good travel insurance and have declared AF & any other conditions.

[Sue5453 in reply to CDreamer]

What is your kardia and what do you do to get it ok

[IanMK in reply to Sue5453]

It’s basically a personal ECG monitor that works in conjunction with your smartphone. You can buy them from Amazon amongst other places.

[CDreamer in reply to Sue5453]

As Ian explained - many of us AFibbers have one so that we can take our own traces to show to cardiologists or EP to help with diagnosis but also evidence of frequently which helps in decision making for treatments.

[Flo2pen in reply to CDreamer]

CDreamer what exactly is NSR?

[Flo2pen in reply to CDreamer]

If you tell the airlines you have AF. would they still let you board or fly tho??

[CDreamer in reply to Flo2pen]

NSR = normal sinus rythm.

If you look at GInnik’s reply it would seem they could stop you boarding but as there are millions in permanent AF who fly all over the world, several who post here, I doubt that most people would ever let on - I certainly wouldn’t.

But neither is it a good idea to board when you feel ill or have chest pain. Please see my original reply and all of the posters here who still fly, often frequently and have to for work. A little self-management is required.

AF is a chronic condition you need to learn to live with and not allow it to control your life.

[Flo2pen in reply to CDreamer]

Well said indeed... thanks for d advice

[Ginnik]

Yes I did have an AF attack at the airport at the departure gate. I have very symptomatic AF with bouts of fainting etc and was told I couldn’t fly. This was at Christmas and since then have been on two flights with a long delay between each flight. I was worried about flying after the Christmas episode so my GP gave me a light sedative, which worked very well - I enjoyed the flights and my holiday. Most AF attacks can be caused by anxiety and stress so best to be anxiety free - sometimes easier said than done!!

[baba]

It really depends how you personally are affected by an AF episode. Symptoms vary so much.

[Maura5]

Hi Sue, earlier this year I was on a flight which had just taken off for Hong Kong and I went into an AF episode which lasted 4 hours, I travelled around the Far East for three weeks with no other problems until half way home to London on the flight from Singapore and AF reared it’s ugly head again, nothing I could do but wait it out and it stopped after about 3 hours. I work for an Airline and travel quite extensively, I have had AF episodes all over the world! I know it’s scary especially when you’re traveling but I’ve lived to tell the tale! I’m determined not to let this rule my life and neither should you. Maybe ask your doctor to prescribe a pill in pocket incase of an attack or even something to help you relax. Go and enjoy your holiday and try not to worry too much. Have fun x

[Sue5453]

What med are you on I am only on Apixaban and other time they put me on Digoxin and that seem to put back beating fine but tock me of it after a few week after it went ok I have ask if I can take some with me but he said not realy

[CDreamer in reply to Sue5453]

I take only Apixaban - no AF meds. I can’t have any further treatments for AF - it’s not a problem as all treatment is considered for quality of life - not life lengthening. If you can cope with the symptoms which I mostly can, you don’t really need anything but as others have said - really depends upon how symptomatic you are.

[Sue5453 in reply to CDreamer]

What symptoms do you get when you have Af and what do you do

[CDreamer in reply to Sue5453]

Varies hugely - anything from being able to carrying on as per normal to being admitted to ACU with HR oat 185 and BP unreadable, syncope and unable to sit up without passing out. I have other very disabling conditions which trouble me far more than AF which means all drugs are contraindicated. I am currently on Pace and & Ablate waiting list.

What do I do - put on my CPAP - I have a travelling one - practise some Mindfulness and HeartMath exercises and then plug into an audible book and dose off and wait it out until it passes as I am lucky and it has always self converted within 5-6 hours, at least until now. ACU admission is only when it doesn’t convert after 48 hours as far as I am concerned and last time they only monitored me.

I’ve had lots of practise over the 13 or so years so AF is more an inconvenience than an emergency. The strangest place I have had AF was in a small boat whilst whale watching Humpback whales breaching 5m away in a Ffjord in Iceland in 2017 - but there have been other rather strange ones.

[Maura5 in reply to Sue5453]

Hi Sue at the moment only dabigatran anticoagulant and I have verapamil and Flecainide as a PIP if I need them.

[opal11uk]

Yes, many times, often due to anxiety.

[Emsysy]

Yes, Sue. Had a bad attack some years ago waiting to catch a plane to Sri Lanka. Contacted my cardiologist who said to just relax, not worry, take the flight and the holiday would do me good; which it did. At that time I was on Amiodarone and junior aspirin.

[Jollies]

Hi. I did my last flight and it was the one home. I put it down to the stress of the airport. It was hot, very busy and the queues were awful. Just keep on with exercises, keep hydrated. Flight was 4 hrs 40 mins so I just read my book.

[Sue5453 in reply to Jollies]

What exercise do you do to help with it

[Jollies in reply to Sue5453]

I try to do exercises to control my breathing to get me to relax. Also like CD I talk my way through the process, just get through security and see how you feel, just get to the gate, just get on the plane. On board whether short or long haul I always do feet and leg exercises to help with circulation. X

[Cas33]

I read with interest how your AF started, with “ chest infections”.

I started the same as I thought, but in my case what I thought where chest infections, turned out to AF.

Hope you get a proper diagnosis and proper treatment.

[Sue5453]

Mine came on after a lot of weeks chest infection and 3 lots off antibiotics and steroids then it came for the first time Af and then next time I got the antibiotics as soon as I got bad chest then it sorted it and then the second time I was 6 weeks different antibiotics and steroids and got Af again that why they have got it down as that’s what corses my Af but woke other morning with it but haveing lot of trouble with mucus in my throat and woke with Af but only lasted 4 hours I got in with Doctors but. It had gone back that was after 18 month so thought it gone for good what. Meds do you take as I am only on Apixaban no others and my inhalers for my asma

[Sue5453]

I have been on holiday and back now and A F never showed it’s ugly face and so had a great holiday with my husband and family but thankyou to all of you for your advice it’s great knowing there’s lot of you lovely lot to talk about it and make you feel a lot happier