just after some advice..

[lizzie1986]

I have a hole in the heart that last year led to a heart attack when a blood clot passed through it. as a result I'm on beta blockers and blood thinners whilst they decide what to do. I flew to America on Tuesday and since I've been feeling really sick and off my food. I have lots of new bruises and yesterday my gum was bleeding for ages for no apparent reason. anyone else had issues after flying?? don't really know how to make myself feel better. it's also very hot and so dehydration might be a factor...

[Routemaster]

Hi Lizzie

I do not know about flying but my husband is on Warfarin and he was told to have an INR check if he ever experienced bleeding which did not stop easily. It might me that your dosage of the blood thinners needs altering.

Is there somewhere you can go to seek medical advice?

Ann

[lizzie1986 in reply to Routemaster]

having never been before I am not sure. I dunno whether to see if it settles over the next couple of days. my pulse seems fine ... it's just the feeling of nausea and bruising.

[stevejb1810]

Firstly, I hope you have good travel insurance - being ill in the US doesn't come cheap. You should probably get your bloods done to see if the thinners need adjusting. If you even suspect you are dehydrated, you should be drinking plenty of water. I assume you were given the all clear to fly given your condition and meds?

[lizzie1986 in reply to stevejb1810]

thankfully I have 2 lots of insurance. maybe I need to really hydrate today and see if that sorts it. maybe my blood pressure is a tad low which is causing the nausea.

[Hidden]

Hi Lizzie.

Snap I too have a pfo which wasn't discovered until I had a heart attack 18 months ago. I was advised that as O haven't had it closed that altitude may be a problem for me. I tested this out on Ben Nevis and had only got to about 1000 ft when I felt very unwell and headed straight down again. So am wondering if the flight may have caused more shunting than normal. Hope you haven't got any heat in the bruised areas such as your legs as remember that clots can be a problem with a pfo.

I would Google pfo and altitude.

Obviously if you continue to feel unwell please get checked out before flying home again. Let us know how you get on

[lizzie1986]

that makes perfect sense. I've been here a week now and things have started to settle a lot... I feel a lot less sick than I was and my blood pressure has settled. must be the flying! if I feel the same after going back at least that then solves it. are you looking at getting a closure?

[Hidden]

Still pretty undecided. I actually have an MRI tomorrow to check what's going on I'm my brain. It's one of 3 things stroke, TIAs or hemiplegic migraines. Have suffered migraines for 40 years and there are links to pfos. I know quite a few people who's migraines have got worse after closure. Plus I need too get saving, there is no way I would want a device closure for need £8k to have Noblestitch closure done.

Glad you are feeling a bit better and hopper this hasn't spoilt your trip. Have you had/planning closures x

[lizzie1986 in reply to Hidden]

I hope to have a closure as I'm only 31 and after a heart attack I just wanna draw a line underneath it all. I have a 2 year old and would like another so closure would be best. the funding from nhs may be an issue, but I'm waiting to go to leeds to see the dr there and see if the funding has been set up yet. if not it will be a long road via the mp!

[Hidden in reply to lizzie1986]

They seem to have this magical figure of 2 strokes before they will fund closure. Very bizarre. AFAIK Nice have it on a rolling review but it can also be health board dependant. I totally get why you would want closure at your age I am 55 so am happy to plod along on my meds just now. Keep us posted how you get on x