Air Travel to India with cirrhosis

[Beauport]

Hello everyone - Hope you all had a good Christmas. I'm hoping someone out there can help me re my flight to Goa on 7 Jan. My concern is that, although my gastro man okayed my flight some months ago, a recent blood test showed a very low platelet count. I was also originally diagnosed with mild portal hypertension. This morning I had a light nosebleed and this evening a black splodge has appeared on the heel of one hand, identical to the marks that appeared on my lip some months ago (which are still there). Do these factors indicate internal bleeding? Am I safe to spend 9/10 hours in a plane cabin? Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

[Eurotrash]

Hello!

I'm not medically trained but I worked in medical evacuations for an insurance company for a long time.

I think you need to see a doctor to reassess whether you're fit to fly. This is both for your safety and for insurance reasons. If you get sick, you might not be covered while in India.

The symptoms and results you describe mean that you might be at risk of bleeding and I don't want to tell you that you shouldn't fly but you really need to speak to a doctor before you do and make sure you're ok.

Good luck!

[Beauport in reply to Eurotrash]

Thank you so much. I'll check it out with my specialist on Tuesday.

[LAJ123]

Hello there,

This link might help.

caa.co.uk/Passengers/Before...

Jim

[GrittyReads]

I agree with Eurotrash. As well as checking with your Dr, I would also check your travel insurance. Even if they are okay to cover you, it is always necessary to report any new health checks and changes to insurance, they will not cover any changes you have not informed them about. Also, I'm pretty sure that many (if not all) travel insurance packages, will - now - not cover a plane diversion/landing etc if you are ill on a flight.

Sorry to be a wet blanket, but you do need to check all this very carefully.

Good luck.

[Beauport in reply to GrittyReads]

Thanks for that Gritty. I have made an appointment with my gastro man for next Thursday. Interestingly, I haven't been taking my Vitamin K for a while and Vit K, as you may know, is prescribed to treat low platelets.

I'm not covered for cirrhosis anyway so I'll be travelling on a wing and a prayer! I'm 70 - have to try to live a little before I die.

[GrittyReads in reply to Beauport]

I love the 'devil-may-care' approach. Good on yer!

However, even if not covered for cirrhosis, I would still tell them of any new health changes regarding it: or anything else (covered or not). Mine won't cover me if there's stuff I have not told them, even if what goes wrong has nothing to do with what I have not told them!!

Enjoy yourself!!

[Beauport in reply to GrittyReads]

Cheers Gritty. Apart from the liver and the fibromyalgia and the arthritis- ! - I'm fine! Nothing else life threatening that I know of. Thanks again for your advice - without consulting all of you at BLT I probably wouldn't have bothered making an urgent appointment with Mr Gastro. xx

[Eurotrash in reply to Beauport]

Insurance companies are sneaky and if they have an excuse not to cover you, they won't! Updating them and paying a bit Korea does the trick!

[Beauport in reply to Eurotrash]

Thanks Eurotrash. I'll contact them after I've seen my consultant this pm.

[andy-g]

Hi, I was not allowed to fly at all when my cirrhosis was decompensated but your consultant should be consulted.I was also not allowed to fly until 6 months after transplant. I put off my trip to India ( wanted to visit brth place) your doctor knows best but with a low platlet count I wouldn't be straying too far from home until the platelets are up. In my case I had a portal vein thrombosis also.But I always say ask the doctors to be sure

[Beauport in reply to andy-g]

Thanks so much Andy. My cirrhosis is compensated. My GP said platelets do vary so she wasn't overly concerned. However I've made an appointment with my gastro for Thursday. He okayed me to fly a few months ago but of course I need to check he's still of the same mind. How long ago was your transplant Andy? I hope you're feeling as good as new now. Happy New Year to you.

[andy-g in reply to Beauport]

I Just celebrated my 1st tx anniversary. I am really pleased to hear you are keeping up a dialogue with the professioals. I progressed from compensated quite quickly and the constant monitoring has kept me alive. Hope you make your trip and have a great time. I am envious. Have a great and healthy new year.

[Beauport]

You too Andy. Stay well.