Flying with aps

[Vespa1]

We are about to make a short hall flight to jersey from england. This is to celebrate or ruby wedding. We have not flown since my husband had a stroke 2 weeks after returning from Portugal. I have always been suspicious about he possibility it was related to the flight. This was his 3rd stroke and a big one!! No doctor has ever confirmed nor dismissed my thoughts. Our hopoe is that a short hall will be Ok ,1 hour. We shall endeavour to get a high inr reading about 3.5 or just above thasts the range hospital allows for my husband I do know others of you have higher ranges. We have wondered about taking a mini asprin to support the thinning around the time of flying has anyone else done or heard of this?

[Gearsau]

I suffered a stroke back in 2011. It was a big one. My third in fact. I don't even recall the other two, but, the hospital determined this after a cat. scan.

I ended up in hospital for 128 days. Could not walk, and lost my " short term memory" . If you saw me now, you wouldn't think I had suffered a stroke. I'm on a daily dose of Warfarin.

As far as I am concerned, my stroke was caused by being literally trapped in a " Y" class seat. I didn't need a toilet break, so didn't get up and stretch my legs as I normally would have done. The flight was about 9 hours, Bangkok to Australia. About a week after that flight, was when I suffered the stroke.

My target INR is 2.2 ~ 2.5 .

My doctor has cleared me for travel, but I will not fly in " Y " class again.

[Lure2 in reply to Gearsau]

Your INR 2.2 - 2.5 is quite too low. You are not properly anticoagulated at that INR with our illness.

I guess you have a Doctor who does not know what APS stands for - too thick blood! Try to get a Specialist who understands that we need an INR of 3.0 to avoid clots. To have a Specialist of APS (there are very few of them) is very important.

I fell best (no symptoms) when my INR is near 4.0. I selftest here in Stockholm.

Best wishes from Kerstin

[Gearsau in reply to Lure2]

Thanks for the reply, but, I have had a few doctors in the past few years, due to a couple of apartment moves .... I'm " alive and kicking", so, that's all that matters.

[Lure2 in reply to Gearsau]

No, that is not all that matters! I know what I am talking of.

Perhaps you have not been tested for APS and in that case it explains why the INR is so low.

Do you have a diagnose of APS?

Kerstin

[Gearsau in reply to Lure2]

I don't even know what APS is. I did have 128 days in hospital, and, 5 times a week ( not on weekends), they would come along and draw blood out of me. Initially, I could not even walk, and the hospital had to teach me to walk. I had " short term memory loss", as well. Slowly that improved as well.

I wasn't allowed to drive a car for 7 months.

If you saw me now, you wouldn't think I suffered a stroke.

[Zezes-nan in reply to Lure2]

Thanks for the reply , I think all of us are different so our INR ranges can vary . Like Gearsu my therapeutic range is 2-3 with a target of 2.5, This was decided my by haematologist following a saddle PE and diagnosis of APS.

[Fra22-57]

Keep getting up from seat and having a look break. Do leg and feet exercises while sat and take plenty of fluids. ..not alcohol. Wear good flights socks. Get your INR checked before you go and relax and have a great holiday.

[anniesensi]

My INR can be erratic so I keep clexane in the bathroom cupboard. I have had a stroke, very bad arterial clots and PE's but was told that as long as I am above 3 I am safe to fly, and if below 3 safe to fly if I use clexane.

Interestingly I have been told not to wear flight stockings as I the clot in my leg was arterial and needed surgery.

Enjoy your trip!

[TJSTICKYBLOOD in reply to anniesensi]

I too was told not to wear stockings as I had a serious clot in my leg but I did not need surgery the doctor said this was because blood flow in my leg was limited and stockings suppress blood flow

[MaryF Administrator]

Nice advice and I agree. MaryF

[minnime63]

The most recent HSF Newsletter (issue no. 41) has a really useful article about flying. Sorry, I can't see how to share as its opened in pdf viewer 😏 I'm sure if you contacted Kate Hindle she could email you a copy x

[TJSTICKYBLOOD]

Most of my thrombotic events have happened post flying and post delivery of children. Aps not fab gives amazing advice. Since being diagnosed and on treatment I have flown a fair bit up to 6 hours . I sometimes get puffy ankles on longer flights but other than that no significant happenings. I make sure I'm at the top end of my range when flying going out but never know what I am coming back .