Flying and PV

[Aime]

Hi, has anyone had any advice from their haem about flying (short haul about 5 hours) with PV. I am going away at the end of September and will ask my haem advice but just wondered if anyone else had experienced any problems?

[Geoff_mpnfamily]

Hi, Aime, yes I asked about 3 years ago for our honeymoon (it finished up just being a week at home lol)

The response was oh um hmm er it shooooould be ok but you must wear flight socks. I didn't think to ask about my asprin or if I needed to up the dose for a short time.

[skodaguy]

Had PV for number of years and flew to US from UK few times without problems. Make sure your haematocrit isn't high before going and avoid dehydration so drink plenty of water. Flight socks are not effective in preventing DVT's so get up and move around the cabin every so often. Could up aspirin to 300mg that day taken before flying but 75mg is enough. Be honest with insurers as not being will be more costly than the increased premium.

[Aime]

Hi guys, thank you for your replies. Got an appointment with haem on 4 Sept and fly on 30 sept so will have everything checked before I go. Will also ask about flight sox and asprin. Kind regards Aime

[ladymoi]

Hi,

On the advice of my GP I cancelled my trip to New York(about 6 hours flying time) for a friend's birthday as he(my GP) was shocked that I didn't know I could never fly,travel by coach or car for longer than 3 hours! I was on aspirin, hydroxyurea, warfarin, injections of heparin and GCSF at the time and still am! I was 48 years at the time and am now 62 but now my youngest has finished Uni I feel I would like to take the risk of flying for a longer period. My haemotologist ,at the time of my diagnosis,advised me to to to all the things I thought I would do one day -travel the world whatever. However I felt my aim was to be there for my family until the children grew up and finished their education so I was cautious. On the positive side my haematologist said I might well be safer on my medication than the person sitting next to me who might have a life threatening condition they were unaware of. When I go on 3 hour flights I always wear flight socks and I feel my self blood testing for my INR( warfarin levels) , aspirin and heparin should prevent a DVT. In retrospect I could probably have travelled far afield and had wonderful holidays with my husband and children but one has to prioritise and I don't regret putting the children first at the time and now I still feel and act "youthful" enough to have an overseas adventure or two. I hope that this gives you some ideas to bring up with your haemo and please understand I have a double whammy of MPD and an additional "sticky"blood disorder which complicates matters. I do hope you get a very positive response from your appointment.With kind regards.

[Aime in reply to ladymoi]

Hi, thank you for your reply. At present my PV is treated by venesection only (apart from anti-histamines for itch). I will check with haem on 4 Sept to see if I need to be on asprin and wear my flight sox. Kind regards Aime

[linds]

Hello, was wondering what the advice was from your haem. Best wishes, Linds

[Aime]

Hi Linds

Advice from the haem was to get blood checked again before I travel as the hemat is sitting at .44. She didn't seem to think I needed asprin or flight sox but I will wait and see what my blood test comes back with after Monday. Kind regards Aime