First time travelling abroad bit worried about autoimune and GCA with all those recycled germs we are warned about and cabin pressure .,,,

[shella]

Any advice as we are told not to

Go into crowded places etc. Thanks

[PMRpro]

All I can say is that since having PMR and being on pred I have flown to the USA and Korea - both longish flights and have had no trouble at all. Mind you, I have also had fewer infections in the last 4+ years than I usually did so maybe I'm very atypical and my husband ALWAYS comes home with a cold after a trip to the USA!

Cabin pressure shouldn't be too much of a problem as it doesn't go below the equivalent of just over 2000m - a common height for going skiing - and I have spent many hours at that level since being ill with no ill effects (I live in the mountains though not at that height).

Did you go shopping before Christmas? It isn't so different!

If you feel ill on the plane, nausea, woozy, can't concentrate and so on, especially if it is an overnight flight, tell the cabin attendants and ask if the oxygen could be turned up a bit. Often it is reduced slightly overnight and if you are in the wrong position in the cabin it gets extra stuffy.

You have told your insurance haven't you? It's better to tell them too much than too little - they'll use any excuse to get out of coughing up!

[shella in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for all that....back to the packing...and yes have told my insurance!

[magician]

I have been trvelling regularly ( asia, europe, us, africa) with no issues. Since 2010, i have been injecting clexane prior to long hauls - to prevent blod clotting.

[shella in reply to magician]

Sounds positive....its just the first time I have travelled since prognosis ....hopefully all will be well....thanks for replying.

[magician in reply to shella]

Good luck to you and i hope you enjoy your travel. Like you, i was rather anxious specially during the first few travels after being put on steroids and immunosuppressants - happily, all went well.

[Chris-Bromsgrove in reply to magician]

Hi Magician,

I was interested to hear you have been prescribed Clexane (Enoxaparin) by your GP/Consultant for flying long haul. I was wondering whether this is because you have experienced a DVT previously as a result of vasculitis/cyclophosphamide/other. The reason I ask is that during my initial treatment for MPA I experienced a DVT. Thankfully everything is OK now and I was able to come off Warfarin earlier this year. I am due to be flying to New Zealand in three weeks time, so I was wondering whether added precautions (other than the support stockings which I have already purchased) would be in order. Injecting Enoxaparin isn't a lot of fun but if it reduces the risk of DVT I suppose it is worth considering.

Chris

[Hidden in reply to Chris-Bromsgrove]

Hi Chris,

Just a thought but there are newer oral anti coagulants around now that you don't need to monitor INR with. They are used routinely for DVT prophylaxis post knee and hip replacements and can be taken for short courses. May be worthwhile asking your GP as certainly better than injecting enoxaparin.

Best wishes

Keyes

[Chris-Bromsgrove in reply to Hidden]

Hi Keyes,

I had heard there was now an alternative to the old "rat poison" and oral medicine is certainly better than injecting. Thanks, I'll have a word with my GP and see what he thinks.

[magician in reply to Chris-Bromsgrove]

Hello, Chris! Just curious - is clexane the rat poison you were referring to? I must admit that i did not do due diligence on clexane - just injected without questions - not so smart! Thanks. Ps - do keep hydrated. Another story, another body part - gave me first hand experience of pain from imbalance in body fluids can fo.

[magician in reply to Chris-Bromsgrove]

Hi! No prior dvt for me. IN the process of diagnosing what turned out to be behcet, one of my blood tests indicated presence of markers relating to blood coagulation. Clexane is not fun, but it does give me some reassurance. I also take aspirin cardio daily. Other precautions: keep,hydrated by drinking lots of water and keep your legs moving even while in flight. All the best!

[Chris-Bromsgrove in reply to magician]

Hi Magician,

Thanks for the advice. The simple things are always preferable to the drugs. I'll have a word with my GP and see what he thinks.

[Chris-Bromsgrove in reply to magician]

No, I was referring to the Warfarin. You would end up the same way as a rat if you overdosed on it. You therefore have to have your blood INR (clotting factor) monitored regularly to ensure it is OK. Just changes in diet cause it to swing. I was glad to be off it. I took clexane - enoxaparin initially until my INR was at the right level. It's like having a bee sting in the stomach.

I will certainly be keeping off the in flight alcohol and sticking to water.

[magician in reply to Chris-Bromsgrove]

Thanks, Chris, thanks all. Good to have someone to chat with about our medical issues. My husband listens, but he is so healthy - and because of that, i think he can relate only so much ( or little?)

Best wishes

[Simmonds797]

Hi yes I have just posted a request for an insurance company for my husband as we are travelling for the first time since his illness at the end of September. He has cerebral vasculitis and has had Dvt. We are only doing a 2 1/2 hr flight but he us on warfarin and junk finished cyclophosphamide. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated

[monica45]

I wear a paper face mask on the flight - my grandson sat beside me on a flight and during the night he had terrible painsin his cheeks - I was so glad I had the mask!