flying or driving for lymph edema

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mamolady
mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
in Breast Cancer #1
I have a question regarding lymph edema. I have a little time before going back to work so I want to visit my daughter in Colorado. As far as LE, would flying for 2 hours or driving for 18 hours cause more risk? It would be 2 days to drive.
I have had a little trouble with swelling but not much. I wasn't going to fly til Christmas time but I just started thinking about this road trip. Just not sure if the driving for two days would be worse than the 2 hour flight.

Cindy

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  • cavediver
    cavediver Member Posts: 607
    #2
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    Flying suggestion
    The Lymphedema Org and most specialists will advise you to wear a compression sleeve when you fly.....and to leave on for an hour or so after the flight. I was nervous last year for my first flight, but had no problem at all...wore the compression sleeve and glove and all was well. As for driving...........being in a vehicle should not have an affect on your lymphydema at all. When I was the 'driver' I put my affected arm at 12 o'clock on the steering wheel to keep it raised on straight ways. When a passenger I some times grip the overhead handle on passenger side just to get hand/arm elevated for short periods. Good luck and enjoy your trip however you go. Hugs
  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #3
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    cavediver said:

    Flying suggestion
    The Lymphedema Org and most specialists will advise you to wear a compression sleeve when you fly.....and to leave on for an hour or so after the flight. I was nervous last year for my first flight, but had no problem at all...wore the compression sleeve and glove and all was well. As for driving...........being in a vehicle should not have an affect on your lymphydema at all. When I was the 'driver' I put my affected arm at 12 o'clock on the steering wheel to keep it raised on straight ways. When a passenger I some times grip the overhead handle on passenger side just to get hand/arm elevated for short periods. Good luck and enjoy your trip however you go. Hugs

    Like Cavediver, I was a little nervous to fly too
    but I also wore my sleeve and glove and all went very well. I flew from Phoenix to Kauai for the first time, so it was a very long flight. My therapist told me to keep the sleeve and glove on for several hours after we landed and I did. I had no problems at all. Driving should be fine for you also. I will say this, on my trip to NY where the humidity was much higher than here in Phoenix, I did seem to have more trouble with swelling/pain--also because of weather fronts that went through which we normally don't have as much of in Phoenix.

    You're going to be just fine--have a great time.

    Hugs, Renee
  • ladyg
    ladyg Member Posts: 1,577
    #4
    Options
    If you wear
    a compression sleeve flying should not be a problem. I had to fly the day after my last rads treatment. I wore the sleeve and had no problems.

    Hugs,
    Georgia
  • pinkpalette
    pinkpalette Member Posts: 112
    #5
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    ladyg said:

    If you wear
    a compression sleeve flying should not be a problem. I had to fly the day after my last rads treatment. I wore the sleeve and had no problems.

    Hugs,
    Georgia

    Where do I get compression
    Where do I get compression sleeves? Who is supposed to address the issue of lymphedema? I spoke to my Med Onc and breast surgeon, and both have suggested I do nothing about it. Not to worry. Well, I am worrying. Lumpectomy plus 5 nodes gone 4 weeks ago. I am my own advocate - because who else will be, right?
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #6
    Options
    To get sleeves you'll want
    To get sleeves you'll want to see a certified lymphedema specialist. If you can't get the referral from your docs, you can get compression garments from a medical supply store. But you'll want to be very careful with that, if you have a poor fit it could be worse than no sleeve. Lymphediva.com is a great website for sleeves, they have fun styles in addition to the boring 'skin color' you'll find almost everywhere else. Again, the fit is really important.

    My lymphedema specialist said the difference between driving and flying isn't really about the time, it's about elevation changes. (I live at sea level and if I drive two hours east I'm at 8000 feet.) But whether you fly or drive elevating and moving your arm (simple exercises) is important.

    Whatever you decide, I hope you have a great trip.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • mjjones453
    mjjones453 Member Posts: 155
    #7
    Options
    pinkpalette said:

    Where do I get compression
    Where do I get compression sleeves? Who is supposed to address the issue of lymphedema? I spoke to my Med Onc and breast surgeon, and both have suggested I do nothing about it. Not to worry. Well, I am worrying. Lumpectomy plus 5 nodes gone 4 weeks ago. I am my own advocate - because who else will be, right?

    compression sleeve
    I find it kind of funny that alot of Drs. don't agree on care in prevention of lymphedema, and if you read on line, preventative care is key. I had the sentinal node removed, and I know that I want to do everything possible to try to prevent lymphedema. I know my chances of getting it are alot less, but do I want to chance it? No. I called my Oncologists office and they wrote up a script for me to take to: Hanger Prosthetic and Orthotics. This was on some information that the hospital gave to me. I called my insurance to see what they cover for a sleeve, First I had to find a place that was covered by my insurance. Then they looked at what they covered. My insurance will cover 90%. I have great insurance of which I am so thankful for. Mary
  • cavediver
    cavediver Member Posts: 607
    #8
    Options
    pinkpalette said:

    Where do I get compression
    Where do I get compression sleeves? Who is supposed to address the issue of lymphedema? I spoke to my Med Onc and breast surgeon, and both have suggested I do nothing about it. Not to worry. Well, I am worrying. Lumpectomy plus 5 nodes gone 4 weeks ago. I am my own advocate - because who else will be, right?

    PinkPalet........ck lymphemanetwork website for info
    First, you should definitely find a lymphedema specialist. Proper measurement for a sleeve and also what compression to use is extremely important. The wrong size or compression can make the situation worse. I had to research on line to find specialists, then see if my insurance would cover therapy, and then get the referral prescription from my oncologist. You are correct, you must me your own advocate. Read and research so you have some knowledge. The first specialist' I west to (had all the credentials)...but was not thorough imo and did not help me. The 2nd, again with great credentials, who was not "on network" with my insurance, so I made a deal for pvt pkg payments......they wrapped and did massages...but my hand got progressively worse even though the arm improved...and they just said that is what is it!!!! I knew that could not be correct...so I finally found a 3rd place to go .... at a hospital a few counties away...but so worth the trip. Two specialists there who immediately addressed my hand...continued with arm management...........and now it is managed by me with use of a pump, manula massage occassionaly, and compression sleeves. They measured and prescribed a light class I sleeve that works wonderfully for me. I started in August and got it under control finally in December !!!!! Again, check out articles and info on the Lymphedemanetwork.org and also there is much information on Lymphedivas.com Once you get therapy, and measured for a sleeeve, you have many options for purchasing sleeves. I use the patterned design ones from LymphDivas.com (when/if you are ready...I can give you a discount code to use)...but you can also buy on many on-line retailers for Jobst, or other brands. Ames Walker is just one of many discount places. Good luck.........don't give up. You have the right idea........deal with it so it does not get worse or triggered.... I did not start the swelling until 3 months after surgery.......some women may not have symptons for years. But preventative maintence is important when doing lifting, exercise, airplane flying etc. Hugs
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #9
    Options
    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    To get sleeves you'll want
    To get sleeves you'll want to see a certified lymphedema specialist. If you can't get the referral from your docs, you can get compression garments from a medical supply store. But you'll want to be very careful with that, if you have a poor fit it could be worse than no sleeve. Lymphediva.com is a great website for sleeves, they have fun styles in addition to the boring 'skin color' you'll find almost everywhere else. Again, the fit is really important.

    My lymphedema specialist said the difference between driving and flying isn't really about the time, it's about elevation changes. (I live at sea level and if I drive two hours east I'm at 8000 feet.) But whether you fly or drive elevating and moving your arm (simple exercises) is important.

    Whatever you decide, I hope you have a great trip.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    I went to the place i go for
    I went to the place i go for my prosthetics, they measure your arm etc.. Insurance paid for mine. I have two as I am bilateral. For years I never wore one until I read here about flying and nothing ever happened, but think I would rather be safe than sorry.
  • helen e
    helen e Member Posts: 223
    #10
    Options
    Just a thought
    I don't know whether you are on tamoxifen or not but if you drive you would need to stop every couple of hours to walk around and prevent blood clots.
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #11
    Options
    cavediver said:

    PinkPalet........ck lymphemanetwork website for info
    First, you should definitely find a lymphedema specialist. Proper measurement for a sleeve and also what compression to use is extremely important. The wrong size or compression can make the situation worse. I had to research on line to find specialists, then see if my insurance would cover therapy, and then get the referral prescription from my oncologist. You are correct, you must me your own advocate. Read and research so you have some knowledge. The first specialist' I west to (had all the credentials)...but was not thorough imo and did not help me. The 2nd, again with great credentials, who was not "on network" with my insurance, so I made a deal for pvt pkg payments......they wrapped and did massages...but my hand got progressively worse even though the arm improved...and they just said that is what is it!!!! I knew that could not be correct...so I finally found a 3rd place to go .... at a hospital a few counties away...but so worth the trip. Two specialists there who immediately addressed my hand...continued with arm management...........and now it is managed by me with use of a pump, manula massage occassionaly, and compression sleeves. They measured and prescribed a light class I sleeve that works wonderfully for me. I started in August and got it under control finally in December !!!!! Again, check out articles and info on the Lymphedemanetwork.org and also there is much information on Lymphedivas.com Once you get therapy, and measured for a sleeeve, you have many options for purchasing sleeves. I use the patterned design ones from LymphDivas.com (when/if you are ready...I can give you a discount code to use)...but you can also buy on many on-line retailers for Jobst, or other brands. Ames Walker is just one of many discount places. Good luck.........don't give up. You have the right idea........deal with it so it does not get worse or triggered.... I did not start the swelling until 3 months after surgery.......some women may not have symptons for years. But preventative maintence is important when doing lifting, exercise, airplane flying etc. Hugs

    Bumping up for those wanting
    Bumping up for those wanting info on Lymphedema.

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