Airplane travel after Ivor Lewis esophagecgtomy

BMGky
BMGky Member Posts: 621
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Husband continues to recover from his April surgery. He still has shortness of breath on sudden exertion and cannot walk very fast or he becomes winded. He feels he can't get enough air in. I heard on a radio program that the pressurized cabin of an airplane can cause difficulty for someone with breathing problems. I have no idea but we are planning a plane trip in the upcoming months and wonder if anyone has flown and if they had any difficulty. Did you take any special preparations or precautions. I have arranged for a wheelchair to navigate the airport and boarding. Anything else I should do? thanks.

Comments

  • Donna70
    Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
    #2
    get lung function checked
    Hi,
    If you have read some of my older posts, I had lung damage from radiation and surgery. My symptoms were very bad shortness of breath and not able to walk hardly. This happened 5 months after surgery. So I would suggest that your husband speak to his drs and get a referral to a lung specialist and get some tests done. They have calculations which my lung dr has done concerning lung capacity and going in airplanes. They consider airplane travel equal to about 8,000 ft of altitude. My numbers were very close like a 4 when a 5 is optimal so my dr told me I could fly at first for a short trip and not to move around in the cabin just to make sure I will be breathing alright. People think that the oxygen masks are available if you have breathing problems but they are for air emergencies not for random use. I had the Ivor Lewis procedure too. So I am just hoping you and your husband will check this out. Many times everyone thinks this is just normal for post op but if it doesn't go away and the shortness of breath limits you, you need to have it checked. My breathing problems turned into asthma and bronchiectasis, my lung capacity went from 83% to 63% after surgery. Still glad I got the surgery my cancer is clear so it was worth it. Good luck and hope your husband can travel, hoping myself to get to New Orleans and celebrate. take care,
    Donna70
  • BMGky
    BMGky Member Posts: 621
    #3
    Donna70 said:

    get lung function checked
    Hi,
    If you have read some of my older posts, I had lung damage from radiation and surgery. My symptoms were very bad shortness of breath and not able to walk hardly. This happened 5 months after surgery. So I would suggest that your husband speak to his drs and get a referral to a lung specialist and get some tests done. They have calculations which my lung dr has done concerning lung capacity and going in airplanes. They consider airplane travel equal to about 8,000 ft of altitude. My numbers were very close like a 4 when a 5 is optimal so my dr told me I could fly at first for a short trip and not to move around in the cabin just to make sure I will be breathing alright. People think that the oxygen masks are available if you have breathing problems but they are for air emergencies not for random use. I had the Ivor Lewis procedure too. So I am just hoping you and your husband will check this out. Many times everyone thinks this is just normal for post op but if it doesn't go away and the shortness of breath limits you, you need to have it checked. My breathing problems turned into asthma and bronchiectasis, my lung capacity went from 83% to 63% after surgery. Still glad I got the surgery my cancer is clear so it was worth it. Good luck and hope your husband can travel, hoping myself to get to New Orleans and celebrate. take care,
    Donna70

    Thank you so much for your
    Thank you so much for your helpful information. If I hadn't heard the snipet on the radio, I would not even given it a thought. My husband, who prior to surgery, had great lung capacity, has reduced capacity. It is very upsetting to him as it limits his physical activity as you well understand. You gave good advice. He has some important scans next week and sees his oncologist for follow-up. I'll be sure to ask him about his breathing capacity and any precautions we should take. We dealt with severe asthma in our children so I know you are having to deal with a lot. Hope you get to take your trip to New Orleans. Thanks again. Mary
  • Betty in Vegas
    Betty in Vegas Member Posts: 290 Member
    #4
    Well a friend of mine,
    Well a friend of mine, Daphne, had an IL esophagectomy and she's an airline attendant...flies every day. We fly often, never had had any problem.
  • BMGky
    BMGky Member Posts: 621
    #5
    Betty in Vegas said:

    Well a friend of mine,
    Well a friend of mine, Daphne, had an IL esophagectomy and she's an airline attendant...flies every day. We fly often, never had had any problem.

    Thanks for the info. Glad
    Thanks for the info. Glad your friend is doing okay. Reduces my worry. We'll just be careful. Appreciate the info.

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