doje6863

Hoping for a bit of advice. My Mum developed multiple clots on her lungs after flying over four weeks ago. We are very lucky to still have her, the Doctors are amazed she survived that amount of clots.
Anyway, she will need to have a medical certificate to be able to fly back in four weeks, but I wondered if anybody else had gone through this and whether they managed an upgrade or something?
Mum is understandably (as we are) concerned about the prospect of 20hours flying.

Thanks for any info

donna

carolinephillips

My aunt nearly died flying to SA, and had to be medivaced from the plane which made an emergency landing. When she was well enough to fly back she had a certificate, and I know that staff certainly took care of her. She was flying business anyway, so I don't know if she got an upgrade. Worth asking tho. Hope she recovers quickly.

Pomster

not sure how amenable airlines are to an upgrade, but how about asking your mother's travel insurance company?
They might think it worth a payout to upgrade rather than risk a medical return, which would be very expensive?

However I am not sure business class makes a huge difference as it is the immobility which can trigger clots- so where-ever you sit, you need to keep moving or exercising.

Good luck

22B

Pomster is right........... it may be called 'economy-class syndrome', but it's to do with immobility, not economy class per se - I developed about a dozen clots from sitting at my desk in Chiswick too long.

It is fair to say though that the lack of leg-room in Economy makes it harder to stay mobile - having to clamber over your neighbours, getting trapped between the food trolleys......

....... if you can't get an upgrade, at least request an aisle or bulkhead seat, to minimise the inconvenience of getting up and down, in and out.

Given all this, I would think that the insurance is more likely to cover the cost of staying in a hotel (or compensating the rellies you are staying with for longer) until you are fit to fly than paying for an upgrade.

Either way, by the time the clotee is certified 'fit to fly', she will be on an appropriate dose of warfarin, with possibly a top-up of aspirin, and some support stockings.

Good luck, get used to the warfarin and INR tests!

Eastend Girl

Insurance company is the way to go. My mum flew here a couple of years ago and had some sort of 'event' and spent the first 4 weeks in hospital. Her insurance company (can't remember which one) were brilliant and spoke to hospital doctors here in Brisbane. They sent a nurse to accompany her home and administer oxygen during the flight.

Cheetah7

My husband has been advised not to fly for 12 months since he had PE's in both lungs back in July - now these were caused by trauma so I dont know if it makes a difference.

What the time frame is I do not know, but I do know his doctor said that if he absolutely has to fly, then flying while taking warfarin is better than flying without it - how true that is I do not know.

What a scary time for you all, hope everything works out for you.

Welshie

The clots most probably originated in another area (ie, legs) then travelled up to the lungs. Flying doubles the risk of developing DVT's, PE's, but there are other risk factors of course, ie, immobility, smoking, obesity, meds. Is she on an anti-coagulant (blood thinner)? Her INR (blood clotting rate) will need to be at a certain level etc...but of course the doctors wouldn't let her fly if they didnt think it safe.

If you need a nurse to travel back with her (expenses paid of course) just give me a shout!! Haven't been back to the UK in 4 years!

No seriously though.....its entirely up to her specialist if she can fly or not. There are many interventions she can utilize to try to prevent further clots, but I'm sure she's already clued up on that by now.

Good luck

doje6863

Thanks for all your replies and best wishes. Shes finished her clexane and is now fairly stable on her warfarin.
As for your kind offer welshie, Im a RN, so I think Ill take first dibs if you dont mind

donna