I got a Pulmonary Embolism in July of last year. I flew to Florida in October, and I got a pulmonary infarct in my left lung after being cleared by my pulmonologist, WHILE on blood thinners, eliquis. Craziest thing. WORST PAIN I HAVE EVER FELT. wooooh god bless anyone who has had to deal with any of it.
I had double PEs last July that affected my heart. (A result of a badly broken ankle that left me laid up.) They broke them up by going up the femoral artery. After 6 months of blood thinners, they did follow up a couple of months ago. All clear on heart and lungs. I asked my Lungenarzt (Germans make it so easy because I have the hardest time spelling pulmonologist) about flying this month (April). He looked at a few things and told me to take a blood thinner on the days I flew. I still had some from when they told me to quit them. Whether one day on blood thinners is enough, I had no problem on my trip, although Munich to Rome is only about 90 minutes or so. It also seems to have made a difference that my PEs were a result of the ankle thing, rather than an underlying health problem. I'm going to Korea and China in September. My meds are still goo until then, but I'll still check with my doctor.
Thank you for this TH-cam. It was very helpful but I have a more specific question I need an answer for. My husband and I just flew from Orlando to London 8/13/24, landing the morning of 8/14. After waking up on 8/15 he had severe chest pains up and down his abdomen on the left side. Background info: He had the identical pains at home in late June, and a chest X-ray and ekg were done with no signs of anything, although we discovered he does have a bit of lung compromise, likely due to breathing toxic chemicals in his early work years. He just turned 70 and he also had a DVT 3 years ago and was on blood thinners for 6 months. For the June problem, the NP gave him prednisone for costochondritis and the problem disappeared rapidly. Soon after we flew to Colorado and remained at pretty high altitude for 3 weeks, hiking and e-biking a lot. He commented often about being unable to get a deep breath but we did lots of high altitude activities. After two weeks home in FL we flew to London with plans to head to the Swiss Alps for a couple months to hike and e-bike, which we’ve done for several years. So on 8/15 we went to the emergency department and blood tests, an ekg, a CT w/contrast were performed and multiple small blood clots were found in his lungs. They said he was in the low end of seriousness for PE, but they also found right heart strain which put him in the low-intermediate category. Thus they admitted him for one night and immediately started anticoagulants. At 5 pm on 8/16 they did an echocardiogram which was good and showed no evidence of the right heart strain, so he was discharged with several months of blood thinners. The last two days we have walked London 6-7 miles each day and he’s feeling really well, except there’s still slight discomfort when he takes a deep breath. We now plan to train to Switzerland rather than fly but we’re wondering if it’s safe to go to the places we love and had planned to return. The villages where we stay are at 2631’, 4180’, 5361’, and 5275’ but we take trains, gondolas, cable cars higher and hike. So, is it safe for him to even travel to these altitudes and sleep there, and is it safe to hike to higher elevations than those? If it’s not, would it be after 2-4 weeks? Or when? Or what elevations are safe for him now, both for sleeping and for exploring? The elevations we slept at the whole time in CO were Thank you for this TH-cam. It was very helpful but I have a more specialized question I need an answer for. My husband and I just flew from Orlando to London 8/13/24, landing the morning of 8/14. After waking up on 8/15 he had severe chest pains up and down his abdomen on the left side. Background info: He had the identical pains at home in late June, and a chest X-ray and ekg were done with no signs of anything, although we discovered he does have a bit of lung compromise, likely due to breathing toxic chemicals in his early work years. He just turned 70 and he also had a DVT 3 years ago and was on blood thinners for 6 months. For the June problem, the NP gave him prednisone for costochondritis and the problem disappeared rapidly. We then flew to Colorado and remained at pretty high altitude for 3 weeks, hiking and e-biking a lot. He commented often about being unable to get a deep breath but we did lots of high altitude activities. After two weeks home in FL we flew to London with plans to head to the Swiss Alps for a couple months to hike and e-bike, which we’ve done for several years. So on 8/15 we went to the emergency department and blood tests, an ekg, a CT w/contrast were performed and multiple small blood clots were found in his lungs. They said he was in the low end of seriousness for PE, but they also found right heart strain which put him in the low-intermediate category. Thus they admitted him for one night and immediately started anticoagulants. At 5 pm on 8/16 they did an echocardiogram which was good and showed no evidence of the right heart strain, so he was discharged with several months of blood thinners. The last two days we have walked London 6-7 miles each day and he’s feeling really good, except there’s still slight discomfort when he takes a deep breath. We now plan to train to Switzerland rather than fly but we’re wondering if it’s safe to go to the places we love and had planned to return. The villages where we stay are at 2631’, 4180’, 5361’, and 5275’ but we take trains, gondolas, cable cars higher and hike. So, is it safe for him to even travel to these altitudes and sleep there, and is it safe to hike to higher elevations than those? If it’s not, would it be after 2-4 weeks? Or when? The elevations we slept at the whole time in CO were between 7000-9100’ and we hiked and biked at 11,000’. We really need immediate advice from someone who seems to understand the altitude situation for a new and recovering PE patient. Thank you.
I wish I could answer your question. But unfortunately it is too specific and the stakes are too high. If you still have concerns, I think you need to see a physician locally (even in Europe).
Hallo Dr, i am undergoing the treatment for pulmonary embolism since the 2nd week of Dec and I have a flight booked for end of Jan so I would be grateful if I can get some inputs of your advices on this situation whether I can fly or if it's better to call of my upcoming trip. Thank you in advance.
Sorry to hear about your PE. Unfortunately, I cannot comment on a specific case without meeting a patient. In general if a person can breath easily on the ground and go up and down two flights of stairs easily they can fly. But that’s a generalization. How you are doing and things like PE severity, function of your right heart, flight duration matter. All the best and safe travels!
So my mom is flying from colorado to hawaii and has had PE two years ago and she’s better now but is short of breath sometimes. she works out on her excercise bike and doesn’t seem to be out of breath. I’m just scared and need advice. Is there something she can take to help her at that elevation? I know walking on the plane helps is there a vitamin or herbs she can take to help? She’s also on blood thinners and takes medication for rheumatoid arthritis I just want her to be healthy and safe
I am sorry to hear about your mother and that you are scared. While we cannot make specific recommendations for specific people (for instance - I don't know if it is safe for her to fly given her shortness of breath), I will say that once a person is taking blood thinners, the chance of another clot during flight is low. Also, walking and hydrating during flight are considered good practice to prevent clot related issues.
Anxiety after PE is very common and very normal (just people don't talk about it enough). So thank you for sharing. Usually people do not feel particularly sick a week after flight post PE, so not sure what to say there.
Though not based on much data, some doctors offer certain patients a low dose of a blood thinner (either as an injection or a pill) before flying to prevent clots.
Thank you for the question. We cannot comment on your particular situation. But as a rule whether clot dissolved or not is not so important. What matters is how a person is doing clinically. All the best!
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I got a Pulmonary Embolism in July of last year. I flew to Florida in October, and I got a pulmonary infarct in my left lung after being cleared by my pulmonologist, WHILE on blood thinners, eliquis. Craziest thing. WORST PAIN I HAVE EVER FELT. wooooh god bless anyone who has had to deal with any of it.
Thank you for sharing. Sorry to hear about your troubles.
This is a nice relief from so many other PE videos that seem to catastrophize everything. This video was actually reassuring.
Thank you. I appreciate the time you took to comment.
Great needed advice Ido Weinberg for all our patients!
Thank you so much.
I had double PEs last July that affected my heart. (A result of a badly broken ankle that left me laid up.) They broke them up by going up the femoral artery. After 6 months of blood thinners, they did follow up a couple of months ago. All clear on heart and lungs. I asked my Lungenarzt (Germans make it so easy because I have the hardest time spelling pulmonologist) about flying this month (April). He looked at a few things and told me to take a blood thinner on the days I flew. I still had some from when they told me to quit them. Whether one day on blood thinners is enough, I had no problem on my trip, although Munich to Rome is only about 90 minutes or so. It also seems to have made a difference that my PEs were a result of the ankle thing, rather than an underlying health problem.
I'm going to Korea and China in September. My meds are still goo until then, but I'll still check with my doctor.
Thank you for sharing
Thank you for this TH-cam. It was very helpful but I have a more specific question I need an answer for.
My husband and I just flew from Orlando to London 8/13/24, landing the morning of 8/14. After waking up on 8/15 he had severe chest pains up and down his abdomen on the left side.
Background info: He had the identical pains at home in late June, and a chest X-ray and ekg were done with no signs of anything, although we discovered he does have a bit of lung compromise, likely due to breathing toxic chemicals in his early work years. He just turned 70 and he also had a DVT 3 years ago and was on blood thinners for 6 months. For the June problem, the NP gave him prednisone for costochondritis and the problem disappeared rapidly. Soon after we flew to Colorado and remained at pretty high altitude for 3 weeks, hiking and e-biking a lot. He commented often about being unable to get a deep breath but we did lots of high altitude activities.
After two weeks home in FL we flew to London with plans to head to the Swiss Alps for a couple months to hike and e-bike, which we’ve done for several years. So on 8/15 we went to the emergency department and blood tests, an ekg, a CT w/contrast were performed and multiple small blood clots were found in his lungs. They said he was in the low end of seriousness for PE, but they also found right heart strain which put him in the low-intermediate category. Thus they admitted him for one night and immediately started anticoagulants. At 5 pm on 8/16 they did an echocardiogram which was good and showed no evidence of the right heart strain, so he was discharged with several months of blood thinners. The last two days we have walked London 6-7 miles each day and he’s feeling really well, except there’s still slight discomfort when he takes a deep breath. We now plan to train to Switzerland rather than fly but we’re wondering if it’s safe to go to the places we love and had planned to return. The villages where we stay are at 2631’, 4180’, 5361’, and 5275’ but we take trains, gondolas, cable cars higher and hike. So, is it safe for him to even travel to these altitudes and sleep there, and is it safe to hike to higher elevations than those? If it’s not, would it be after 2-4 weeks? Or when? Or what elevations are safe for him now, both for sleeping and for exploring? The elevations we slept at the whole time in CO were Thank you for this TH-cam. It was very helpful but I have a more specialized question I need an answer for.
My husband and I just flew from Orlando to London 8/13/24, landing the morning of 8/14. After waking up on 8/15 he had severe chest pains up and down his abdomen on the left side.
Background info: He had the identical pains at home in late June, and a chest X-ray and ekg were done with no signs of anything, although we discovered he does have a bit of lung compromise, likely due to breathing toxic chemicals in his early work years. He just turned 70 and he also had a DVT 3 years ago and was on blood thinners for 6 months. For the June problem, the NP gave him prednisone for costochondritis and the problem disappeared rapidly. We then flew to Colorado and remained at pretty high altitude for 3 weeks, hiking and e-biking a lot. He commented often about being unable to get a deep breath but we did lots of high altitude activities.
After two weeks home in FL we flew to London with plans to head to the Swiss Alps for a couple months to hike and e-bike, which we’ve done for several years. So on 8/15 we went to the emergency department and blood tests, an ekg, a CT w/contrast were performed and multiple small blood clots were found in his lungs. They said he was in the low end of seriousness for PE, but they also found right heart strain which put him in the low-intermediate category. Thus they admitted him for one night and immediately started anticoagulants. At 5 pm on 8/16 they did an echocardiogram which was good and showed no evidence of the right heart strain, so he was discharged with several months of blood thinners. The last two days we have walked London 6-7 miles each day and he’s feeling really good, except there’s still slight discomfort when he takes a deep breath. We now plan to train to Switzerland rather than fly but we’re wondering if it’s safe to go to the places we love and had planned to return. The villages where we stay are at 2631’, 4180’, 5361’, and 5275’ but we take trains, gondolas, cable cars higher and hike. So, is it safe for him to even travel to these altitudes and sleep there, and is it safe to hike to higher elevations than those? If it’s not, would it be after 2-4 weeks? Or when? The elevations we slept at the whole time in CO were between 7000-9100’ and we hiked and biked at 11,000’.
We really need immediate advice from someone who seems to understand the altitude situation for a new and recovering PE patient. Thank you.
I wish I could answer your question. But unfortunately it is too specific and the stakes are too high. If you still have concerns, I think you need to see a physician locally (even in Europe).
Hallo Dr, i am undergoing the treatment for pulmonary embolism since the 2nd week of Dec and I have a flight booked for end of Jan so I would be grateful if I can get some inputs of your advices on this situation whether I can fly or if it's better to call of my upcoming trip. Thank you in advance.
Sorry to hear about your PE. Unfortunately, I cannot comment on a specific case without meeting a patient. In general if a person can breath easily on the ground and go up and down two flights of stairs easily they can fly. But that’s a generalization. How you are doing and things like PE severity, function of your right heart, flight duration matter. All the best and safe travels!
So my mom is flying from colorado to hawaii and has had PE two years ago and she’s better now but is short of breath sometimes. she works out on her excercise bike and doesn’t seem to be out of breath. I’m just scared and need advice. Is there something she can take to help her at that elevation? I know walking on the plane helps is there a vitamin or herbs she can take to help? She’s also on blood thinners and takes medication for rheumatoid arthritis I just want her to be healthy and safe
I am sorry to hear about your mother and that you are scared. While we cannot make specific recommendations for specific people (for instance - I don't know if it is safe for her to fly given her shortness of breath), I will say that once a person is taking blood thinners, the chance of another clot during flight is low. Also, walking and hydrating during flight are considered good practice to prevent clot related issues.
I usually feel a little sick about a week after flying post PE. Is this a thing? I also feel a little anxiety when flying now because of the PE.
Anxiety after PE is very common and very normal (just people don't talk about it enough). So thank you for sharing. Usually people do not feel particularly sick a week after flight post PE, so not sure what to say there.
I heard that there’s an injection you can take before flying, I think that can reduce the risks of reoccurrence
Though not based on much data, some doctors offer certain patients a low dose of a blood thinner (either as an injection or a pill) before flying to prevent clots.
Hey I wanted to know if my blood clots dissolved from my lung since the end of February of this year can I fly
Thank you for the question. We cannot comment on your particular situation. But as a rule whether clot dissolved or not is not so important. What matters is how a person is doing clinically. All the best!