Flying / Lymphodema

Wow thank you so much for all your replys - looks like I may just need to get measured up and get one for the flight!!

I really appreciate all your replys and trust you are all going well where you are on this road !!!

Still can't believe we are actually going away - it has been a long time coming !!!

Take care lovely ladies and please look after yourselves !!

Love debs xx

I also had a sleeve measured at the physio.  Some states have a scheme through the hospitals were you can access one garment a year but I've always had to pay.  It is definately worth wearing a sleeve as lymphodemia can start years after surgery.  I wear mine flying, driving long distances and exercising.

In warmer weather it also helps if my arm starts to feel tight.  There are some great resources out there in regards to preventing lymphodemia so I'd suggest you read them and ask your physio.

all the best.

I had a full node clearance(17 nodes)back in 2003.My arm used to ache alot at first but settled down after a few years.I try to remember to do a gentle massage every other day that the physio showed me. I made sure I moved around the plane and I didn't lie on the "bad"side for a long period.I had a sleeve with me just incase.But I find the hot flushes make it too difficult to wear-just want to rip it off,along with my clothes! I've had a fair few flights since 2003 and never had any arm problems.But we are all different and you just need to do what feels right for you.

                                                       Tonya xx

We will be flying to Europe also next year after having to cancel this year's trip.  Could I ask how many lymph nodes you had removed?  I am worried about the possibility of lymphodema as there will be quite a lot of air travel over 2 months.  I had 4 + 2 removed with no problems to date, but feel more worried than I am letting my husband know.  Hearing you had no problems was a big relief.  Michelle.

If the sleeve has been fitted by a specialist then yes i would to be safe. if it was one u just got handed or ordered from online. check with ur breast care nurse, sometimes they can make more strife than going without. I learnt this the hard way :( i flew from melb to cairns then cairns to alice springs then back to melb. all within a few weeks. 

some people can be lucky. (like Tonya, hehehe) 

Hi Debs, I am venturing from QLD to WA in December and my Oncologist has recommended that I wear a sleeve and also compression socks for the trips over and back.  I have a "skins" sleeve and I still have the socks from the hospital and the lovely lady at RACQ gave me a set, he feels these will be sufficient.  It is precautionary as it will be hot weather both here and there and I will have finished radiation approx 6 weeks prior to my flight.  I've not had lymphodema yet so I figure prevention is better than treatment.

Have a  WONDERFUL holiday :)

I think it depends- if you already have a problem with lymphoedema then definitely yes,wear the compression sleeve.I don't really have a problem with my arm apart from the occasional ache if I overdo it.I flew to Europe(24hrs) back in March and didn't wear a sleeve and had no problems.But when in doubt,err on the safe side.

                                                       Tonya xx

Hey Debs

Definitely, definitely, definitely YES to wearing your sleeve.   I now even wear mine on my 4 hour car drive from home to Perth.

I have lymphodeama. It was already playing up with just a bit of an ache in my arm and my whole arm feeling a bit tight at different times.  I went to a said lymphodeama physio up here in the country who said everything was fine.  I wanted to be sure before I went on our lovely holiday to Tasmania.  I did wear my sleeve for the flights to Sydney and then on to Tassie the next day and also on the way home. 

I had both swelling in my surgery arm where my whole hand and arm swelled up like a balloon while we were in Tassie but on top of that my legs also swelled up.  I had also worn the sexy socks you get in the hospital on my legs.  I now wonder what would have happened if I hadn't worn my socks and sleeves but I did so I was lucky.

When I returned to Perth I went to see the O.T.  that I had seen originally following surgery who had my measurements of my arm and she said definite lymphodeama so I was fitted with a proper sleeve and had some treatment over a number of weeks which drained the fluid..

So my advice to you luvy is to definitely wear your sleeve (even though they aren't much of a fashion statement are they?? hee hee) and your socks if you still have them.  Also get up and move around the plane (I think that was one mistake I made but then I was still getting over my last chemo so was happy to sleep the whole plane trip) plus try and keep your arm a bit elevated and move it around and give it a bit of light massage for lymph drainage if you have been shown how to do that by any of your medical team.

You may be lucky enough and not have any issues but it is definitely better to be safe than sorry and if you can avoid lymphodeama all the better.  Awareness and knowledge is a great thing to have.

There is no reason you can't go off and have a wonderful holiday with your family but unfortunately you just have to be aware of these things now. 

I do hope you have an absolutely fabulous fabulous time with your family and that you enjoy enjoy enjoy.  I think the time with our families is so much more precious these days, I know it is for me. :-)

LOL, Mich xoxo