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Overseas travellers - avoid blood clots

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Stark

Post subject: Overseas travellers - avoid blood clots

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 11:04 pm

Virtual Ranger

Joined: Mon May 26, 2008 1:52 am
Posts: 1885
Location: Arizona

I'm sharing my story with the hope that it may keep my fellow overseas visitors to SANParks from having the same troubles.

After returning SA only to turn around for a x-country trip, I was diagnosed with a massive blood clot/deep vein thrombosis that runs the length of one leg. I survived a pulmonary embolism (part of the clot broke off and went to my lungs), and I'm currently getting blood thinner shots to the stomach 2x/day. I'm awaiting blood tests to see if I have a genetic factor in play that leads to blood clots, but I'm pretty sure travel is THE main reason. Not exactly fun - and most likely something I could have avoided.

I want to share a few simple suggestions from mdtravelhealth.com:

Quote:

Risk factors for deep vein thrombosis include previous history of deep vein thrombosis
chronic swelling of the legs or feet
varicose veins
pregnancy
use of estrogen or raloxifene (Evista)
advanced age
cancer
obesity
stroke
recent hospitalization or surgery

To prevent the development of blood clots on long plane flights, the following measures are recommended:

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.
Do not place hand luggage where it may limit leg movement.
Walk about the cabin at regular intervals.
Perform isometric compressions of the leg muscles (i.e. contract the leg muscles periodically while sitting).
Avoid crosssing your legs.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Avoid alcohol and tobacco.
For those with any of the above risk factors, wear compression stockings, which can be purchased in most drug stores.

An ounce of prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure. Take care, mites!

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First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. Gandhi

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Meandering Mouse

Post subject: Re: Overseas travellers - avoid blood clots

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 6:30 am

Legendary Virtual Ranger

Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2005 8:47 pm
Posts: 10388
Location: meandering between senility and menopause
FAC Member (2011)

Stark, I am so sorry to hear that you have had such a rough time. Have some :gflower:

Thank you for alerting everyone :thumbs_up:

. Your post might well have saved someone from a similar situation, or even worse.

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Hippotragus

Post subject: Re: Overseas travellers - avoid blood clots

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:26 pm

Joined: Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:15 pm
Posts: 450
Location: Kyalami, South Africa.

Thanks Stark. My daughter, 23 years old at the time and tiny, ended up in hospital after flying from South Africa to UK. She had a clot on or near her lungs and was hospitaised for a while and had to take blood thinners (Warfarin) and have regular blood test for several months afterwards. When she flies she now has to administer a blood thinning injection in her stomach before takeoff. The doctors put the blame on the Pill she was on at the time - she is now on a different Pill which does not have the same side effects.

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Kruger 12-20 Mar
(? camps change 'cos of floods)

Northern & Eastern Cape parks 6-19 Sept.

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bert

Post subject: Re: Overseas travellers - avoid blood clots

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:38 pm

Distinguished Virtual Ranger

Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 9:02 pm
Posts: 17744
Location: mind in SA, body in The Netherlands

Wow Stark
such bad luck
So sorry for you
And thank you for the warning
I always try to do some exercise and walk through the plane from time to time
And very little alcohol on the airfield and in the airplane

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Duke Ellieton

Post subject: Re: Overseas travellers - avoid blood clots

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:44 pm

Distinguished Virtual Ranger

Joined: Mon Jun 19, 2006 6:13 pm
Posts: 5108
Location: Centurion, ZA

So sorry to hear this Stark and wish you a complete recovery.

_________________
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MATTHYS

Post subject: Re: Overseas travellers - avoid blood clots

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:55 pm

Moderator

Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2006 12:30 am
Posts: 34162
Location: Worcester, South Africa

Stark wrote:

An ounce of prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure. Take care, mites!

Thanks, Stark and you take care too

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Dotty

Post subject: Re: Overseas travellers - avoid blood clots

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:00 pm

Moderator

Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:09 pm
Posts: 20365
Location: another national park.. in England
FAC Member (2011)

Thanks for the warning Stark :gflower:

and hope you have a complete recovery.

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Crested Val

Post subject: Re: Overseas travellers - avoid blood clots

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:08 pm

Senior Virtual Ranger

Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 8:49 am
Posts: 5021
Location: Brecon Beacons National Park
FAC Member (2012)

Wishing you a speedy recovery Stark...........so sorry to hear of your medical problems. :cry:

Yes DVTs with the possibility of a following Pulmonary Embolus are very real complications from flying, and need to be highlighted.

Your warnings should be taken on board by all long haul travellers...........better safe than sorry. :rtm:

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Dotty

Post subject: Re: Overseas travellers - avoid blood clots

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:11 pm

Moderator

Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:09 pm
Posts: 20365
Location: another national park.. in England
FAC Member (2011)

Especially so Val :thumbs_up:

and I believe anyone sitting inactive for a long time

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Crested Val

Post subject: Re: Overseas travellers - avoid blood clots

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:14 pm

Senior Virtual Ranger

Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 8:49 am
Posts: 5021
Location: Brecon Beacons National Park
FAC Member (2012)

Dotty wrote:

Especially so Val :thumbs_up:

and I believe anyone sitting inactive for a long time

Absolutely Dotty. :thumbs_up:

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In the North in Search of Cheetahs and Painted Dogs - TR 2012/2013

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Stark

Post subject: Re: Overseas travellers - avoid blood clots

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 12:39 am

Virtual Ranger

Joined: Mon May 26, 2008 1:52 am
Posts: 1885
Location: Arizona

Thank you all for the well wishes, I'm pulling through. :gflower:

I travel a bunch for work and pleasure, and I never really thought about blood clots - never had to! I just wanted to do my part to keep our online population as healthy as possible. :thumbs_up:

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First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. Gandhi

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arks

Post subject: Re: Overseas travellers - avoid blood clots

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 12:49 am

Senior Virtual Ranger

Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2005 5:53 pm
Posts: 3761
Location: Cambridge, MA (and home from home in Darling, WC)

Glad you're recovering, Stark :gflower:

Deep vein thrombosis and clots are a very real concern for anyone who takes long-haul flights, I guess that I'm kinda surprised that you weren't aware of it. BA even has a series of in-seat exercises published in their in-flight magazine, plus they encourage passengers to move around from time to time during the flight — but then, perhaps BA is the world leader in long-haul flights? I know that some US carriers discourage passengers from moving about the cabin even during longer flights, despite the dangers of DVT :roll:

It's great that you've started this thread so that others who may not have known about the risks of DVT for long-haul travelers are made aware :thumbs_up:

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RSA 2013
16-20 April Cape Town
21 April - 5 May Darling
6-11 May Joburg

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DinkyBird

Post subject: Re: Overseas travellers - avoid blood clots

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 8:59 am

Moderator

Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2004 5:54 pm
Posts: 38041
Location: On a road trip - with a long stop over in Kruger

Having just done a long haul flight to US and back, we were well aware and warned by our airline to do exercises and move around .... BUT I do think it is a case of (for us anyway) 'it will never happen to me'. Will certainly take it seriously in future now though.

Stark, wishing you a speedy recovery!

_________________
Sala kakuhle!
Dalene

Roaming around SA until end of May 2013 ...

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pops

Post subject: Re: Overseas travellers - avoid blood clots

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 10:40 am

Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2009 12:07 pm
Posts: 290

Hi Stark. Sorry to hear of your DVT problems and I wish you a speedy recovery.

DVT can be minimised by wearing compress stockings on long haul flights. They are usually available at most airport pharmacies and are relatively inexpensive.

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bert

Post subject: Re: Overseas travellers - avoid blood clots

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 11:52 am

Distinguished Virtual Ranger

Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 9:02 pm
Posts: 17744
Location: mind in SA, body in The Netherlands

Flew with KLM this year and they had some tips and tricks in the magazine issued to each traveller
suspect most airlines have them in the magazine which can be found in each seat

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