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I'm going on a 5.5 hour flight today from Colorado to Alaska. I'm excited to see my daughter and grandkids, but not thrilled about the length of the flight. My heart rate has been quite rapid lately, and the BP is frequently lower than it should be. My doctor approved me to take this trip, but with PAH air travel is definitely more difficult now than it used to be. Any helpful tips for travel are welcomed and appreciated.
We just had a support group meeting on this very topic. Contact the airline to see what requirements they require. Also, it was suggested to contact TSA. They can help you get through the line faster. You can request a Sunshine badge. Someone said TSA was easier to deal with than the airline because you get an actual person. But you do need to contact the airline to deal with oxygen and medical equipment.
Take enough medication for your trip and in it's original container. Make sure your specialty pharmacy can delivery to you in case of emergency. We learned that the American Red Cross may also be a resource. This was awhile ago, but they were able to help.
Have fun. The speaker said just make sure to plan rest days. Don't overdo it. Enjoy! I've heard it's beautiful.
Have you been HAST (High Altitude Simulation Test) tested? Many larger teaching hospitals offer that test and it’s generally ordered by your PH specialist or pulmonologist. It will be able to estimate for you if you will need O2 and for how long, etc for your planned flight. The test is very similar to a regular PFT and takes about the same length of time. We now have 3 hospitals in the Phoenix area that offer it.
How exciting — Alaska with the grandkids sounds like an amazing adventure! Since your doctor has already given the green light, here are some practical tips to help make the flight as smooth as possible.
Before and during the flight:
- Keep all medications, oxygen supplies, and medical documents in your carry-on — never Show Full Answer
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