Flying after a clot and off blood thinners

I was hospitalized for 5 weeks last August/September due to endocarditis, and while in hospital, about 3 weeks in I developed a 10+cm blood clot in my leg.
Not to bore you with the details, but because of the endocarditis I had heart surgery where they went in from the artery in my groin. The day after surgery when they stood me up, the artery popped and I bled massively. After that I was not allowed to move that leg for the next several days to keep the thing from popping again, and when I finally got up, I noticed the pain in my calf.

I was on blood thinners (injection) for 4-5 months, and have been off them since January. I have since had my d-dimer tested twice, and it's been normal.

Now, to my actual question! I'm about to fly for the first time since the blood clot in just a few weeks, and I'm pretty nervous. I booked an aisle seat with extra legroom, and I'm going to wear compression socks. I plan on doing calf pumps, and getting up every 30 minutes or so.

The flight isn't long, about 3 hours, but reading about the risks of flying related to DVT is making me more and more nervous.

Is there anything else I have missed or what I should do before/during/after my flight? Should I contact a doctor before to check if there's more to do or something preventative I could do?

Would love some support, the health issues I've been battling nearly killed me, and this trip (going to watch F1, woohoo) is supposed to be a nice reward for surviving, but now I'm just worrying more. (Yes, I am already in therapy lol)

in ClotSurvivorsby total_balderdash

100%

bcdog14

I've heard of people being placed on anticoagulant for the time period before, during and after a flight, just to be safe, temporarily.

total_balderdash

I'll call my local clinic on Monday, but I feel like they probably won't give any. At least I didn't see anything on Google about it being done in my country.

MichaelEvo

Baby aspirin is a blood thinner. I am on blood thinners for life but don’t take aspirin regularly due to stomach issues. I do take one when flying, and otherwise do what you are saying: get up and walk and move every hour, calf pumps, and drink lots of water.

Calflyer

Drink lots of water

Take_me_to_themoon

I take two baby aspirin morning and at night the day before, day of, and day after my flight. Also, I make sure to walk around periodically during the flight.

ObjectSmall

Definitely avoid alcohol!

kkb0520

I’ve taken some long haul flights since my provoked clot- not on thinners regularly after an initial 3 month course. For the first long haul flight, 16 hours San Francisco to Melbourne, I got a bridge prescription. More recently I took a 17 flight from San Francisco to Singapore and just took baby aspirin. I wear the socks, get up and move regularly, do the leg stretches, skip the alcohol and ask the attendants to fill my water bottle whenever they come by with the beverage cart. It’s nerve wracking a bit; but everything has been totally fine on four of the longest flights you can possibly take!

GetOffMyLawn_

Anticoagulated mod

The biggest risk when flying is the dehydration and not the immobility. Surprise surprise, we've been told the opposite for years.

So drink plenty of water. Go ahead and wear your socks, get up every hour for a few minutes. Ask your doc if they're will to prescribe any anticoagulant for your flight. If not you could try taking a baby aspirin. Not great but better than nothing.

The wiki has an article on travel for exercises you can do in your seat. https://www.reddit.com//r/ClotSurvivors/wiki/index

But I use to fly to Europe every year for decades. I just put on heavy duty high compression socks and made sure to take my warfarin. Never had a problem.

msvelvet129

11h

This sounds like a provoked clot so your protocol is normal and you likely will not need thinners. I agree with others just take standard precautionary measures which would include moving every hour or so, calf raises, stay hydrated, and couldn’t hurt to add in some supplements like vitamin c, d & fish oils to help keep things flowing. Good luck!

ozzyzumafifi

I think it is reasonable to get lovanox for your flights...talk to your doctor.

Additional-Ad-5847

I know this fear well. I had a conversation with my hematologist before flying and that settled my fears about. I’m about to fly for the second time since my provoked clot and I’m still nervous but like others have said, there are many steps to be proactive and you can take them all!

DVDragOnIn

If you’re not able to get anticoagulants, consider taking a baby aspirin for 2-3 days before, during, and after your flight. At least your platelets will be less sticky. Drink plenty of water, get up and go to the bathroom as an excuse to walk, and do lots of ankle flexing. I think if you Google “exercises to avoid DVT’ you’ll find other exercises to try. Good luck!

MizLashey

Ppl keep talking about compression socks, but both my endocrinologist and hematologist (actually, the latter is an oncologist specializing in blood cancers) pm have said no compression socks or hose for me. I can’t be on a flight longer than about 3 hours, or my feet swell up by 2 sizes (lasts several days) or one leg (where I got the DVTs) turns black. So flying hardly seems worth the risk.

hayhayhay12345

-1

Lovenox (Heparin)

I think because of the altitude it will be risky. You have a weak heart therefore it will be a strain on it if you're at that high altitude.