Please help my father in law has a blood clot and is going to fly as far as the maldives flying ?

Question

from england. hes flying in january and has apparantly been told by his doctors that he should fly and is ok to fly for his daughters wedding. this to me dosent ring true i just wonder if anyone has any knowledge about this.

Answer 1

blood clots are dangerous, and most doctors do not suggest flying.  However it depends on if your father in law is taking blood thinners such as Coumadin or Lovenox. If your father in law's blood levels are ok, and the clot is not large then it should be ok. Make sure you tell him to walk frequently on the plane to help with circulation.  

Answer 2

Contrary to popular opinion, flying does not increase or decrease the risk from blood clots, either existing clots or clots that may develop en-route.  That's why your father-in-law's doctors told him it's okay to fly.

If you have a blood clot, flying will not make it worse or better.  If you don't have a blood clot, flying will not increase the chances of getting one.

Most of the media misinformation around this is centered on deep venous thrombosis (DVT), a kind of blood clot that can develop in susceptible individuals if they remain motionless for long periods.  First, if you're in good health (not predisposed to clots), the chances of you suffering from DVT are practically nonexistent, whether you're on a plane or not.  Second, if you are predisposed to this, you're just as likely to develop it while lying in bed and sleeping during the night as you are to develop it while sitting in a plane—it's staying motionless for long periods that encourages it, not just being in a plane.  Of course, sitting for hours in a plane is one way to remain motionless, but it has nothing to do with flying, and everything to do with sitting.

Anyway, your father isn't likely to be in any danger.  If it's a long flight, he should get up and walk around a bit from time to time, but that's all.  I'm sure his doctors have already assessed the risk of him developing additional clots, and if he can sit at home and watch TV or read for several hours at a time, he can certainly sit on a plane for several hours.

Answer 3

Your FIL is at risk for DVT (deep vein thrombosis) Especially with a history of blood clots. Due to the Cramped Quarters ,Lack of dependent Oxygen,De-hydration and the Inability to move around much and stretch out...he is at great risk...you can lower the possibility with a First-Class Travel Arrangement(not completely safe, but more so than Coach)...More Room to move about. DVT can occur days or even weeks after a trip with sudden death being the outcome.

ER RN 16 years

Answer 4

This sounds kind of weird.  Isn't a blood clot a potentially serious condition?  I'm not a doctor but when I hear about the risk of deep vein thrombosis when flying long-haul, that sounds like very risky to me.

On top of that, is he really in a condition to go to the Maldives?  They don't strike me has being state-of-the-art when it comes to healthcare.

Again, I'm no expert but I certainly would double check with his doctor.

Maybe they expect his condition to inprove by the time he travels...