What do you do before flying?

[TonyP]

To reduce the chance of DVT when flying or other restrained activity, take one or two regular sized aspirins for a day or two if ASA doesn't give you gastric symptoms. Everyone should do that to protect themselves. A couple days of ASA won't give one bleeding problems. Frequent foot and ankle exercises are a good preventive maneuver or just walk around as often as possible. Since you are a MtF individual, wear support pantyhose. Not only feel good, the PH will help promote venous return from your lower extremeties.

[Raye]

To reduce the chance of DVT when flying or other restrained activity, take one or two regular sized aspirins for a day or two if ASA doesn't give you gastric symptoms. Everyone should do that to protect themselves. A couple days of ASA won't give one bleeding problems. Frequent foot and ankle exercises are a good preventive maneuver or just walk around as often as possible. Since you are a MtF individual, wear support pantyhose. Not only feel good, the PH will help promote venous return from your lower extremeties.

That seems helpful, I doubt I'm going to be considered at risk for DVT until I get older, but I will remember this. I've got some great genes in my family despite various cancers that run it as well. But since I'm agile, athletic, and active around the clock my doctor said I probably wouldn't be at risk for DVT. Even if I were to go on plane trip at some point.

[Richenda]

As a matter of interest is the gel version of estrogen (e.g. oestrogel) considered safe wrt DVT risks?

[Devlyn]

I believe the studies I posted to be quite relevant to the thread as they show the relative risk of DVT with different forms of HRT so that one is able to better understand their overall risk when getting onto a long flight haul.



As I am not a medic and not prescribing any medications to anyone, nor making any recommendations and since everyone reading my posts is well aware of this and old enough to think for themselves (and assume the consequences of their actions), I don't believe my *opinions*, based on studies that I share and common sense, pose a danger or mislead others. You have your opinion on matters, I have mine. It is up to the reader to decide what to do with the information at hand but hopefully, common sense will prevail, a doctor will be sought for treatment and discussion, and perhaps their interest in the matter will be further stimulated such that they explore the subject in greater depth.

Being a medic, by the way, doesn't guarantee that their judgment and advice is infallible (or objective) and that their actions aren't potentially misleading or dangerous as I've found out in certain instances. This is why I try, as much as possible, to get acquainted with the matter at hand, do some research on the subject and get second and third opinions from other experts. Then, I cross my fingers and hope for the best. 

But I wish you well x

Thank you. Likewise. 

Sort of....the site is full of minors as well. Their ability to "assume the consequences of their actions" is probably not as fully developed as your ability to understand the consequences of your actions, including sharing your *opinions*. 

Hugs, Devlyn

[Richenda]

I agree and it's not just minors. I have a PhD and still believed things posted because they were backed up by links which made them seem 'right.' I thought years more journey time than me meant they must be right.  Actually they weren't for me and made me very ill for a time. One of the considerable dangers of a non-professional is only seeing one side of something and backing that up with only what one wants to see. Heck, even Jehovah Witnesses back everything up with thousands of texts. The problem is, they're highly selective.

Professional medics train rigorously. They don't always get it right but they earn their qualifications and when they make mistakes there is often recourse.

There is no substitute for professional opinion.

[TheaP]

Upon seeing my endocrinologist, and having a series of blood test to evaluate the risk of DVT.  The following is an extract from his letter to my Dr.  I am at the low risk level of DVT

factor v leiden mutation heterozygous which caries a four to eight fold increased risk of thrombosis, predominately on long flights and/or when undergoing comprehensive surgery.  Asprin is not necessary to treat this condition but it is prudent to recommend Clexane injection before long distance travel

Thea