Re: Does flying affect RP/liz or whoever

[Guest guest]

Hey

Sorry to jump in here, but since I have been half way around the world twice and

in all 50 states in the union as well as other places (father and husband was

military) let me assure you that flying should not have any affect on you. The

cabin of the plans are pressurized. Now as for altitude I can say a " yes " to

that one. My daughter went to New Mexico last year to go camping up in the

mountains and she almost passed out the first couple of days until her body

became use to the high mountains.

Now as for panic and breathing...well that's a different story. For me I don't

fly anymore and I know I would have a lot of breathing problems if I had to fly.

Hope this helps...so fly..fly..fly...you are safe there

hugs

Sharyn

>

>

> Date: 2002/06/21 Fri PM 03:34:09 EDT

> To: Rpolychondritis

> Subject: Does flying affect RP/liz or whoever

>

>

Liz since you are a woman of the world maybe you can help me. Does

the altitude while your on an airplane affect your breathing? I have

only flown once and that was before I was diagonosed with RP. We went

to New Mexico and the I couldnt take the altitude. We went out to

play in the snow on the side of a mountain and I almost passed out

and was dizzy and could hardly breathe. The reason why I am asking

is because we are celebrating our 30th annv. this year and my husband

said for me to pick a place to go. They havent built the bridge to

Hawaii yet so thats out.HAHA I was just wondering since I have high

blood pressure and the breathing probleming if flying affected

anything. But I think thats all you do lately boy what I life. Oh

well I was just wondering. Luv ya,

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[Guest guest]

--- nant8 wrote:

> Liz since you are a woman of the world maybe you can

> help me. Does

> the altitude while your on an airplane affect your

> breathing? I have

> only flown once and that was before I was diagonosed

> with RP. We went

> to New Mexico and the I couldnt take the altitude.

> We went out to

> play in the snow on the side of a mountain and I

> almost passed out

> and was dizzy and could hardly breathe. The reason

> why I am asking

> is because we are celebrating our 30th annv. this

> year and my husband

> said for me to pick a place to go. They havent built

> the bridge to

> Hawaii yet so thats out.HAHA I was just wondering

> since I have high

> blood pressure and the breathing probleming if

> flying affected

> anything. But I think thats all you do lately boy

> what I life. Oh

> well I was just wondering. Luv ya,

>

>

, there is no doubt that altitude does affect

your breathing, even if you don't have rp. Even

perfectly healthy people can suffer from altitude

sickness.

Recently when we were in Tanzania, flying in a small

aircraft from Kilimanjaro airport (it means God's

Mountain, isn't that lovely} I felt short of breath

and I checked on my pulse oximeter (you know the thing

they put on your finger in the ER to check your oxygen

levels) and my oxygen was down to 80!! So I used my

serevent inhaler,(that is the long acting albuterol)

and when we got down to earth it recovered to about 95

which is good for me. Obviously playing on a mountain

is even worse as you are burning more oxygen.

However, I don't find it has any permanent effect.

Before I was dx and my breathing was worse I used to

have a much harder time flying. One thing also that

has made a big difference is smoke free flights. I

would talk to your doctor, preferably pulmonologist,

and ask if you should take any special precautions,

and GO FOR IT!

We only have one life, and although we have to take

care of ourselves, it would be a shame if we never did

anything fun because we might feel worse. Make sure

you have meds with you in your hand luggage - they

take up the bulk of mine!! If you are a nervous flyer

ask your doc if a short term tranquillizer will help.

Whatever you decide to do, enjoy it! Love Liz

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