Flying with lung disease

@fracturedd- It think that we are limited here too. I was stopped from flying internationally after proton radiation because of all the "bugs" that I could pick up- germs from an area I am unfamiliar with so would have no immunity to.
Double check with your PCP. and see what they think. It's your declension whether or not to chance a the risk.

I have done 10 000 miles in the last 5 weeks with bad lungs. I fly 1st class, with a POC, I take my own power wheelchair with me and have wipes and wear a mask I'm traveling back and forth from Portland Oregon to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville Florida. 3 weeks for lung transplant evaluation and am currently in the hospital here having just completed iliac artery surgery today. All went well and now on to selection on Thursday I hope.
With care you can travel, my transplant team fully supports my traveling because they know it will fix my lung problems.

You get around,,that's wonderful. I'm happy your surgery went well. I also went for a lung transplant evaluation,, however I did not qualify. So your lungs do okay with the pressure from the flight? I'm sorry what is a POC?
Thanks for sharing and good luck with the lung transplant evaluation.

Portable Oxygen Concentrator , I pick flights that have electrical power at each seat so I can just plug in. The airline's make you carry batteries for 1 1/2 the total fight time.
Everything works well with good planning and smart precautions.
I also follow my pulmonologist's on both coasts recommendations at all costs and it works for me.
I know several people who have had TX's and travel extensively including cruises and to Europe.

Lol, POC, Clearly I'm slow. Thank you, this makes me feel better. I have flown many times prior to my pneumothorax without any problems. I guess I just over think sometimes. I'm not on oxygen,,but it would make me feel better to travel with it,,just in case. Thanks again.

Hi everyone, I wanted to share this discussion on Flying with oxygen. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/flying-with-oxygen/

@fracturedd have you discussed flying with your primary care physician yet?

@djallan that is so many airline miles! Have you flown more since then? Or have any flights coming up?

Hi @ethanmcconkey I don't really have a primary care doctor. I really rely on my pulmonologist for everything. (And rheumatologist). I know that's crazy. However my pulmonologist prescribed me lorazapam for the flight. Ugh,,, I don't know. I just worry the pressure from the flight will cause my lung to collapse. She said the risk is low but it is a risk. So we will see. Fingers crossed.

I have pulmonary fibrosis. my wife and i travel frequently. we ave pac that we take with us.to use pac on the plan you have to register it with the the air line. on the web site for the airline do a search for oxygen use and it should say what you need to get authorized to use the POC on the plane, you will need enough batteries fr the flight. you should submit your request several weeks in advance.

FAA did a study in 2011 that only covered flights up to 5 hours and wanted to do a more expansive study for longer flights, but was not funded. The study found that those with cardio-pulmonary issues as well as the elderly were at increased risk from flying. Not surprising as POCs are regularly required by pulmonary docs, what was surprising was that these people were asymptomatic during flight, but suffered post flight. HAST test rather than just 6 min walk may be more appropriate pre-flight test. My wife, who at the time had PLCH and mild PH, and used her POC occasionally on the ground and through her entire 9-10 hr flight at 2L, experienced severe breathing issues upon landing, which have been chronic. No other cause but the flight. Did not feel need to test her Sats during the flight as was asymptomatic. Likely airlines knew of FAA study as Boeing built an aircraft for longer flights that reduced cabin pressure from 8000 ft to 6000 ft. Never been further FAA studies, but should be.

Allow me to be the acronym buster for this post.
FAA = Federal Aviation Administration
POC = portable oxygen concentrators
HAST = Highly Accelerated Stress Test
PLCH = Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis
O2 Sats = oxygen saturation

IBW, I couldn't find the FAA 2011 study to which you referred, but found this perspective from 2014
- Fitness to Fly in Patients with Lung Disease https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201406-234PS

I see that you posted more about your wife's current condition in this related discussion.
- Internal Tremors associated w/ pneumothorax or PH https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/internal-tremors-associated-w-pneumothorax-or-ph/