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Severe Aortic Stenosis: Air Travel OK?
Short of it is we purchased tickets to fly from Texas to New Your a month ago. My annual heart check up has seen a change on my Aortic Stenosis to severe. It wasn't a shocker, I have been experiencing daily dizzy spells and what I think is regurgitation(sp). Cardiologist said surgery to repair the valve must happen in next 2 months. I failed to ask my Cardiologist if I'm ok for air travel. I'm going to ask tomorrow first thing. Has anyone been in a similar situation and were you cleared to fly?
All the best.
Bruce
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Hi Bruce, @ch246cf10,
Just wanted to check in and see how you are doing? Did your cardiologist okay the travel plans?
Hello,
Sorry for the slow reply. I've been busy getting everything ready for my pending surgery.
The trip we had planned was cancelled when wife's mom became ill. Mom is doing much better now. It went as far as here being placed in Hospice. Once in Hospice with all the machines and IV's disconnected her body started working again. She is back at her assisted living and we see her every day.
My Cardiologist said I was OK to fly. I went to see a surgeon early in December and I will be having my Aortic Valve replaced on the 31st of January here in Austin, Texas at St. Davids. This is my third chest opening and I was hoping for a TAVR but since my existing valve is Bicuspid it is not a candidate for that procedure. I am really bummed about having the chest opened. I work for myself now so the time away from work will be costly. I know exactly what I am in for. Recovering from my Aortic Aneurysm in 2005 was the most physically demanding thing I have ever done. This will be tough going for me in February.
Bruce
Dear Bruce, how have you been? How is your recovery?
Hello,
I'm doing very well. Thanks for asking. I'm back to everything just like normal. My INR requirement for the Onx Valve is 1.5-2.0. I have been under at 1.3 for some months now. I'm at the every week testing interval. If the INR gets above 2.0 I feel cold. That should be OK now as we are getting to the warmer months. So in the winter months I like to run closer to the 1.5 to avoid getting cold. We were in Alaska for 10 days last month and even with my INR low, it was a cold visit for me. Drinking alcohol thins the blood so I had wine every evening and that helps. I was wearing double thermals under my clothing to stay warm! Who does that!!
We are going back to Alaska in August for another 10 days. I will hit the climbing trails that challenged me before my surgery and see if I can actually complete them this time. In June of 2017 when we were there I tried climbing Flat Top Mountain(Look it up) on the outskirts of Anchorage but I was so short of breath I couldn't. I'm sure now it will be an easy task. I wanted to go to Flat Top when we were there in March but is was too cold to mess with that.
Wife got me a membership at the local Seniors center and I do 3 miles on the treadmill every day, Saturday and Sunday too. I have been increasing the speed and incline to make it more challenging. I was doing Push-ups for while as exercise but I was injuring my shoulder and had to lay off those for now.
I cut my self by accident at work yesterday and even this morning the cut was still bleeding. I just glued over the cut and will be careful with it. Have to be real careful when taking thinners.
Let me know if I left anything out.
All the best!
Bruce
Texas