Travel with lung issues

If you haven’t purchase Travel Insurance for your trip, it would be a good idea. We always purchase travel insurance when traveling internationally just in case something unexpected should come up and we would have to cancel.
It gives me peace of mind.
Kathryn

Thanks Kathryn we did. I appreciate your help

I don’t need supplemental oxygen but my lungs can go upside down quickly (severe asthma and CEP) so travel looks different now. But my husband and I love to travel so we have greatly adjusted how we make it happen.

So here is what I’ve learned and I hope it helps you:
- make sure you see your Dr before the trip (a month out is my rule) and he/she feels you are stable to go. This takes a trusted relationship to balance out risks and rewards and get to a decision everyone feels good about. I’ve had my pulmonologist tell me I can’t do two trips in the past two years and the first one I cried all the way home. But she was correct and I got over it.
- pack an emergency container of meds that covers as many scenarios as possible. This is a different bag than you would carry your regular everyday meds. My bag has a bottle of high dose prednisone, extra rescue inhalers (two different kinds), antihistamines for an allergic reaction, a course of antibiotics, stomach meds, and a can of nasal wash. Even a bout of the flu will need to be treated aggressively for those of us that have immune issues.
- mask up. It’s soooo not fun to leave a mask in place for a 10 hour flight. I feel your pain - but don’t take it off except to change to a clean one halfway through the trip.
- before you land at your destination, find the hospital/urgent care/pharmacy near where you are staying and review who is able to give you medical advice. In France I’ve found the pharmacists really knowledgeable and able to help me out of a lung issue really successfully. Italy wasn’t as successful and I ended up at their version of the ER. In Bermuda I did find them all but failed to note the local holiday (fortunately I had what I needed in my emergency bag).
-And I ended up at the ER in Italy because I didn’t listen to my body and I pushed it too hard. So practice the art of JOMO - the joy of missing out. If you feel slightly off one morning - don’t try and keep up with the sightseeing group. Stay in, get coffee in your pjs and rest. This has been the most difficult one for me but I’ve paid dearly when I don’t listen to my body.
-then, most importantly, have fun, take lots of pictures, think about how beautiful the world is around you! Our lives can be so busy with Dr appts and worries about our health and you deserve to be able to go see the world once in awhile.

I hope you get to go and have a wonderful time!

Lisa

I have traveled quite a bit with oxygen and it can be challenging. If you don't have one, you can rent one, but I believe you need a prescription from your dr. My understanding is that most planes pressurize the cabin as if you were at 8000 feet. Portable oxygen concentrators POC can go up to 4 or 6 liters. Your dr. should be able to help you determine what you'll need. Also make sure the concentrator is approved by the FAA. It should say it right on the machine. Also there are some POC batteries that are not allowed by certain airlines, On an international flight last year, the captain actually came out to inspect my machine.
Also, IF you do end up bringing a POC, you must let the airline know that you're bringing one and read the fine print. Some airlines might require a letter from your dr. Also, they require that you have enough battery to cover 150% of the travel time in case there are delays. Hope this information is helpful.

Thanks that was very helpful.!!

@lluth412

Thanks Lisa. Your encouragement means a lot to me. Thanks for the suggestions too.
I am praying that I will be able to go without oxgen. I see my pulmonologist about 6 weeks before our trip.

Kim

@eugenia117
Thank you for your detailed comment, I was going to tell her the same thing. 😊

I have traveled with my portable oxygen as Eugenia commented above. Wanted to add, that your pulmonologist can order a test that will tell you if you need oxygen at higher altitudes. Mine was done by respiratory therapy, the same ones that do my PFT. You really don’t want to be 30,000 ft in the air to find out.

@kr61,
Airlines pressurize cabins to around 8000 feet. Purchase a continuous oximeter if you don't already have one. I use the Lookee Tech Sleep Pro, which is a continuous oximeter that vibrates when your oxygen level drops below the level you set and sends the data to an app on your phone so you can easily monitor your oxygen. I set mine at alarm level at 88%. I wear it on my thumb during the flight.

My oxygen levels are normal at 94% when the plane departs at 4600 feet where I live , but when I reach an altitude of 25,000 feet on the plane and higher, my oxygen levels drop to lows of 80's. I have tried deep breathing, but breathing alone will not bring my oxygen levels up to 90%. I need to put on the oxygen concentrator. The same thing happens when I travel to the mountains in my area by car. At 7000 feet my oxygen levels drop and it triggers atrial fibrillation. I don't have any symptoms, but atrial fibrillation can trigger a heart attack or stroke. The heart is very sensitive to drops in oxygen. My heart rhythm returns to normal when my oxygen level is back to 94%

Before your long trip, try traveling by car to a higher elevation of 8000 feet or higher wearing your oximeter and check your oxygen. Also consider the elevations where you will be traveling to and your activity level. My oxygen levels are normal (90-94%) with light activity, and no strenuous activities like hiking, up to 5,000 feet. Everyone responds differently. I recommend getting the exercise test through Pulmonology before going.

Best of luck to you on your trip.

Thanks . I appreciate your help. We live in Florida so unfortunately there are no high elevations. We did go to Pikes peak in Colorado when I was first diagnosed with Mac. Thank God I did not have any trouble. Will check altitude where we are going