My Grandmother wants to go over to Dublin from Liverpool via plane w/the rest of the family for a graduation. She seems hellbent on going, which I admire...but it is a the expenese of everyone else's nerves.She is apparently in need of a pacemaker and is waiting for the surgery date. She a lot of work these days and is very demanding. I guess an English Doc. told my mother (who is really the main source of support for her...)that she should be fine to fly...but I am not so sure. We (our family) will be there for 3 days and don't know if she can take the stress of the journey. My mother doesn't have the heart to tell her that she shouldn't come.
I am more worried for my mother who has to look after her. She sounds like a nervous wreak on the phone and I suggested getting another medical opinion. I would assume that the air pressure change would be hard on someone who's heart cannot regulate itself naturally under normal circumstances. But maybe I know nothing!
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2006-10-18 13:12:59 · 9 answers · asked by Calisam 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
I would think that her doing what she wants to do is the best for her heart. She is going to leave you one day. When she does is not her or your call. Let her do what she WANTS to do.
2006-10-18 13:22:05 · answer #1 · answered by LINDA G 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not a cardiologist, nor even a physician.
My only experience with pacemakers is that my father had one.
But I know that pacemakers can be implanted for a variety of reasons. In my father's case, his heart's internal pacemaker was simply running too slowly and would not cause his heart to beat at a normal rate (and certainly would not allow it to beat faster if that was called for).
In that situation, the doctor put him in the hospital and had the surgery performed the same day.
Based on your description of your grandmother's situation (waiting for surgery) and the doctor's saying that she can fly, it sounds as if her situation is different. Apparently, the pacemaker is not needed immediately, AND it seems that the doctor thinks that the minor stress of flying would not be an issue for her condition. And he must be thinking that her being in Liverpool would not be a concern if a problem arose during the visit.
Has she flown before? Would flying get her excited (in a positive or negative way)? Is there an alternative way to get to Liverpool (that everyone would be comfortable with)?
One last thought: Would a trip by plane be the most exciting experience of a long life? An adventure that she wants to go on, even if it did mean taking a life-and-death risk (which it probably doesn't)? If so, the answer is pretty clear, and everyone should just relax and enjoy the adventure with her.
Hope these thoughts are of use to you.
Good luck!
2006-10-18 20:28:11 · answer #2 · answered by actuator 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you are all wrong. She has the right to go. At her age she msy feel she doesn't have a lot of occasions left and she wants to be among you all, her family, to celebrate. Stop trying to use her medical condition to stop her. You do however need to have Airport personnel at any large airport know ahead of time and have a golf cart or whatever they use to get her to her gate if there is a large airport and change overs. This will take some stress off her and you all. The inside of a plane is not very different from being anyplace else. A little change but not enough to cause a heart attack, unless she were having one anyway. I would also , it it's a flight over 1 hour, make her stretch her legs, lift them uo and massage them when she can. Sitting with bent legs like that for long periods can cause DVT deep vein thrombosis. That can happen to anyone of any age. So, take her, let her enjoy the graduation and stop worrying and making her seem like she might die. So, what! It will be her decision and not yours. She deserves respect. My brother's mother-in-law went by plane to Chicago from GA. to someplace else up north and took that big long train ride to the grand canyon and back again when she was almost 90. Yes, she had health problems but, she had always wanted to do that and her granddaughter took her along with her almost 60 yr. old diabetic mother with health problems. She may have the best time of this side of the hill and you could make that happen.
Maybe your mom needs to see the Doc. and get something to calm her down. Why don't you take care of some of the things with your grandmother. Everyone should be happy to see her and ask for them to help also, give mom a break at the same time. good Luck. I hope you all enjoy. Remember to let the Airport know you bneed their help, they were always there for Mamma Hadie when she traveled and that is part of their job. You can tip if you like. I just wouldn't let her walk and stress herself and you guys out. It will be tiring enough.
2006-10-18 20:42:50 · answer #3 · answered by MISS-MARY 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I never heard of anyone having to wait for a pace maker. Usually (in the U.S.) if one needs a pacemaker, it is an immediate surgery.
If the doctor said it is OK, I don't think there is anything you can do about it. Your grandmother is being unfair to everyone, especially your mother.
Have your mom check with the airlines and ask what type of equipment they have for emergencies. I bet if the airlines know how ill your grandmother is, they would not let her fly, no matter what the doctor says.
Good luck, I am sure you are under stress worrying about your mom and your grandmother.
2006-10-18 20:26:00 · answer #4 · answered by Patti C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure. Air travel today is like sitting in your lazy-boy in front of your TV. The differential in air pressure on an airliner is not that far removed from what it is on the ground. Airliners are pressurized to either 8 or 11 psi (can't remember which). On the ground, it is 14.7 psi at sea level. Just get to the airport early, let the people behind the counter know she is 89 and they will board you first. This is what they do with handicapped people. It reduces congestion at the cabin door.
2006-10-18 20:23:59 · answer #5 · answered by christopher s 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it were unsafe for grandmother to travel, the Dr would not give his ok. Jut get a note for travel and the airline, possibly making it easier to get from the car to the plane. Just remember, if anything were to happen, it is in his hands! I would get a referral Dr in Dublin for grandmother from her Dr, just to be aware there is someone there if she should need to go. At the age of 89, grandmother needs to be able to enjoy the time she has left and she would know if she is not up to going.
2006-10-18 20:26:19 · answer #6 · answered by tenabutter 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she needs a pacemaker, but, she's on a list, it may be that she's not in that bad of shape. Let her fly. The trip shouldn't really affect her unless she has a fear of flying.
2006-10-19 13:31:16 · answer #7 · answered by mop-27 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone has their own opinion on this question- but "ONLY" your heart doctor could answer this due to her medical history.
2006-10-18 22:17:41 · answer #8 · answered by roxylee11782 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the Dr said it was okay and she want to go then let her go.
2006-10-18 20:36:10 · answer #9 · answered by kgreives 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋