factor V Leiden and flying?

Question

I have FVL and nervous about flying O.S. can u offer any advice apart from moving around aircraft, drinking water & elevation?
Going for an ultrasound on my leg to ease my mind but am concerned with an emergency on the plane. also r there any other medications i can take with me on the plane in case of probs? i take cartia every day.
thanks :)

Answer 1

What can be done to avoid blood clots?

Factor V Leiden only slightly increases the risk of getting a blood clot and many people with this condition will never experience thrombosis.

There are many things you can do to avoid getting blood clots.


Avoid standing or sitting in the same position for long periods of time.


When travelling long distances it is important to exercise regularly - the blood must not 'stand still'.


Being overweight or smoking will greatly increase the risk of blood clots.


Women carrying the Factor V Leiden gene should not take the contraceptive pill as this will significantly increase the chance of getting thrombosis.


Women carrying the Factor V Leiden gene should also consult their doctor before becoming pregnant as this can also increase the risk of thrombosis.

Answer 2

Factor V Leiden And Flying

Answer 3

The above answers don't seem to be very accurate or helpful. I have Factor V Leiden, myself, and I can tell you that having it does not "slightly" increase the risk of getting a blood clot. While it's true that many people with Factor V Leiden will never experience thrombosis, many WILL develop a clot, especially depending on the type of Factor V Leiden that the person has. According to stoptheclot.org, "Having 1 Factor V Leiden gene (heterozygous type) slightly increases the chance of developing a blood clot. Having 2 Factor V Leiden genes (homozygous type) makes the risk much greater." I was also told this by a hemotologist.
As far as travel, what I was told by the hematologist is that if I were to travel by car/bus/train, to get up and move around every few hours and walk for a few minutes to increase blood flow to the legs. If I were to travel by plane, especially via a long flight like across the country or overseas, I would need to wear compression stockings or have heparin shots. Now, this was 10 years ago. Medical knowledge increases all the time, and it's possible that I may not need to have heparin shots or even wear compression stockings but I will be consulting with my doctor before a long flight. According to the American Heart Association, namely, http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/107/15/e94.full, I read that "Wearing elastic stockings with a moderate level of compression (15 to 20 mm Hg) may prevent DVT from developing on long flights".
Long story short: Yes, having Factor V Leiden puts you at risk for clotting. Several components increase the risk such as smoking, being overweight, having the homozygous type, etc. Talk to your doctor about how to decrease your risk, especially when flying long flights/travelling. Do research online on credible sites as well, such as the Mayo Clinic, Heart Association, etc.
Good luck, take care, and listen to your body. If you have a strange pain in your calf with redness and swelling, please get it checked. If you have sudden chest pain that wont' go away in a few minutes and is not due to anxiety, please get seen by a hospital right away.

Answer 4

yes