I’m flying for the first time since getting sick. Yay!
But for a variety of reasons, I’m at risk for getting blood clots. Boo!
My doc wants me to wear compression socks and be sure to move my legs around. Unfortunately I have a few strikes against me- tall and arthritic. My flight is from Detroit to Vegas so around 3 hours-ish. We have direct flights.
So does anyone have favorite small things for moving around in a cramped airplane seat? Also accepting any tips of compression socks that people like
I am no expert, but I am tall. I try to get an aisle seat, so I have a little more room.
I have no idea if these are reasonable, so sorry in advance if they are not.
I will move my feet around, doing something like writing the alphabet with my foot.
Depending on the room/who is sitting next to me, I will cross one ankle over the other knee and put pressure on the knee that is raised up.
Taking something like a small pillow or a rolled up blanket and putting it between your knees and pressing hard is something else you can do in a tight space.
Good luck.
I’ve noticed people doing stretches, marching in place, rising up to tippy toe, etc as they wait for the bathroom. I’m sure anyone who happens to notice “gets it”. Good luck to you!
Hooray! I like to get an aisle seat and stand up during the flight. If there’s room, I walk up and down the aisle (this probably will be less effective on a domestic flight since the plane will be smaller) or do knee bends and toe raises as I stand there. You could always wander down to the restroom even if you don’t need to use it.
I assume that standing for some period before boarding would help?
I agree that an aisle seat will not only allow you to get up and walk (go to the bathroom once an hour - even if you don’t have to USE it!) but you can also stretch your legs while sitting using the aisle a bit. Bend what you can, do ankle rolls, manipulate (massage) your legs with your hands.
I will have a wheelchair in the airport but I’m hoping to walk as much as possible beforehand. I can’t remember if my seat is an aisle seat or not but Mr R and my parents and I are all spread out (no more together seats when I booked ), One of us should have an aisle seat and I’ll just take that one. Unfortunately, we’re all a tall bunch but they can squish better than I can lol.
Thanks for the ideas. I know it seems like it should be obvious but I was hitting a wall and some of the things I saw via google looked way too complex to do in a real plane seat!
Have definitely not heard of/thought of the pillow/blanket thing. Thank you for that idea!
Vegas wasn’t exactly our idea (my mom’s family from England is going there and it’s way easier to fly to Vegas than England!) but it’s a genius one for someone like me. Everything is pretty close together and great nightlife. Since I can’t walk well and can’t be exposed to much sun, voila!
Have a great time! Agree with aisle seats; plan to stow little under the seat in front of you, so you can stretch, rotate your ankles a bit and move your feet up and down.
Many suggest compression hose being put on first thing in a.m. Follow your Dr’s recs on type and try on for awhile before flight day to be sure they are comfortable and a good fit. Check and adjust them if they bother you at all during the flight.
So happy you can take a trip. I’ve had to travel with wheelchair assistance and found people extremely helpful; don’t be shy about avoiding lines as travel fatigue is cumulative and challenges unpredictable. Your travel companions will be able to stay with you.
This will be my first real traveling since getting sick and I admit I am very, very nervous. I’m actually really happy that I’m traveling with my whole family because I have several helpers if needed
So I have a question that you might know. I am planning on checking my wheelchair and using an airport one. Is this common? Is it a pretty easy process? I probably can’t stand in the security line if it’s any more than a few minutes (standing actually hurts more than walking usually) but I can easily walk through the x-ray machine or whatever (though I always manage to set it off, so that’ll be fun…)
I don’t have any personal experience in a wheelchair, but I fly regularly and it always seems to me like people in wheelchairs are well taken care of, both at security and at the gate. By “well taken care of”, I mean that the various agents always seem quite patient and understanding and I’ve frequently seen them clearly explaining the various processes to the elderly when they get confused.
Many of the interactions I’ve seen between airport staff pushing their charges in wheelchairs have also made me think that those particular staff are the friendliest at the airport by a country mile. Although I expect OP will have her family acting in that capacity.
Romani, go on Detroit (and Las Vegas)'s airport website and look for the section for travelers needing assistance. Same with your airline.
You should be able to get a wheelchair from curb to security to gate. Make sure your airline knows you will need assistance, and they will help to have chair and aide on jetway and should allow you to board early.
Traveling is tiring for the fittest of the fit. Utilize any options you can, so you aren’t wiped out on your trip. And DRINK WATER. Lots of it. Take an empty water bottle thru security and then fill it. And ask for more water on the plane. Even a three hour flight can dehydrate you. And remember, planes are germ farms. Wash hands often, take wipes on plane for tray table, arm rests, etc. I swear I get some bug after every flight…
Ah good call on the water bottle! I drink water literally all day already (helps alleviate some of my obnoxious symptoms) so I will be sure to pump myself up more than usual.
Gives me a good excuse to use the bathroom too
I was concerned because I am getting my IV treatment just 2 days before I leave but my rheum thinks I’ll be OK. If I get sick from the infusion, it usually happens in the first week (I’m more susceptible to infection then) so this timing is just dandy for me /sarcasm . He said if I do start to show any signs of an infection that I can just call his office and they’ll send a script out here for my usual round of antibiotics. I’m grateful for technology sometimes.
I should be able to buy hand sanitizer too once I go through security, yes? I will probably wipe down the armrests and anything I touch with my skin in the plane.
I’ll ask my home nurse too if she has any suggestions when she comes to give me my infusion. She has several patients on my specific IV meds.
Buy the sanitizer before you get to airport. As long as liquid containers (sanitizer, shampoo, sunscreen, makeup, etc) are 3 oz. or less, you may take in ziploc thru security in carry on luggage. Pretty much anything you buy at airport has very inflated price, water included…
A good idea and a good way to stretch your legs (assuming that you are able to get down the aisle).
Also, if it is not too late, then it is a good idea to be purchase those “extra legroom” economy seats. I don’t fly on airlines unless they offer it. Jet Blue and Delta are particularly good for this (sorry, I don’t know which airlines go to Vegas – I haven’t been there in a long time).
I used the wheelchair service in the airport years ago after surgery. They were pretty good about it. I felt a bit bad because the person pushing me around was a lot smaller than I was – but he managed fine and was indeed friendly. You need to call the airlines a few days in advance and ask for it (I don’t recall exactly how many days in advance – it was a long time ago when I needed it). At the time I was able to get down the aisle to the bathroom, but had to hold the seats on the way back.
I’ll typically stand in the aisle or go to the back of the plane and do the typical stetches one would do before you go running, but also include shoulder stetches. Air squats, quads, hammies, touch your toes, ankle circles, etc.
I wear compression hose on planes. I do ankle rolls, “march” in my seat (raise my knees so that my feet get off the ground), stretch them out into the aisle and roll my ankles (obviously, not when others are walking by) and go up and down on my toes when I’m waiting in line for the bathroom.
DRINK WATER. Make sure you get some extra potassium a couple of days before you leave.
Some tips regarding germs/bugs on planes: The food tray and in-flight magazine in the seat pocket test as among the germiest areas on the plane. Don’t mess with the seat pocket or anything in it. By contrast the air from the adjustable vent is the cleanest on the plane! Apparently because there are serious air filters in place so by the time the air comes out the vent it’s cleaner than the rest of the cabin air around you. I always open the vent slightly and keep a light breeze blowing on my face as soon I sit down.
Don’t drink the plane’s provided water, or ice, or coffee. If the flight attendants are pouring bottled water from a large bottle, pass. Stick with your own water!
Three hours isn’t too bad overall if you can keep yourself occupied. Although honestly even a one hour flight is pretty tiring if you count the whole experience door to door. If you’re travelling West the jet lag will be easy. Going back East you’ll want to let yourself sleep in late the next day if you can swing it.
), One of us should have an aisle seat and I’ll just take that one. Unfortunately, we’re all a tall bunch but they can squish better than I can lol.