Flying Allowed?

[Just Paul]

So its my 30th this year and I really want to go to Paris for it, I had planned to travel via the Eurostar but apparently the time at which I wanted to go has nothing available... so now I am possibly thinking of flying... but that's the thing, I saw on the first week after I had my fistula put in someone who got on a plane and their entire are had turned black as their fistula BURST! I definitely don't want that to happen... So what I really mean to say is: Can I fly on a plane at all from say London > Paris? or are my 30th Birthday plans all for naught?

[Riki]

I fly from Halifax, Nova Scotia to New York City, about an hour and a half flight, with no problems with my fistula.  I think that may have been a one off, as many of us fly with our fistulas, and none of us have had them explode. 

Our RichardMel travels halfway around the world all the time, and I'm pretty sure he has a fistula as well

[PatDowns]

There is no reason why you can't fly just because having a fistula.  I flew to NY to have a fistula placed - 2.5 hours - and then back home a two days after the surgery.  If someone's fistula "exploded" it was because of a pre-existing problem, not the flight.  Now, if he was on an airplane that did not have a pressurized cabin...

[amanda100wilson]

I have flown with my fistula, initially just after it had been formed.  I have never heard of this,.

[amanda100wilson]

their hand would do more than turn black if their fistula exploded.  They would have bled to death

[Just Paul]

their hand would do more than turn black if their fistula exploded.  They would have bled to death

I'm only using the term she used, I don't profess to be an expert on the subject lol

Aside from that thanks for all the info people you have been a great help, I guess I'll be going to Paris after all ^^

[RichardMEL]

awww I feel special now.. a bit... haha

yeah I was concerned about flying post fistula creation back in 2004, but I was assured it would be OK - just in case I took a short hour flight to make sure for myself and no problem. Then I did longer trips and all good.

At this point with the same Fistula I am not sure how many miles I have done in the air, but as guess would be between 200,000 and 300,000 without any issues. Fistula still buzzing away.....

and another 20,000 or so miles planned for October

so I say yes all safe with a fistula. An arm going "black" sounds like the fistula blew, but that wouldn't be from the air pressure I bet

[Just Paul]

Now I am really curious as to how it could have happened... basically she said that she had the fistula op and a week later went on holiday, then her fistula blew... she didn't go into details but she did say it was because of the plane she flew on...

Her arm was like a big mass of bruising and I have to say it did kinda make me nervous about ever getting on a plane again lol.

BTW, any idea what she could have done to make her fistula burst like that?

[amanda100wilson]

maybe it just wasn't healing properly?

[RichardMEL]

She flew a week after the op? it wasn't matured so probably the pressure *may* have caused an issue there, but who really knows.. it could have been total co-incidence... certainly a mature fistula should not blow under normal cirtcumstances - most certainly not without a needle in there that could even potentially break the wall of the vein.

As I've said I've flown hundreds of thousands of miles in hundreds of aircraft with no issues for over 9 years. I would not be too worried about it if I were you - but as always consult your neph!!

[amanda100wilson]

I flew from Ca to Ga a few days after my op.  Never even entered my head to be concerned.  Maybe something leaked at the anastamosis between the vein and the artery?