Thanks to everyone so far. The support and resources are keeping me going. We’ve decided on a surgeon and wonder if it’s safe for my mom to fly as her docs have differing opinions. I’d like that to be safe for her as it’s how I will be managing my own stress and health. A 10 hour drive after flying cross country to get her the day before seems unbearable at this point. So any advice, experiences or research about risks of flying with a giant aneurysm would be greatly appreciated. My cousin’s docs forbid it with her many aneurysms and dissections so we were just kind of following suit but then my mom’s doc said it is most likely safe because it’s an ICA cavernous middle fossa aneurysm. I’m having a really hard time with this decision as well. Any thoughts?
We have many members who fly with an aneurysm and with repaired aneurysms, both ruptured and unruptured. There are many, many topics here about the safety of flying. I recall one pilot actually explaining why it was safe to fly, something to do with the pressurized cabins, I believe. We also have a member who ruptured as they were going to the jet, he didn’t know he had an aneurysm. He’s recently become a therapist! We have @Pilotpacking who could probably give you more information since he’s been a commercial pilot for a very long time and is the one who comes to my mind. Look him up using the search feature.
I get why you’d be comparing your cousin to your mom but remember they’ve got different health issues. Your Mom’s doctor is using the word “probably” because he doesn’t know but thinks it’s ok. We don’t know when we are going to rupture until we do.
I wouldn’t want to have to drive 10 hours after a 5-6 hour flight, so I get those logistics. If your mom is getting a femoral entry, I’m unsure if she’ll be comfortable on the ten hour drive back home. On one of my DSA’s I ended up with a huge hematoma and the 90 minute drive home wasn’t really comfortable but it was bearable.
If you and your Mom choose to fly make sure she has some noise canceling buds or headphones and sunglasses, darker the better just in case or a sleep mask she can use. Some of us end up having sensitivity to light and sound. I do have a question if you don’t mind. How is your mom going to make it back and forth for the follow up appointments if the doctor is ten hours away? I know after I ruptured it allowed me to use the “short bus” with our public transportation and they said they could take me to the hospital in W/S for follow up appointments but not the follow up angiograms where I would need someone to drive me home and be with me.
Thanks again. After posting this, I remebered to search for posts re flying. We decided to just do it but this morning I woke up to my dad wanting to drive now instead. I think flying is too hard on him mid chemo, bone cancer etc. I can’t get them to separate for tx after 55 yrs married. And idk about the follow up appts or what is entailed with all that. I just know Mayo Clinic usually sets up follow up in their town like all the CTs and bloodwork have been. I got her into a 2 hour away really great surgeon on the 7th that will go through wrist which is indicated with vEDS but she won’t wait. I think the even closer local surgeon rubbed us the wrong way when he refused to discuss risks or vEDS related concerns and family hx. In hindsight, we shouldn’t have focused so much on finding the right surgeon because she can’t wait any longer with it growing and is refusing the angiogram appt on 7th 2 hours away because that doc can’t do PED until Jan 28th. The fear and vision symptoms are pushing her to just get it done. Especially since she is my dad’s caretaker curently. The Mayo surgeon can see her on the 3rd and will do the angio and balloon or PED at same time the following week. I’m sure we will stay somewhere until plane or car is comfortable but idk?! It’s so much to plan and both parents are set on taking their little dog too. I’m struggling to navigate all this when they keep changing their minds and we all can’t agree. I’ll talk to her about how she’ll feel after and see if that changes things.
This is just such a ramble post sorry - so I’m sure you can see that I’m quickly melting down over all this while trying to hold down my own life. Obviously, my preference would be the surgeon 2 hrs away at a later date but I dont want to push them on my account for what is easier on me, especially since it’s somewhat urgent which it doesn’t feel like the docs believe. Sometimes I think I’m just catastrophizing this whole thing. Thanks for listening.
I don’t think so, parents can be both a great stressor and a great source of love. You have a tremendous amount on your plate with them right now. I remember what I had to go through with mine and to this day don’t know how I did it since it was post rupture. They had a lot of health issues, ischemic strokes, SLE and cancer for Dad, heart issues and diabetes for Mom. BH did a lot after work but also snitched on me to my Neurosurgeon who immediately grounded me from them for three weeks.
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My experience parents who were married for 64 years before Dad died is that they get into a comfort zone with the way things are done and there’s no deviation from that zone. When we’re younger, we don’t have the same perspective and are able to deviate from our way of doing things. I get why your Dad doesn’t want to leave his dog behind, my Dad didn’t like to leave his behind either. I have problems not being able to do my routine when I’m not around our dogs. They’re a great source of comfort and I imagine your Dad is scared right now. He needs something to stay the same, so feeding and walking the dog is what he wants right now. Remember to take breaks from them, even if it’s just a walk by yourself or a trip to the mall. Whatever you enjoy, give yourself an hour or so each day to do it.
Ask your Internest if it is safe for you. I flew to Europe a year after my annie and recovery with no issues. But if you have any questions about what you can and or cannot do, please talk with your Dr.
I am one year after my annerysym, and all I can say is there isn’t a right answer witch is not the answer you needed but. Here is my story. My daughter lives in Vegas, myself I am in Michigan. She graduated college and was giving birth to my precious grand daughter, I asked the Internet and got very scary answers so I talked to my nero doc and he said go for the flight. Luckily I got into a highly reputable brain doctor shortly after and he advised against it. 2 hours before the flight was to be boarded I had to choose not to see my baby girl and meet the new grandbaby and it tore me apart inside. I regret this to this day and wish I could have been there, but 2 weeks later I go in for surgery and the second he started to cut my head the annerysym ruptured and he explained to my wife that we made the right choice it was so ready to blow that any major changes in pressure could have caused it. As much as I regret not being there that day, since the surgery I have flown there 2 times and have been perfectly fine. Missed 1 thing but gained a lifetime of making up for it.
Oh I feel this story! Thank you so much! It really is difficult when surgeons have different perspectives and there is zero research to support either recommendation. That is why I reached out on this forum re the question. I appreciate you sharing!
Hi, i once read to call the airline, the pilot likes to know esp. if they have a shunt, they descend slowly to make a smooth transistion of cabin pressure, tc prayers!