newbie

[Mi Maestra]

not quite sure where to start but will just jump in and trust someone will guide me. new to group, new diagnosis (10 days ago!) and about 567, 890 questions. 3 days after diagnosis and meeting with cardiologist, I left for my 'other' home in Mexico so now I am alone with few resources.

my immediate questions, given my current situation....(1) should I be worried about flying? it takes 3 flights and about 12 hours (7-8 in the air) to get here and another day back to US. (2) should I be worried about being in high-altitude cities (as in Mexico City).

now I only have 567,888 questions!

I am hoping to meet people online and share questions and answers. as I said, this is all new to me and I'm still somewhat in shock.

MM

 

[Lynlw]

not quite sure where to start but will just jump in and trust someone will guide me. new to group, new diagnosis (10 days ago!) and about 567, 890 questions. 3 days after diagnosis and meeting with cardiologist, I left for my 'other' home in Mexico so now I am alone with few resources.

my immediate questions, given my current situation....(1) should I be worried about flying? it takes 3 flights and about 12 hours (7-8 in the air) to get here and another day back to US. (2) should I be worried about being in high-altitude cities (as in Mexico City).

now I only have 567,888 questions!

I am hoping to meet people online and share questions and answers. as I said, this is all new to me and I'm still somewhat in shock.

MM

First off Hello and welcome. As for all your questions, it would help if you could share a little more. What is your diagnosis? What have your doctors told you. Do you have any of your measurements, or did your docs say whatever your diagnosis is, is mild, moderate, severe? All of the answers would depend on your heart and as always your doctors know your heart better than other patients, so many of these questions about flying, altitude ect you really should ask your cardiologist.

 

[Jkm7]

Hi MM. Happy you found us but sorry for the reason.
I read you have mitral regurg and agree you really need to ask your cardiologist about altitude and flying/travel. Prior to my mitral valve replacement surgery, I was permtted to travel and fly but that was specific to me and my my mitral regurg condition. Your status could be different.

I found travel strenuous the last few trips prior to my surgery and was happy I was not traveling alone. It exhausted me.
Have you been referred to a surgeon?

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi mi maestra,
welcome to this wonderful site. everyone here is very supportive, informative, and understands exactly how you must be feeling.
it helps a lot when you have questions, feel unsure and frightened, and just don't know where to start.
look forward to seeing you here,
sylvia

 

[catwoman]

I flew several times in the 5 months before my MVR. As time went on, I had SOB and was so fatigued that I was walking very slowly, making flying increasingly more difficult -- having to walk through the terminals in airports I was unfamiliar with, worrying about making a flight. I would go to the airport much earlier than usual so I wouldn't have to rush.

Having to change planes twice and take 12 hours to get somewhere -- that would have been too much for me.

But that was MY situation. Your situation may be different. Do keep in mind that when a valve goes, it can to go downhill PDQ.

I was in Mexico City for Dias de Los Muertos in 2001 (would love to go again for this celebration!). This was about 1 year before my valve started deteriorating, and I did not have any problem with the altitude. However, a friend who had aortic stenosis went to Denver in April 2009 and did have major problems -- was hospitalized; she had AVR soon after, on 6/24/09.

 

[nngbwh]

Hi MM,

I just want to say Hi and welcome you aboard.

 

[Philip B]

Altitude & Flying Concerns?

Altitude & Flying Concerns?

I've no experience with mitral valve issues; my aortic valve was bad and needed replacement. As others have noted, it's normal to be more than a little freaked when you find you've got a bad valve.

I lived and played at altiude long before I had AVR surgery. I still live and play at altitude (this will change when I move to Arizona in June). I had no symptoms prior to surgery so altitude never presented any problems. Flying never presented any problems either. I spent the week before my 2007 surgery playing golf in Mexico.

Your best course if you have concerns about your condition and the effects of altitude, and flying is to have a serious visit with a cardiologist you trust. You'll find no shortage of folks here who will happily share their experiences and advice, but it would be irresponsible not to point out that the majority of us aren't medical professionals. Our experiences often differ; your's may as well.

Welcome to the community!

-Philip

 

[neil]

hi mm welcome aboard............agree with most posts above have a word with the experts........

 

[Duffey]

Hi, and welcome to the site.

 

[Superbob]

Just wanted to extend my hearty (no pun intended) welcome to the site. I don't have an answer to your flying question but hopefully I might have a good response to one of your half-million other questions. So ask away; good chance that someone here will have information and/or experience.

 

[AgilityDog]

Welcome aboard.

I had severe and sudden onset mvp. During that time, I went to Riviera Maya for a week, but was having trouble breathing (at the time, the MD thought it was from bronchitis, which it was, but the bronchitis caused the mvp) because I was in CHF. I was exhausted, the heat and humidity in May did not help. I was coughing all the time, and swollen. Travelling was very difficult, and the vacation was no fun. So it really depends upon your personal circumstances.

I didn't get dx until August, thanks to another Dr.

 

[karen14]

A big hello & welcome to you MM!
I suffered nose bleeds when younger while flying, having BAV. Then when older, only a "pressure" feeling in the ears when flying. But was told after my condition progressed to stay off roller coasters, as the "G" forces are too strong for the heart. I assume flying could affect this as well. But I'm not 100% on that, so as stated here, asking the cardiologist is the best way to go!
~Karen

 

[DavesMom]

Hi and welcome! My trouble is with the aortic valve and all I can tell you is that I flew to London and walked miles a day for about six or seven weeks without a problem. Maybe some fatigue, but that would be expected with so much activity. Less than three months after I returned I discovered my aortic valve was severely narrowed and that I had to have it replaced. I didn't have a clue my ticker was so bad.

Come to think of it, I was also in Mexico City a year before my first surgery (an AV repair) and didn't have a problem.

As Karen said, best thing to do is check with your cardiologist.

Best wishes.

Cheers,
Michelle