This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

This keeps popping up and I am not sure what to think. Maybe there is something to it?

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"However, the truth in science ultimately emerges, although sometimes it takes a very long time," Arthur Silverstein, Autoimmunity: A History of the Early Struggle for Recognition

Cece, good question. I hope time will help alleviate that worry for many pwMS as more and more IRs and vascular doctors come on board and start performing CCSVI procedures closer to people's homes.

With that having been said, the best advice I remember reading is: Take more shorter flights on smaller planes that don't go as high as larger planes because in addition to pressure changes that happen with take-offs and landings, altitude might also have something to do with restenosis issues for some pwMS.

Can't say where I read that and can't/won't vouch for it. But I think cheer believes a high-altitude hike helped bring on one of her husband's MS attacks; you may want to ask her for her thoughts.

Best of luck,
~HP

Hello Cece,

I was at the symposium yesterday and asked Dr. Siskin that same question.

He seemed to think that flying would not be a problem at all. Perhaps being on blood thinners helps.

Best,
Drury

Interesting that you brought this up, Cece. I'm concerned about my darling man flying back home after the procedure. He has to fly all the way to the Midwest. I'd rather he drive back to Rhode Island with me and spend some time here but I don't know if he'll want to do that.

I told him today to ask the doctor about flying after the angioplasty. I think there's legitimate concern with the changes in altitude.

I don't think the doctors really know.

It could just be a coincidence of timing. Some people restenose quickly, which would be around the time they'd be flying home, and the flying is suspected when it would have happened anyway.

Drury, thanks for sharing that, it's good to know a doc's imput! And he's also been in the position to see various patients fly home and know what their health was afterwards. Being on blood thinners would protect against a clot from air travel.

HP, yes, I've had trouble with altitude too, as recently as this April with a transatlantic flight that brought on some MS issues. And my initial optic neuritis came on after a trip in which we flew to Hawaii and hiked Mt. Haleakala.

So is the problem just the change in altitude with the flying or is it the pressure upon take-off and landing? How would either of these affect the vein wall, would the pressure make elastic recoil more likely? Or is that a bit of a stretch? How would change of altitude affect a vein that wants to pop back into its malformed state? I don't fully see how but I am still wary....

Trish, yes, that's the same trip I'm looking at from NY back to the midwest. If he gets any answer from the doctor (or even asks the question!) let us know, ok?

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"However, the truth in science ultimately emerges, although sometimes it takes a very long time," Arthur Silverstein, Autoimmunity: A History of the Early Struggle for Recognition

Cece, HP and Trish,

As most of the treatment so far has involved flying long distances either to Europe or across America, etc. it will be interesting to see whether people have less problems with restenosis if they do not have to actually fly. Hopefully once more doctors start performing the treatment locally we will get a better picture.

Drury