Is flying safe?
 

Hi all,

I have decided to go on holiday for a while. Do you know if it's safe to fly after a TBI?

Flying is safe after a TBI. I have done lots of flying. The only problem you may have is over-stimulation from the constant low level vibration and sounds plus the visual clutter in a confined space. Plus airports can be very chaotic and over-stimulating.

I just plan for a quiet day after the travel day, especially if the flight is a long one.

Just plan to take it slow. You want to enjoy your time not spend it recovering from the stress of the travel.

My best to you.

I logged over 50,000 airline miles this year. I’m not claustrophobic and don’t have a fear of flying or heights so it hasn’t been a problem. Busy airports can be stressful so I always allow extra time to get through security and stuff before I have to board. I try to practice mindfulness techniques while on board. If flying didn't bother you before the injury it likely won't now.

I never had a problem flying before my injury in 2001. Since then, the over-stimulation has made flying much different. I used to enjoy flying. Now, I need to be very disciplined with how I respond to stimuli at the airport and while in the plane. My wife would rather drive 8 to 11 hours than deal with the struggles I have getting through airports and the flight. Planning makes a big difference.

Focal injuries versus diffuse injuries may make a difference. If over-stimulation is not a problem, then flying might be less problematic. The 8,000 ft altitude does put the injured brain under mild oxygen stress.

To reiterate. Flying is safe. There are at least three aspects of flying to keep in mind. First, as Mark mentioned, overstimulation can be a problem. Second, if you have vestibular issues, the motion of the plane can cause problems (trust me on this one!). Finally, the altitude can, in theory, constrict the flow of blood to the brain, which could effect your headache if you have one. Know this before you fly and you will be better off. If you feel worse, it will pass.

One other thing... do NOT whack your head on the overhead compartment as you are getting seated (or when getting up... or at all!!). It makes a 3.5 hour flight almost intolerable.

Especially when there is a toddler and an infant behind you during the flight and the toddler kicks your seat the whole time and says "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy" 30,000 times and the infant screams inconsolably.

I hope your flight goes smoothly and quietly.
Starr

wakey,

I have never read anything like "the altitude can, in theory, constrict the flow of blood to the brain" can you help me understand this theory.

The effect of altitude is usually based on the lower amount of oxygen available due to the lower air pressure. People with a history of brain injury often have a decrease capillary capacity leading to a reducing on oxygen perfusion to the brain tissues.

I could understand that as the brain struggles for oxygen, the increased blood flow may cause head aches. Plus, any sensitivities to lower barometric pressures can cause related inflammation discomforts.

Either way, head aches are still head aches.

flying after head injury....
 

my 2cents - after my accident (I was in another far away state) I flew back home a few days later and had the worst(10) head aches pain of my life. This was very soon after the accident. I flew again 4 more times about a month later and ended up in the ER due to severy headache pain. I have not flown since - mostly due to my employment situation and those flights were close to the time of the injury but I do believe it exacerbated my sysmptoms. If its been a little while you will probably be ok except for the noise\chaos factor. Drink a lot of water as plane travel in general will dehydrate you.

This is a good idea. On holiday all those little things you (or other people) feel that you 'should' do are not there to do anymore, so you can relax a lot more. I went to Tenerife for week when my PCS was quite bad and I was really unsure whether I would be able to enjoy anything - but I had a wonderful time because there were no expectations on me other than to relax as much as I liked and do the odd thing here or there if I fancied it.

It goes to show how many of our problems could be seen as due not to the brain injury, but rather due to failures on the part of ourselves, other people and society in general to adjust the expectations on us to levels that we can cope with whilst still having some sort of quality of life.

By the way flying was fine for me.

Yup, I had read that as well re: oxygen. I recently read--though it may be inaccurate--that the pressure can constrict the capillaries, and many TBI headaches are vascular in nature. Hence, reduced bloodflow (in one or more capillaries) can increase a headache (by increasing pressure in another). In any case, flying does seem to enhance people's headaches (mine included).