I've been getting a great deal of advice on DVTs and flying from a hospital that's probably won more Nobel prizes for medicine than almost any other. Which is not to say they're infallible on DVTs. Or that the advice they've given me is right for others

This advice has nothing to do with avoiding swollen legs. It's just about avoiding DVTs

They've advised:
1. There's no evidence aspirin reduces DVT risk. Aspirin seems to reduce the likelihood of clotting in arteries (so great for some people if they want to reduce heart attack risks). There's no evidence it reduces clotting in veins (which is where you get DVTs)
2. If you're using warfarin (heparin in American), you must not take aspirin.
3. Frequent leg motion and adequate hydration in flight are essential
4. If you're high risk, there's some evidence lie-flat beds help. Simply getting more legroom doesn't matter much, they think. Though they don't all agree.
5. If you're high risk, use compression stockings, but properly. Less essential, in their view than 1-3 above - but advisable.

Since getting which advice, I've not taken a long-haul flight. But I'm dedfinitely going to get the stockings for next time.

My editing confused things.

2.should have been:

2. If you're using warfarin (coumarin in American) or heparin, you must not take aspirin.

I wore a pair from between USA and UK and loved them! No soreness, or swelling, my feet felt great. I bought mine at Walmart (they were called Diabetic socks, I believe). I plan on using them again for sure! My advice would be to still walk the cabin, keep that circulation going.

Yes, doctor suggested it and told me where to buy. He wears them all day too in his office. Tried them on our trip to Thailand from US and they really worked. Took an asprin, drank H20 and took a sleeping pill. We were in business so was able to elevate my feet. My feet swell far more in economy. I think it's worth the try for anyone who has the swelling issue.

My husband has been wearing thigh high hose for years - very heavy duty ones. He also must use Lovenox injections before flying overseas.

He suffered a DVT many years ago at around age 40 after only a 5-hour flight. Turns out he has a gene (chromosome??) mutation for Leiden V factor which makes one prone to such issues.

He's had no problems since, but always takes precautions and sleeps as little as possible in order to keep moving.

I tried them on my last flight to prevent leg swell--I get swelling in my calves on flight and off. While they worked, my calves were so sore after the flight that I don't know if I will ever wear again. Then again for vanity's sake I probably will. Leg swell is super unattractive.

I am a classic case of doing everything right on long flights, and I still swell up like a balloon. I always ask for an aisle seat so I can get up often and walk around. I hang out by the galley and do stretches. Drink plenty of water.

My last overseas flight was when we went to Barcelona two years ago. My feet and legs swelled so bad it was scary.

St. Cirq, I don't think having your feet swell to many times their normal size is makes you a hypochondriac.

I talked to my doctor, and she told me to use compression stockings (thigh high ones)for this trip. Here's hoping they help.

Johanna

Note to self: Preview your response before you hit post.

Should read: "normal size makes..."

Johanna

I do wear them on long flights on my doctor's advice. I am high risk as I suffer from peripheral arterial disease and had to have a bifemoral bypass. To be on the safe side, I always try to get aisle seats so that I can move around during the flight.

Yes, I always wear compression socks during long haul because wearing a compression has many health benefits like Increases leg energy, Reduces leg pain, Reduces swelling in feet and ankles, Reduces varicose & spider veins, Reduces incidence of blood clots etc.

How this piece of ancient history resurfaced, God knows.

But let's repeat the view of every specialist I've spoken to about this:

<b> Using poorly fitting compression hosiery creates real threats to life, and getting properly fitting hosiery isn't altogether straightforward</b>

Gibberish like " I always wear compression socks during long haul because wearing a compression has many health benefits like Increases leg energy" is the worst sort of pseudo-science.

Listening to this stupid woman can kill. It's not just that she doesn't know what she's talking about. She clearly doesn't realise that the real risks of death from her fat-headed advice are far, far greater than the trivial benefits some people might derive.

My MD recommend the lowest level of compression socks to my husband and me for our international flights. No more swollen feet! We have a 14 hr flight to Asia coming soon and this reminds me to buy a new pair.

>>How this piece of ancient history resurfaced, God knows.<<

joysmithh registered to top it -- waiting for the other shoe to drop and she post an ad for said socks