Assessing risk and being prepared ahead of traveling by air with sickle cell

Recently, I’ve been receiving international professional opportunities, which have made me think about a question I’ve avoided for years: What would I do if an opportunity I’ve always dreamed about required me to travel abroad by airplane?

What happens when one of your greatest career dreams comes within reach, but concerns about your health make you hesitate? As someone living with sickle cell disease (SCD), I’m uncertain about how I would approach such a decision. However, I wonder whether careful planning might make it possible for me to travel.

One of my greatest aspirations has been to speak, teach, and advocate for people affected by SCD at international forums. Speaking at an event outside Africa, where I live, would allow me to share my experiences as a physician and someone living with the condition. Yet, my family believes I should avoid air travel because of my health challenges.

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I live with several chronic complications of SCD, including avascular necrosis, which has significantly affected my mobility and left me using a wheelchair. I also experience chronic pain and fatigue syndromes. These challenges leave me concerned about the physical demands of a long journey and how I would manage my health away from home.

Among my family members, I’m the only one who has never traveled by air. For years, I deliberately avoided flying because I worried about managing my mobility, pain, fatigue, and other health needs throughout the journey. Without a compelling reason to travel, avoiding air travel seemed easier than confronting those concerns.

But what happens when my professional ambitions give me a reason to reconsider that decision?

An international speaking engagement about rare diseases, particularly SCD, would mean more to me than just an opportunity to travel. It would give me a chance to contribute to the global SCD community, share what I’ve learned through my medical practice and lived experience, and advocate for people affected by the condition.

I’ve spent years educating people about SCD, supporting patients and caregivers, and advocating for better care. Speaking at an international forum would allow me to extend that work beyond Africa and contribute to conversations that could make a difference.

I understand my family’s concerns, but I also don’t want my health challenges to automatically disqualify me from opportunities I’ve worked toward. I wonder whether appropriate medical advice, accessibility arrangements, and careful preparation could help me make an informed decision.

Planning ahead

If an opportunity requiring air travel arises, I would consult my hematologist and other specialists and relevant members of my medical team to assess whether flying would be appropriate. We would consider my chronic complications and medical history, including whether I needed additional investigations or an assessment of my need for supplemental oxygen during the flight.

I would also develop a plan for managing pain, fatigue, hydration, and prolonged immobility. Given my limited mobility, I would discuss precautions against blood clots and ask which movements would be safe for my knees. I would follow individualized medical advice rather than assume that standard recommendations for air travelers would meet my needs.

I’d also contact the airline well in advance to arrange wheelchair assistance, suitable seating, help with transfers, and any necessary medical equipment. I’d carry my prescribed medications, medical records, and a letter from my doctor, keeping essential medicines in my cabin baggage. I’d also check the destination country’s requirements for bringing my medications.

Before departure, I’d identify a hospital capable of managing SCD emergencies at my destination and establish how I could access emergency care. I’d confirm whether my travel insurance covered preexisting conditions and SCD-related complications, arrange accessible accommodation and transportation, and plan to travel with an assistant who understood my mobility needs.

Ultimately, I’d make the necessary preparations, discuss my concerns openly with my family, and reassure them that my health would remain a priority. I’d also explore contingency arrangements with the event organizers, such as a virtual presentation or a flexible schedule, should my health change. However, if my medical team advised against traveling or I developed concerning symptoms before departure, I’d reconsider my plans.

Note: Sickle Cell Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Sickle Cell Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to sickle cell disease.