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Post flight muscle weakness
Hi All,
So I was fortunate enough to have a 2 week break in Crete. When we got there, the room was unfortunately down a flight of stairs, with being in the early stages of LGMD stairs are still doable, just difficult and the consultant said to keep doing stairs as the more I do them, the longer I will be able to.
Anyways, throughout the holiday, I found getting up and down the various stairs and ramps around the hotel a lot more difficult than I found the stairs at home, but I put this down to the heat, everyone feels more tired in the heat right?
Well I got back home 2 days ago, and now I’m really struggling with the stairs at home, usually it’s difficult, and I have to use the handrail to pull me up, but the only option I have to get up now is hands and knees.
What I’m confused about is I was told, that the condition I have, is a constant rate of progression, and I won’t all of a sudden get worse, but it feels like the holiday has completely taken me off my feet. Has anyone else experienced this, I wondered if it could be anything related to the flight?
Many thanks
JonReply To: Post flight muscle weaknessHi Jon
I am not an expert so I can’t really comment on the flight effects. I have a different type of MD to you and my progression is a lot further on but it is possible that altitude could have an effect in the days following a flight just because you have not had the optimum levels of oxygen to keep your muscles at their normal (for you) efficiency.
I have had episodes where I have been freaked out by sudden loss of function and I confess I have not always dealt with it well. Over time, I have realised that with rest, things do get back on an even keel and it’s possible you will need to allow longer to get over periods of activity. Were you quite active on holiday?
In answer to your question, yes I have felt knocked for six after holidays. Different environments take their toll and the journey in particular but hopefully yours will only be short term. Come back to us if you have any concerns, big or small. Do you have a neuromuscular consultant you could contact if this continues?
A learning experience is one of those things that say, “You know that thing you just did? Don’t do that.” - Douglas Adams
Reply To: Post flight muscle weaknessIt’s certainly something I haven’t dealt with well, having got up the stairs last night, I walked into the bedroom, looked at my partner and had in part, a bit of a breakdown. I must be honest whilst being away, this being the first time I’ve been away since my diagnosis, there were a few times I had some upset with the realisation of my deterioration since my last holiday.
I’m hoping in the week to come that I do indeed start to feel better, and if not, then I will try and get in touch with my consultant, I feel like to phone the consultant sometimes though is a waste of there time and never want to feel like I’m pestering them and taking up time which I’m sure is valuable, especially nowadays with the NHS.
Reply To: Post flight muscle weaknessHi and welcome to forum
As Sar78 says the oxygen levels on flight is different than down at sea level. at sea level we breath say a rate of 20% but this drops to say 15% at cabin pressure. (dont quote me on the correct % lol) So everyone does feel some fatigue on a flight its partly why some people get drunk faster on relatively little amounts of alcohol.
Again not an expert but I too see a loss muscle mass after being away even in the UK as I cannot take my walker frame while away. The heat also being a factor as I tend to have difficulty hydrating when in hot climates. When on holiday we all tend to sit about and do a lot less. lots of beside the pool chilling. Next time you go away try to make sure you do regular basic stretches and moving about to maintain muscles and drink as much water as you can.
Try monitoring your fluid intake and gradual build back up doing basic stretches and general moving about.
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