Flying

My first pneumo happened while temporarily living in New York. I'm from Utah, and in order to get home to Utah the doctors told me I would need to drive - that flying was too risky so soon after a pneumo(between 30-45 days) due to the cabin pressure(or potential cabin pressure).

So, that's what I did.

My dad hopped the 5 hour flight from Utah to NY - we then made the 30 hour drive back to Utah.

I have since flown several times. Most recently returning from a business trip requiring a round trip flight, in which I experienced no ill effects during or post flight.

The first few years post pneumo were accompanied by moderate to severe chest pain both during and post flight. One such episode happened after a flight to Disneyworld, requiring me to literally lay down on the floor of a restaurant where we were eating.

The past several years have been filled with relatively pain-free flying. On occasion I will experience somewhat intense pain a few days post flight, however, the actual flights themselves have been very comfortable.

I, of course, worry about the possibility of a "sudden loss of cabin pressure" as the flight attendants warn before each flight. The result of which could result in a repeat pneumo, piecing together what I've been told by my doctors to avoid "skydiving" and "scuba diving" due to the extreme PSI associated.

I have experienced no repeat pneumo's or long term ill affects from flying post pneumo. Safe travels!