ITP and Travel (or: Nothing Happened)

I saw several threads related to traveling with ITP in the past couple of months. I flew across country on Tuesday and nothing happened. No trip to the ER or call to my hematologist. Nothing at all.

I long ago noticed that people aren’t particularly interested when nothing happens. So I thought I’d start this thread as an antidote. We all know about counts and crashes and meds, but that isn’t what usually happens. I’m hoping everyone else here will add their “nothing happened” experiences.

Thanks for sharing! What were your counts? That might spice up the story.

Good point, well made. So, in the same positive vein, here is a list of some of the things my son has done with no adverse consequences.....

Paintball
Riding a bike
Playing football (soccer to those of you in the US :laugh: )
Climbing trees
Swimming and diving (and jumping off cliffs - see profile picture)
GoKarting
Theme Park rides
Dinghy sailing
Abseiling
PE at school
Holidays abroad

His count seems to be around 30 at present, but he's done all of these things in the past five years when his count was almost always under 20.

ITP has never prevented me from traveling. I do take extra med. with me, however, just in case-- (I control my ITP with relatively low doses of prednisone.) When I had to extend a trip because my mother had broken her hip, I was very glad I had extra prednisone with me.

I sometimes have nosebleeds, so I have made myself a "nosebleed kit" that I keep with me at all times. (I actually have made THREE--one in the home bathroom, one in my purse, and one in my gym bag.) In it is hemastatic gauze, Afrin-type nose spray, and nose clamps. I have used my kit half a dozen times--it has kept me out of the ER. I also travel with nose gel and gel nosespray because airplanes have such dry air.

I just got back from my trip, logging another cross-country plane flight. I don't travel with pre-emptive pred or a nosebleed kit, since at present that just isn't necessary. But those are good ideas to keep in mind if I ever need.

To spice up my story (per Sandi's suggestion), my last count was around 100, so I didn't have any particular concerns this time round. I did find some bruising on my shoulder this morning, probably from lugging a laptop bag around. Oh well. Nothing I'll bother my hematologist with. I'm just glad that despite all the stress of this trip, from family illness to sleeping on a sofa for a week, I got home feeling fine.

A positive list - good idea

I
- crossed the alps on a bike
- had a tooth removed
- climb rocks
- work a job that's considered to be very stressful
- took plane trips too
- go wind surfing
- attend the Octoberfest



Cheers
Joerg