Aussie tourist stunned by 'really bad' side effect on long flight from Europe
The traveller says he was let with 'chunky little hooves' after the flight.
Although the destination is usually worth it, long flights can be exhausting and bring unwanted side effects, which one Sydney traveller unfortunately experienced a "really bad" case of.
Tom Dowling, had finished up his "amazing" Euro Summer and was prepped for his 20-hour journey home from Mykonos in Greece.
"I haven't done a long flight in years because of Covid and what not," he told Yahoo News Australia. "I got really lucky on the way over as no one was sitting next to me, but the flight on the way home was so packed."
Not being able to stretch his legs out during his 14-hour flight from Abu Dhabi to Sydney, Tom got a rude shock when he arrived home and realised how swollen they were.
"My ankle was popping over my converse," he remarked. "My calves were double the size and I could barely take my shoe off. I thought it was quite funny and was laughing with my room mate, making jokes."
'Such a weird feeling'
Deciding to make a now-viral TikTok on Wednesday about it, he jokingly compared his swollen legs to "chunky little hooves," leading others to share their own experiences.
"This happened to me when I flew to the UK last year and it was the first time it happened and I freaked out a bit," one person said.
"My legs after being on FlixBus for 20 hours," another said. "Which I will never do again."
"You feel like you're dragging your feet," is how Tom described the sensation to Yahoo, saying it was "such a weird feeling."
Luckily the swelling went down completely after 24 hours, but the experience made Tom realise how "serious it could've been" for others. "I wasn't aware that people can get blood clots on flights," he said, saying he will opt for compression socks next time.
Swelling a common side effect of flying
Leg and foot swelling is a common side effect of long distance air travel from sitting in a confined place for long periods of time. And while it usually goes away on its own, some people can be at risk of blood clots, also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), while travelling.
For anyone travelling on a plane or other forms of transport for more than four hours , it's recommended to move your legs every hour or so, exercise your calf muscles to improve blood flow, and also wear loose clothing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If you're worried you're at risk for blood clots, talk to your doctor about how to protect yourself.
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