Phlebitis Danger

I read with interest “The Economy Class Squeeze� (The Healthy Traveler, Nov. 9), which used the term “economy class syndrome.� Author Kathleen Doheny should have used the term “killer� syndrome for phlebitis. Phlebitis almost cost me my life.

Flying from Hong Kong, I was exhausted and slept in my seat for the total flight. Two days later, my wife noticed that my right leg was swollen. I was hospitalized, leg elevated for one week, and given blood-thinning medication. Fortunately, I survived. But if that blood clot had moved through my cardiovascular system to my heart, I wouldn’t be here today.

GERARD L. PARSONS

San Luis Obispo