Hi all , i was diagnosed with Mild to Moderate COPD in 2007 aged 37,and quit smoking sometime before i knew had the disease .I have booked a holiday to Spain, Ibiza in August and will be travelling by plane. Obviously i am expecting the weather to be very hot. I am told the heat is a different sort of heat to Britain . i wondered as anyone travelled to a hot climate like this recently , and what effect if any it had on their breathing.
The practice nurse told me it would probably do me the world of good.
still i cant help but feel a little apprehensive.
would really appreciate it if anyone could help me .
Kate
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kate13
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Thanks for your suggestion. However the insurance company i use always ask quite a series of questions to help asses the risks. They insure people with many types of different illness and conditions .However they are not going to be fully aware how it affects your breathing . Just wondering if someone had been in a hot climate and if the intense heat affected them.
I fly to Spain regularly and find the heat to be OK, much better than being cold and being near the coast the sea air seems much better than being anywhere near a town .the flight gets to be a bit as my chest feels crushed while the plane is pressurised but it gets better once the pressure is lowered as the plane descends, it is only a 2 hour flight so I just try to relax Nd sit still. Might be worth getting assistance at the airport, I always do when going back into Gatwick as it is it is all up hill getting off the plane and I just can't do it so get a wheel chair up to the buggy and then that takes me right to the bus stop for the car park.
Do you have any tips about Spain, such as where it's good to go and where it's inexpensive?
You don't mention how well you breath but you should be aware that air travel reduces the oxygen in your body. Some people with COPD need supplemental oxygen during the flights.
Some airlines provide this free if your doctor gives you a letter stating it is needed.
Hi all , i have been told i am fit enough to fly as its only a short a flight.supplemental oxygen will not be required. However its always nice to hear how other people find it.
Hi Kate, I have been going to Ibiza in Aug for the past 35yrs. The heat is different and it does do me the world of good in terms of all my allergies and my asthma. However, I now had Bronchiectasis so I arm myself with antibiotics and steriods (Plus all the usual meds) and go off and enjoy. Yes, I do catch infections but then I do if I stay at home. I say make sure you are covered my insurance, take your pills and enjoy. Oh yes and in case you do need help I have used the Health Clinic in San Antonio and they were wonderful and it did not cost a penny take your E111 card. You never know we may bump into one another - where are you staying? Good wishes for a happy holiday Maximonkey.
Hi Maxi, yes we always make sure we take our E111 cards plus we get covered by Private medical Insurance. I do not require a wheel chair. we are staying at Port Des Torrent so its really nice to know there is Medical Centre not to far away. Thanks so much for your help . i really appreciate it .
Hi Kate, Maximonkey again, sorry forgot to say - do order wheelchair assistance. The airports are wonderful, they will look after you very well and take the pressure of you and your family/friends. The airlines all have different rules of where they sit you, so if like me you are tall, book a long leg seat if you can. Anyway have a wonderful time. The air quality in the cabins can vary so have your inhaler handy and you will be fine.
Hello Kate,
I have mild COPD too,
The thing with heat and cold, is that the body reacts to it and tries to maintain the natural human body temperature, when it's really cold we shiver to generate heat, when it is very hot we sweat more, this is composed of 99% water and 1% salt, this evaporates in the air and we cool off, if it is very, very hot the body has to work harder to try to regulate its temperature.
Still, with that in mind, each individual is different, some love hot weather another hates it. I flew to Greece in 2010, no problem, and if you are in the mild phase I cannot imagine needing a wheelchair, at least, I definitely do not.
The way a person is going to sweat would depend, in part, on how that individual sweats on an average day anyhow, for instance some people sweat a lot even if it isn't very warm, another person hardly ever does, but in addition to this, each country has a different type of warm or cold weather, some places have plenty of breeze, the altitude will play a part too, so I guess it is a matter of trying out different locations and observing where you feel best.
That's what I'm doing, in Greece I wasn't too comfortable, when I always loved sun, and still do, but the facilities weren't good, no netting across the windows so if you left the doors or windows open you got eaten alive by mosquitoes which doesn't make for a good night's sleep. I think being very close to the sea might be good, for cool air or at a bit of an altitude like in the mountains but not too high.
I've been on Ryan Air once and the space you got was so tiny I swore I would never use them again and have not so I go for a nice big plane with more space. That makes a lot of difference.
I think the Azores has the ideal climate, the average is 21 degrees centigrade all year around.
Hello TJohn, i guess you have a good point we are all very individual and the heat affect us differently. some people find it helps there condition whilst others don't.In this country i cannot sleep with my window open at all in the cool weather .it really makes my chest bad.
However your information has been very helpful . Thanks for your suggestions. it really does help!
Hi Kate - I went to Morrocco in January - some really hot afternoons - and didn't feel it made me much worse, if any. Also, I travelled with some emergency oxygen in a can (I don't use oxygen normally) just in case I needed it as we get a few % lower oxygen during the flights. Check with airline that it's OK to take - some allow it.
Don't worry! Go prepared with rescue meds and your e.u. medical card also travel insurance just in case. The warm sea breeze helps with breathing nothing betting. It's only a short flight to Ibiza just make sure you have a reliever in your hand luggage. In fact I I always have all my medication in my hand luggage just in case the suitcases get lost. Otherwise just relax and ENJOY!
Go and have a great time! I went to Lanzarote at xmas and Tenerife last summer.. The air is so fresh as you get off the plane you will notice the difference. . I try to go as often as possible my breathing always improves and if you should be pooly their emergency hospitten is amazing. Don't forget your eu health card and buy travel insurance I find Saga is always good with health conditions. Enjoy and don't worry.
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