Morning gang, hope everyone is well.
My sister has just moved from Sydney to Spain to be nearer family and wants me to go over in a couple of months when her house purchase is complete and they get settled, I'm just after info on flying around 2.5 to 3 hours and looking after skin over there and the sun with bilateral leg lymphoedema.
Go and have a good time!
Wear compression throughout the 'travel days' - avoid alcohol on flights, and stick to water. If you wear compression, use it during the day for a few hours, or in the evening. Keep garments in a fridge or freezer.
In the sun, wear 'floaty' clothes - or loose cotton trousers. If you need to lie by a pool, position an umbrella so you are shaded, and drape a towel over your legs for extra protection.
Wear the highest factor sun protection you can find - you will still tan - honest!!!!
Moisturiser on the legs at bed time.
Keep hydrated (lots of water) and enjoy the sangria!
Take antibiotics with you - just in case!!!
Have fun!!!
Thanks lynora, I haven't drank for 20+ years T total. Your my Lymphodema encyclopaedia lol I will make a record of this for when the time comes. 😉
Hi, when I flew to Spain a couple of months ago I booked a front extra room seat (never did this pre lymphedema!). Expensive but it made it easier to move about a bit. We go 'out of season' when it's cooler. My GP would not give me just in case antibiotics. But we walked a lot and I had no bad effects. Enjoy!
Hi, if you go back to Spain you can buy antibiotics from the chemist over there.
Not any more. Now the "farmacias" all over Spain insist on a medical prescription.
One thing you may wish to take advantage of is the excellent quality of compression stockings. I've heard surprising stories of discomfort but have not had any problems and benefitted from amazingly effective results. I live on my own so have to have knee highs that I can put on myself.I had to go to a specialist shop where they really measured every bit of my leg and foot - there were at least eight measurements for each leg, including the length and width of each foot by the toes and near the heel too. Each stocking is custom made and includes a zip and a fully closed foot . The label inside gives your name , the date made and left and right - different measurements. They took about a week to arrive and I had to go in for a fitting. As you may imagine not cheap ( € 280 for the pair!) but they wash easily in a machine and can be dried in a dryer if you wish. I have been wearing mine for six months now with life-changing results ! And with no apparent sign of wear. Although they are thick I haven't found any difficulty in wearing them in hot weather - and there's nothing in them to melt !!! I almost feel that they act like a sort of insulation - warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather. Mind you I haven't been through our hottest days yet . ( 35 to 45 C ) and I have never approved of lying out in full sun. Have always followed the locals who cover up or stay indoor in the hottest temperatures. Dangerous to do otherwise - lymphedema or not.
Hope this of interest.
Good luck with your holiday travel.
I can't undrstand why your GP will not supply antibiotics. I have 2 different sorts for cellulitis. If it happens it needs treating straight away. if I do start with cellulitis I start the antibiotics but then see the doctor.
Do you have another GP you can see? Do go on your holiday and enjoy. Best to try and keep moving around on the plane. I have had no problems with flying xx
Hi, I haven't asked my GP for antibiotics but if I did she would give me them it was mecinilla who's doc wouldn't give them too lol xx
Bev I was out in October was able to buy antibiotics, not in all pharmacies but some. One in particular would've sold you anything x
Hi...thanks for response. I did try to check this online before we travelled but from what I could find out this is no longer the case? I read that some chemists will still do it but others won't. I was relying on the fact that the local chemist and the medical centre/gp are in the same building so help would be available if needed (we are in a very small mountain village). Certainly the flight itself was no problem. Have a nice time when you go.
Hi ..I have both bilateral lymphoedema/lipoededma in the legs..and flew to Houston USA from NZ and also to Perth Australia.last year.and to Brisbane within the last 2 weeks...wore compression stockings whilst travelling...actually I wear them daily...I mosturise regularly...I have had no ill-effects on each of those travels...I did take antibiotics when I went to Houston
Get and EH11 card (EU health cover and make sure you have good travel insurance. These days I make sure my travel insurance covers my Lymphoedema by declaring it as a pre exit condition. Carry the EH11, your passport and copy of travel insurance with you at all times then relax and enjoy the trip.
Hi Andy I'm hoping to go to florida to see my American family this year, checked both with & without lymphedemia cost was the difference in 100s when mentioned lymphedemia. I've not had a 'proper' diagnosis as yet. Last yr doctor wouldn't let me fly & I'd no insurance as flights were same price as it x
I'm bev lol, how many have you had tonight 😂😂😂
None unfortunately hun just tiredness due to too much sleeping, can't stay awake 😀
I'm opposite I can't sleep, I will swap you for a couple of days lol x
Yeah nb hun I'd get my housework done I be up & down all night long then sit down during day, I wake & something completely different on TV 😄
I get up at 6:30 and go to bed at 11 but still awake 3-4 in the morning so only get a couple of hours a night and keep busy in house all day x
I need you in my house to motivate me, honestly how 1 person can create so much mess is unreal. Have a sleeping tablet 😀
I got my annual European travel insurance through Flexicover. I declared primary Lymphoedema as a prexisting condition which bumped up the price by £7.20 for the year. Secondary lymphoedema is probably significantly more expensive because there will be another condition e.g. cancer associated with it .
Thankyou Andy I will look into it. I haven't had a proper diagnosis when I was putting in health conditions it didn't accept pitted edema, which I've been told. Thankfully hun I've never had cancer or other illness apart from osteoporosis, the rest off my conditions is still in the air x
Hi I travel to tenerife four times a year and just adapt. I wear my stockings when flying, at night when out and about. During the day if it's very wearing stockings is no good so that's my excuse to lie on the terrace, legs in the shade and a good book to hand. On cooler days I wear stockings with maxi skirt to keep me cool just to go for a stroll along the seafront after a while though glue is melting and stockings start to fall but we just laugh it off as many a time I've been seen hitching them up or taking them off.
Just enjoy yourself
Spain is a short flight you'll be fine, I fly all over the world regularly, currently in Las Vegas with primary in my left leg. On long flights it helps if you can get a bulk head seat or leg room seat to stretch a bit.
Enjoy the sunshine, if your leg swells the pool is great to relieve that. I live my life to the full as normally as possible don't let LE stop you enjoying it.
Have fun. X
You lucky bugga, VIVA LAS VEGAS 😄
Make sure you order a copy of LSN's latest information leaflet about travel and holidays.
Pre Lymphoedema I never experienced an insect bite but now they love me dearly so recommend a good insect repellent and for me travelling with emergency antibiotics is essential.
( I keep a supply all the time and find they are essential as starting a course immediately I start to feel unwell shortens my recovery time. I usually see my GP as well so feel well supported and confident about my treatment.)
If your GP is reluctant to prescribe " emergency" antibiotics then encourage them to undertake the LSN learning online learning module if they haven't done so already !
Have a great holiday.
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Hi Bev, Sydney to Spain that's a huge change. Enjoy your holiday where abouts in Spain? Lucky you and goodluck 🍀
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