Just hit a huge crash following D and V bug and now shingles. So whilst on "chair rest" my husbands asked me to look at options for our holiday for our 25th anniversary. He would like to go to South Africa.
Any ideas on Vaccinations and Lupus. I know live vaccines can be problem. Any experiences?
I don't know about vaccines but what about insurance? I used 'insurancewith' Last year and although I listed all my problems I thought the premium they offered was a good one.
Hope you start to feel better soon. We need that coffee soon.
A xx
Yep need to think about insurance. I know its a long shot South Africa but I'm fed up with playing safe. I feel rough anyway, so might as well feel rough and see something. In a bit of decline at the moment but I'm sure Ill pull out soon, a coffee will be nice.
IT depends where about u are going and what u will be doing on ur trip, if u look on nathnac it gives u good info on vaccines recommended. Are u on immunosuppressants? If so this would be an issue for live vaccines like yellow fever X
I have no personal experience and have never been anywhere needing vaccines but I do love to travel when we can, so will follow your post for future reference. Just found this for you on Lupus UK website.
Hope it's useful.
lupusuk.org.uk/going-on-hol...
Wendy x
Sorry you're feeling rough at the moment. I'm just coming through a rough spell myself and the best bit is how much I'm appreciating life after 6 weeks of flare and rubbish.
We went to NYC and Long Island for our 25th. It was fabydoo, a trip I've always wanted to make and no regrets despite severe disequillibrium, SFN and tendinitis! We used Staysure insurance I recall and I listed RA and Hypothyroidism but nothing else had been diagnosed at the time. However the flights each way were a kind of hell and I'd have to think very hard about putting myself through that again.
On the plus side we didn't need vaccines and I was off all immunesuppressants at the time anyway. But personally I think I'd stick to European destinations such as Tuscany just now if I could afford a holiday.
But that's just me - I struggle horribly with long haul flights. But no regrets at all otherwise - it was a trip of a lifetime for both of us and our youngest son came too. X
I'm so glad you got to go to the holiday of your dreams. We have been going to European holidays mainly. We usually go just for a week, or I get knocked out. Trouble is theres obviously things that add to the exhaustion, lack of usual rest periods, flights, heat etc but last weekend we took my grandson to the IOW, before his sister is born. Lovely weekend. Tried to pace. Now huge crash. So I suppose it doesn't matter sometimes were you go.
I think it does matter more in a way - since I always resent spending a lot of very hard earned money and crashing and flaring for days, weeks or months if the price wasn't worth it? But that was our last holiday (2014) - we don't do holidays because we are both self employed - and the price was extremely high (sick for nearly the entirety of 2015) so it had to be for something really special that meant loads to both of us! X
I've been to South Africa many times. The only vaccinations you need are the routine ones you probably had when growing up. As long as you are not planning to go to areas with very poor sanitation and poor water supplies. Hope you have a great time.
Thankyou so much. No we are looking at the Garden route, from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth with a safari along the way. Any advice would be appreciated.
That sounds like a great choice. Also that far south you don't need to worry about malaria either.
There are so many good places to see animals too. Most places all meals are included as you can't exactly pop out somewhere if you're in the middle of nowhere.
Also a good area for wine; if that's your thing...
Hi johare ,
Congratulations on your 25th wedding anniversary, what a wonderful thing to look forward to!
Last year we published a blog article called ‘Going on Holiday with Lupus’. The article discusses a number of factors to consider before travelling abroad and gives links for information on vaccinations, travel insurance and accessing healthcare overseas: lupusuk.org.uk/going-on-hol...
Many thanks Paul. Wendy has mentioned your holiday blog. I had a look and it was very helpful. Also the insurance list really helped.
Belimumab and Pfizer Vaccine
Holiday
Vaccination
Vaccine
Very upset was denied vaccine at the centre! 
