Travel concerns on biologics: I have RA and take Humira... - NRAS

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Travel concerns on biologics

Pudding26 profile image
23 Replies

I have RA and take Humira

we are booked to go on a cruise to the canaries in October and I’m becoming increasingly anxious about COVID on board and being immunosuppressed

I have had 4 vaccinations and had COVID in February treated with antivirals. I will be due a 5th vaccine in the autumn round. Iam 61

any advice/ thoughts, anyone else travelled recently?

Many thanks!

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Pudding26 profile image
Pudding26
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23 Replies
Amnesiac3637 profile image
Amnesiac3637

That’s a calculated risk only you can decide on. Cruise ships are unfortunately notorious for spreading viruses as they’re floating incubators with a captive audience. As long as you’re happy to be among large numbers of people indoors in October if it’s bad weather (and fingers crossed it’s good for your holiday) you’ll go but if you’re immune suppressed and worried will you spend your holiday trying not to mix on board? Your vaccines will give some protection but depends on how many antibodies you’ve made. What a hard decision! Good luck and hope whatever holiday you decide on, you have a fab time.

medway-lady profile image
medway-lady

Its difficult and I'm in same position do we book and go or not? I wish I knew the answer but do feel it may be like after any sort of travel incident things do tend to be better controlled. I also had Covid after 4 jabs and had the antibody infusion. My husband got it again last month but I didn't so just maybe the actual infection offers better protection? I don't know but would just say avoid the hot tub and pool and use the sanitiser and perhaps by then we will all be prepared to go away. Enjoy the break if you go and if not there will be next year. x

Moomin8 profile image
Moomin8

Hi, we're going on a cruise in a week or so. We have to do an antigen test 72hrs before we travel 🤞Keeping everything crossed.

HappykindaGal profile image
HappykindaGal in reply to Moomin8

Me too! Where are you going?

Moomin8 profile image
Moomin8 in reply to HappykindaGal

Canary Islands 🛳 😎🤞

HappykindaGal profile image
HappykindaGal in reply to Moomin8

Lovely. I’m going to the arctic circle on the 18th.

in reply to HappykindaGal

🥶

Moomin8 profile image
Moomin8 in reply to HappykindaGal

Brilliant! Have fun 👍

HappykindaGal profile image
HappykindaGal

I went on a cruise last month and yes, came off with a gift. Test was negative but I had every symptom and still have a cough six weeks later. I only took one test.

Going on another next week so perhaps a sucker for punishment 😂. Why? Because I weighed up staying at home alone and to continue being anxious seeing no one against meeting people, drinking cocktails and looking at beautiful scenery from my balcony (going to arctic circle).

Yes, there are risks, but there are risks going to a local cafe too. You could bump into that ‘one’ person that’s a carrier.

What nailed it for me was my darling friend who’s closer than a sister to me, being diagnosed out of the blue with terminal cancer. She’s too exhausted to even leave the house. Never know what’s around the corner and we could be waiting to feel safer and that time may never come and we’ve missed out on so much.

Only you can make the decision 🛳🛳🛳🍸🍸🍹🍹🍹🍹💋

Edit: I’m on another in October, where are you going?

Fra22-57 profile image
Fra22-57 in reply to HappykindaGal

You enjoy yourself.I used to work as a cook in a nursing home so saw lots of people with different ages and disabilities.I said then that I would do what I can while I can.Been hospitalised for a month then wheelchair bound myself afterwards for months so had a little taste of it.No you go and enjoy😊

HappykindaGal profile image
HappykindaGal in reply to Fra22-57

Hope you’re ok now. I think when you realise that everything can change in the blink of an eye, you look at life differently.

It’s one heck of an effort going away. Planning how to get on the ship, how to get my case sorted, blah blah blah. It’s worth it though. Last month I met three men (lucky me!) who I shared a dinner table with. We hit it off and had a fantastic time and we’re still in touch. They treated me like a princess. Our attempt at karaoke was priceless

CagneysMum profile image
CagneysMum in reply to HappykindaGal

With you there HappykindaGal👍 I recently buried a cousin only4 years older than me with lupus.. a bit of a wake up call. My RA is currently well controlled with various drugs (and long may it be that way🤞) … meanwhile I’m off on my travels as long as the money holds out. 2 holidays under my belt so far this year (including a cruise) and 3 more hols planned up until October 😃

Evie3 profile image
Evie3

My brother has just done a river cruise…he has bronchiecstasis. They had to test before boarding. After couple of days 9 people were taken off the boat and sent home as they had Covid. He had a lovely holiday.

Live your life

I decided against a cruise for this very reason. I would buy the medically approved masks from Boots’ and wear one every day (FFP2). There seems to be a lot of mixing on these things, but you always have the option of going back to your cabin if you feel unsafe. HappyKindaGal went on one recently, so maybe have a look at her ‘cruise posts’.

HappykindaGal profile image
HappykindaGal in reply to

Haha, my cocktail pics 🍹🍹🍹💃💃

in reply to HappykindaGal

You did seem to have a great time 🍹🍹

Haz58 profile image
Haz58

We went on a cruise end of June. Hubby got off with the gift of COVID. Mind you he’s not as careful as me. Anything I touched I used hand gel straight after. I used tissues to open doors, press lift buttons, on handrails etc etc. I also wore a mask mostly inside the ship. We used the buffet instead of the dining rooms and mostly ate outside. I just stayed away from others as much as I could. If there was something I fancied at the buffet and there was a queue I kept my distance or chose something else. That’s all you can do really. So far, touch wood, (with a tissue;)) I’ve not had COVID as yet. Oh and I didn’t share lifts very much either. Only you can decide. I’d go on a cruise again for sure. Enjoy if you go. Xx

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix in reply to Haz58

“the buffet”!!! Gosh you are brave. I never, ever go near buffets as they can be breeding grounds for every sort of food borne virus and bacteria.

I wouldn’t go on cruises pre-Covid for that very reason, as to me that’s more of a risk than Covid.

I got a gastroenteritis in February, and am still trying to recover 6 months later.

Haz58 profile image
Haz58 in reply to helixhelix

It was amazing. Very fresh and no one could serve themselves. The staff served you with what you wanted. I’d have said the same as you just did until I saw it for myself. It was much better than spending 2 hours in a packed restaurant for me. The waiters did your drink orders, took temperatures and made sure you washed or gelled your hands before you were let in. I just felt much safer there than in the main dining.

Paula-C profile image
Paula-C in reply to Haz58

I belong to a Facebook group for a cruise ship we cruised on Christmas 2019. When cruising was first allowed you were served by staff in the buffet, it was only waiter service for drinks, but recently everything now is back to more covid times.

Haz58 profile image
Haz58 in reply to Paula-C

I think it depends which cruise line you go with as to the steps they take. On ours at the end of June they made sure no one except staff served you the food you wanted. No one was allowed to help themselves.

Officegirl profile image
Officegirl

HiI've just come back from a Western Mediterranean cruise. Also on humira . All I can say is they had sanitiser everywhere and some people were still wearing masks. We managed to escape covid but the other couple we went with have both come back with it. I would definitely recommend wearing masks when going into lifts and on excursions but apart from that we felt quite safe. Have a wonderful holidayx

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