Hi - I have posted before about my trips to South Africa and Australia. Really need wise advice now.
I have had such stress around this and the travel insurance. Some tests were not back (Thankfully now are). But I had a referral for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome sent to Guys and St Thomas on the 30th March - they have never received it.
With insurance any outstanding investigations / tests - they cannot insure you. I asked my Gp practice to remove it - they can’t - but will put a note that I no longer want to pursue this. Not sure if that will be ok.
I cannot go to South Africa and risk having no medical cover - the state hospitals are horrendous!
Waiting to speak to my GP.
I was to fly yesterday - but my fit to fly PCR came back positive! Took test Thursday - result on Friday last week. I don’t have any symptoms of Covid and all the lateral flow tests that I’ve done since have been negative. So I think it just picked up the fragments from when I had Covid in March. I should get a recovery certificate on Covid19 app by Wednesday and will also do a rapid Antigen test on Wednesday. South Africa requires this within a 48 hour window before you fly.
I need to Fly - not only is this a long planned trip but my younger brother is in ICU in South Africa and is critical. Yesterday they did not expect him to live through the day(Pneumonia and multiple cardiac arrests) He has stabilised a bit and we are hoping that he can be airlifted by helicopter to a bigger hospital with a dedicated cardiac unit.
So the question is - would it be worth taking a little extra Pred? On 7mg currently.
If so how much and for how long?
I am not thinking straight or clearly.
Nervous to fly anyway since I had the tachycardia event when I had Covid.
Thank you!
Written by
Slosh
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Think you need to contact insurance company and discuss doctors letter - then you’ll know if you are covered..
And fingers crossed for covid tests being negative this week…
Probably a good idea to increase Pred perhaps try 10mg until you have got things sorted and (hopefully) have been able to get to SA and see brother.
Once all that has happened you can think about reducing -but honestly I wouldn’t be considering that at the moment —-if you need to stay at higher dose you need to.
When you get to Australia and things have settled down think about then.
What a nightmare. Surely the insurance company can insure you but just not for the pre-existing and pending issues. At least if you had an accident or became ill with something else, you’d get some cover. I suspect that even if the doc removed the referral and you didn’t tell the insurers, the fact that you were referred means a potential diagnosis. If somehow found out when they access records, might void the policy even though you might not be claiming for that. Agree with DL, if you increase it needs to be about 10mg. This hopefully will get you out of the low adrenal zone. Is your doctor happy with that kind of increase?
Seems like full cover. Was on the phone for ages. I had to add like a left ventricular insufficiency - my ejection fraction is45-50% 😢 and normal is 55%.
It’s all recorded and I noted down persons name, the time and date.
I think you may well need more pred - this sort of stress has similar effects to what Sick Day Rules cover.
I can't really help - I know what I would do but that isn't really relevant. As DL says, I think you - for your own good - have to start with the insurance cover. No insurance - no travel in my book I'm afraid. This isn't going to be sorted in a few hours is it.
I’ve already got cover - but did not include the Mast Cell Activation because the letter was never received and I decided to not pursue it further but yes I can see how that would be a problem.
I will phone the insurance company and speak to them after speaking to my doctor.
I leave tomorrow (if Antigen Test is negative). And I just realised that if I go up to 10mg a day for the full trip - I may not have enough Prednisolone.
I am in South Africa until 20th July and then fly to Australia and am there until 7th September.
A bit frantic all round at the moment - struggling to think methodically.
Can I just go up to 10mg for about a week to ten days and come down again?
And then up again for around the time for the flight to Australia and down again after a week or so?
I could get Cortisone in SA but my body reacts so badly to meds / excipients due to the Mast Cell issues.
Try explaining to a pharmacy that you have unexpectedly to go away and haven't enough pred - they SHOULD give you an extra pack as you can't stop taking it suddenly ...
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
spring Covid vaccine
Covid, antivirals and steroid doses
New diagnose ?
Upcoming vaccinations for flu and Covid
Dilemma 
