Moving to Spain

[StephanieDiane]

Hi all,

My husband and I are thinking of moving to Murcia in Spain, does anyone know of any , doctors, hospitals that I could contact to get information on the care of Vasculitis MPA in Spain.

[Runrig01]

Hi I attended the patient symposium in London recently. There was a lovely Dr Maria Cid, gave a talk on GCA, but I'm sure she covers other Vasculitis diseases as well. Not sure where she is based in Spain, but I'm sure she will have people she could recommend. Her email is:

[e-mail].

Good luck with your move to Spain, my In laws live not far from Murcia. Best Wishes, Runrig 😃

[StephanieDiane in reply to Runrig01]

Hi runrig01,

Thanks for your reply, I will send her a message.

[Nadine99]

On a cautious note, we lived in France when my husband was diagnosed with WG and although he got good treatment and we could speak some French & they some English, it wasn't the same as speaking fluent English. It was difficult without the fluency to express ourselves and about his symptoms and understanding completely what they were trying to say. We always got the gist of everything but not the same as doing it in English. Mind the sun!!

Good luck in whatever you decide

[StephanieDiane in reply to Nadine99]

High Nadine99,

We also lived in France and this was one of the reasons we were glade we returned. This is why we are looking at this more closely.

[Doghouse in reply to Nadine99]

Which part of France did you live? I have GPA and we are thinking of moving there.

[Nadine99 in reply to Doghouse]

We lived between Civray & Ruffec. My husband was treated at the Poitiers Militiere University Hospital & the Polyclinic.

If you need complex treatment, think carefully unless you have fluent French. Doing it all in broken English is not very satisfactory and for us, the weather was too hot for my husband's conditions.

Paperwork is all done in French, you don't get any assistance with the language as foreigners do in the UK.

Sorry not to be very upbeat about it, we had 7 great years in France, in business there for half of that but it's not all it's cracked up to be, especially if you have an illness.

Good luck

[Doghouse in reply to Nadine99]

Thanks for the information , will certainly consider .

[StephanieDiane in reply to Doghouse]

We lived in Luzay just outside Thouars. We lived there for 6 years and our son still live there. I agree with with Nadine it's ok whilst you are fit and well. Good luck

[Suzym2u Moderator Vasculitis UK]

If you have any problems contacting Dr Cid please contact John, he is in touch with Maria. Even if Dr Cid specialises in GCA she maybe able to recommend someone who specialises in ANCA associated Vasculitis.

Best wishes

Susan

[KirstyW1999]

Hi I am going to Spain for a month after my cyclophosamide treatment ends, so looking forward to it the thought keeps me going. I have GPA. We found an expert in the field of vasculitus at hospital de Torrevieja Alicante its a new university hospital. The experts name is Gonzales Gay.They also have experts at Alicante university Hospital.

We lived in Spain for a number of years and my husband unfotunatsly

Had 2 really bad accidents, one requiring major surgery, we could not fault the care and service we received, so I am not at all worried about going.

If you search engine the hospital the site is in English.

Good luck

If you need any more info re move,I may be able to help.

[StephanieDiane]

Hi, can I just say thank you for your replies.

My husband and I have after considering everything have decided against moving to Spain. I have just had another flare and have had my medication increased. Azathioprine raised to 100mg (from 75mg) and Prednisalone raised to 20mg (from 5mg) and am back to the hospital every two weeks. With all the help we have here in Scotland, we feel it would be wrong to go somewhere that we do not understand the language, and would not be able to be understood either. Thank you once again. We have decided just go on holiday to see our son in France.