Flying abroad

[SwgS]

Anyone have any tips for taking a holiday abroad? Extra mess? Paperwork? Assistance and who from? And tips to help me not get sick !

Thank you

[vivdunstan Volunteer]

Firstly make sure you have adequate travel insurance that covers your existing medical conditions. You can buy this as a one-off, and the Vasculitis UK website recommends a number of insurance companies that cover vasculitis patients.

If you need assistance at the airport or on the plane, for example using a wheelchair in the airport or transporting your own wheelchair, you will probably need to arrange this in advance with the airline when you book your tickets. Sometimes this is simple, but sometimes you need to get your family doctor to fill out a form about your condition and send that to the airline for them to approve. It varies by airline.

If you are travelling to Europe make sure you have a EHIC health card - which can be obtained online for free - which gives you free access to emergency healthcare in Europe, as a European citizen (if you are a European citizen).

But you should still get travel insurance, to cover more serious medical problems that can arise. And this *must* cover your existing conditions, or they will not pay out.

The other thing is that if you take a lot of drugs they may take up a lot of space in your hand luggage. They should normally go in your hand luggage, enough for your trip, because hold luggage can go (permanently) astray. Some airlines will allow you to take an extra hand luggage bag for medical reasons, but again this needs to be approved in advance. Whatever the case make sure you take a copy of your repeat prescription with you. Normally your medicines should also be carried in their original packets.

Remember that the journey there and back will tire you out more than before you had vasculitis, so pace yourself, and take it easy. Also the same applies when you are there.

But above all have fun!

[PMRpro in reply to vivdunstan]

Just want to add that the EHIC only gives you the same access to emergency health care as the locals get - and many countries have a co-pay even for us. Where I live in northern Italy I get GP appointments and in-patient care free of charge (I live here but am retired so covered by the EHIC arrangement with the UK) but blood tests, A&E and out-patient consultations with a hospital specialist are charged for. In most of Italy it is often very difficult to find a GP who works in the state system - they literally work as "tourist" doctors and charge privately - even for people from this region which is autonomous within Italy.

Check that if you are coming to mainland Europe and don't just trust to your EHIC card, it is a contribution but not comprehensive and - obviously - doesn't cover repatriation with medical care if it became necessary.

[vivdunstan Volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for that clarification

[Nadine99]

I usually split the meds into 2 separate bags, one carried by me, one by my husband, just in case!!

[SwgS]

Thanks everyone.

Yes I do have insurance. Never travel anywhere without it. Fully covered too. For a list as long as my arm. So important to have good insurance.

[SwgS]

Lovely break, if exhausting. We travelled with Monarch. Extra leg room was free when you send a letter from Dr. Given an extra allowance of hand luggage for meds. Used assistance both airports.

Stressful but do able travel wise. Hotel was great very supportive of my needs. Want to go back now!