Not sure if this is the correct place to post this or not but here goes anyway, recently my father-in-law has been suffering tiny blackouts lasting not more than a few seconds a time, he has seen a specialist at the local hospital who has said it could be epilepsy or a heart problem, as yet my father-in-law hasn,t had any other scans or tests but will be doing hopefully soon, in the meanwhile my parents in law are thinking of booking a week away in Mallorca, now the question I nned to ask is this if he has one of these as yet undiagnosed conditions can flying at altitude do him any harm and can flying be harmfull to his health at the moment ?, we have checked it out with his specialist directly who has said he is ok to fly as long as he has adequate insurance which they have, however we are naturally worried and would be keen to hear peoples opinions and other peoples experiences if they have flown under similar or same circumstances.
Many thanks
Sliema2
I think as you have had advice from the specialist you should go by what he/she says. The only thing I would add is to make sure you inform the insurance company of the situation before you go.
The daughter of a friend had a condition which was undiagnosed. They had to cancel the holiday they had booked and rebook it for a later date as the insurance company would not cover them for undiagnosed conditions. Luckily the consultants worked out what it was and gave them the all-clear to travel at the later date and the insurance company then agreed cover.
So even if they have an annual policy, it is worth checking. If he needs treatment in resort for this condition, he might not be covered if he hasn't notified the insurance co.
So even if they have an annual policy, it is worth checking. If he needs treatment in resort for this condition, he might not be covered if he hasn't notified the insurance co.
My dad pays extra (about 25 quid )to have extra cover for his insurance,he has just got back from zante trouble free but had to claim on his last two holiday visits due to being admitted to hospitial.
speak to your insurance and see if you can pay extra, explain the doctors need to do more test. its better than to travel and not be covered.
speak to your insurance and see if you can pay extra, explain the doctors need to do more test. its better than to travel and not be covered.
I appreciate all replies so far, however it's not the insurance that we are concerned about, what we are concerned about is the affects if any that flying at altitude might or hopefully might not have on my father-in-law.
Regards
Sliema2
Regards
Sliema2
It's really impossible to answer such a question! Whilst I don't doubt that there must be a few doctors/nurses/healthcarey people on this forum, it's really dodgy to advise over the internet!
All I'd say is the usual advice of "if in doubt, don't travel". After all, it would be daft to cause permanent damage for a week abroad. Why not just play it safe and go on a mini break somewhere in the UK by coach, train, car or ferry etc etc? It would mean less hassle if he were hospitalised as there wouldn't be all the insurance and language barriers etc.
Hope your father in law gets better soon
Marianne
All I'd say is the usual advice of "if in doubt, don't travel". After all, it would be daft to cause permanent damage for a week abroad. Why not just play it safe and go on a mini break somewhere in the UK by coach, train, car or ferry etc etc? It would mean less hassle if he were hospitalised as there wouldn't be all the insurance and language barriers etc.
Hope your father in law gets better soon
Marianne
I don't think that any of us here are in a better position to advise you than his specialist. If s/he says it would be safe to fly as long as you make sure that he has insurance cover then I think you should go with that. On the other hand if you are still worried despite this reassurance from the person who is best placed to advise you then I suggest that you don't book until such time as his condition has been diagnosed or he stops having these episodes.
SM
SM
Sliema2,
4 years ago I had a heart attack 4 wks before I was due to fly to Majorca my consultant told me I could still go on holiday on the understanding that I done nothing that would tire me out or put any strain on my heart this included not lifting any suitcases.He also made me wear flight socks.
I went on holiday and had a great time, the flight was not any problem.
I did inform my insurance company who covered me no problem as this was not pre-existing.
This is just me, your father in law is a totally different case but the people who will know better than anyone is his doctor and himself.
Sally
4 years ago I had a heart attack 4 wks before I was due to fly to Majorca my consultant told me I could still go on holiday on the understanding that I done nothing that would tire me out or put any strain on my heart this included not lifting any suitcases.He also made me wear flight socks.
I went on holiday and had a great time, the flight was not any problem.
I did inform my insurance company who covered me no problem as this was not pre-existing.
This is just me, your father in law is a totally different case but the people who will know better than anyone is his doctor and himself.
Sally
Following my Heart Attack and subsequent Heart Bypass surgery, I checked with my Consultant and Gp and they both advised me not to fly for at least three months. They did not say I should *not* fly, but just advised against it. We had a holiday booked to travel ten weeks after my Operation and I simply advised the Travel Agency who upgraded my Insurance accordingly and I continued with my travel arrangements without any problems during the flights.
Thank you to all of you who have replied so far, I think basically what I'm trying to esablish if if flying can be detremental to his condition in anyway, or does it not make any difference at all, his specialist has told him he is ok to fly, but as I haven't spoken to his psecialist I'm curious to know what effects flying can have if any.
Regards
Sliema2
Regards
Sliema2
I'm sure his specialist would advise against flying if it were necessary. Just remember that if he blacks out at the airport and it's noticed then it could be that you will be taken off the plane if you can't prove he's fit to fly, so a doctors note will be essential.
I agree with what has already been posted, but I would think that a 2 hour flight to Mallorca is a lot less risky than a long-haul flight would be.....
....but I would definitely take the specialist's advice, and discuss it with the insurance firm too.
....but I would definitely take the specialist's advice, and discuss it with the insurance firm too.
The main thing is to get a fit to fly certificate. Then if you hit any problems you are covered both with the airline and the insurance.
Kath HT Admin
Kath HT Admin
Surely in this age of litigation the specialist would cover his own back. If he had any doubts, then he would advise against flying without hesitation. Hope things work out for your father-in-law.
Mark
Mark
My son has epilepsy ,reasonally well controlled by medication although he does still have some seizures on a regular basis,flying doesnot make his seizures any worse but everyone is different and effected by illness in a different way.The tour operators and airline will definetly need a fit to fly letter from the doctor and adequate insurance must be taken out.The specialist really is the best person to ask.
As his condition is undiagnosed how can anyone know what effects a flight could have on his health, there are too many things it could be to be certain either way.
Also I have been trying to get insurance to travel while waiting results from a blood test, whatever is wrong is not going to be immediately life threatening and I probably wouldn't even get into hospital for treatment before returning from the trip I hoped to take but most insurance companies won't have any of it at all, the only one that would want more than the cost of the holiday to cover me.
The other thing that may be of concern is that if your father in law had an episode while abroad he may have to be admitted to a foreign hospital with the associated language problems
Also I have been trying to get insurance to travel while waiting results from a blood test, whatever is wrong is not going to be immediately life threatening and I probably wouldn't even get into hospital for treatment before returning from the trip I hoped to take but most insurance companies won't have any of it at all, the only one that would want more than the cost of the holiday to cover me.
The other thing that may be of concern is that if your father in law had an episode while abroad he may have to be admitted to a foreign hospital with the associated language problems
With regard to the last post. My father had a heart attck while on holiday in Majorca, and had fantastic treatment at the Sonduretta hospital. They even gave my mother a bed next to him. In the space of an hour he was seen by 5 doctors, and the following day had an operation that he would have been on a waiting list for in this country. Most of the staff spoke reasonable english and there were 2 intrpretors based at the hospital. I even managed to find a translator as all his discharge notes were in Spanish. If you have to go to hospital while on holiday anywhere Majorca is great. My father had to wait for 3 weeks before he flew home and had no problems with the flight.
Helen it honestly wasn't my intention to discredit the hospitals in Majorca I was only thinking that being sick in a strange place can be frightening for older people.
I wasn't particularly old when I had a health scare whilst in Tenerife and it was difficult to communicate with nursing staff, the doctors I must admit spoke better English and I'm glad to say my Spanish is now much improved
I wasn't particularly old when I had a health scare whilst in Tenerife and it was difficult to communicate with nursing staff, the doctors I must admit spoke better English and I'm glad to say my Spanish is now much improved
Hi Silverpixie! I understand that and I would never fly against a doctor's advice. I was just expressing my opinion on treatment once the worst had happened.
Hi Silema2,
what's your secret to a long life. Ypu are doing well for your age.
what's your secret to a long life. Ypu are doing well for your age.
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