Help and Resources Resources & support Holidays and Travel Thinking about going on holiday? Holidays are an important and enjoyable part of life. This does not have to change following your diagnosis of aplastic anaemia. On this page we've included some advice and some tips from Sam, one of our Support and Outreach team, to help take the worry out of going on holiday. Sam says As someone that enjoys travelling, I am in a very fortunate position to have been able to see some wonderful places around the world. However, having lived with aplastic anaemia from the age of three, and having had a stem cell transplant at the age of 21, this hasn’t always been the easiest thing to do. After being treated with ATG at the age of three, thankfully my blood counts remained fairly stable, and I lived a relatively normal life whilst being on ‘Watch and Wait’. When I was at Uni, I loved to travel to places across Europe with my friends when I was able to, and to be honest, other than making sure I had decent travel insurance in place, and getting permission to go from my medical team, I didn’t really think much of my AA diagnosis. However, that all changed at the age of 21 when I was suddenly diagnosed with neutropenic sepsis, barely a few weeks before I was due to sit my final exams at uni. To cut a long story short, my AA diagnosis had changed to one of MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome), and it became necessary for me to have a stem cell transplant. Understandably, this put a halt to my travel plans, and it wasn’t until a year post-transplant that it was safe for me to travel again.Almost six years after my transplant, I’m now doing well and back to enjoying travelling the world. However, I am still take lots of precautions when travelling to make sure that I am safe, and prepared in the event that something should go wrong. I've included some top tips in the advice below. Before you book speak to your medical team It is advisable to discuss any travel plans with your consultant before you book, as they can advise you on your treatment plan whilst on holiday, how to deal with any emergencies and vaccinations you might need. It is also a good idea to discuss any planned recreational and sports/outdoor activities before your journey, for example, skiing/ice hockey/mountain or rock climbing/wind surfing. If you want to holiday in the UK but have low blood counts, transfusions can be arranged at a hospital near to where you will be staying. If you are currently receiving treatment or have started taking a new medication before you depart, again, it is worth speaking to your medical team to make sure the new drug suits you well before travel. Consider asking your doctor for a 'safe to fly' letter. Travel Insurance When taking out travel insurance consider your needs and requirements for every stage of the holiday: from before you go, your journey, accommodation, medication, transport and journey home. You can then organise extra help and assistance if necessary. Don’t leave it until you are about to go on holiday! When you ask for a quote make sure you are as prepared as possible for the questions you may be asked. For example, dates of diagnosis and treatment, when did you last need a transfusion, what medication are you taking, etc. It might be worth taking a few minutes to get this information together before you make the call. Sam says: Unfortunately, travel insurance can be very expensive for those of us who are living with aplastic anaemia and other rare bone marrow failures, due to the increased risk of us becoming unwell while on holiday. My top tip is to make sure that you declare all of your medical conditions accurately to your travel insurance provider, as if this isn’t done, this could invalidate your policy and mean that the insurance company won’t pay out in the event that you need to make a claim. While it might be tempting not to declare your condition in order to save some money, it’s just not worth the risk. Watch our webinar about travel insurance There are a list of insurers at the bottom of the page. Apply for your UK Global Health Insurance Card The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get necessary state healthcare in EU countries, and some other countries, on the same basis as a resident of that country. This may be free or it may require a payment equivalent to that which a local resident would pay You can use your card to get state healthcare that cannot reasonably wait until you come back to the UK (sometimes called "medically necessary healthcare"). This includes things like: emergency treatment and visits to A&E treatment or routine medical care for long-term or pre-existing medical conditions routine maternity care, as long as you're not going abroad to give birth Get you free card here Vaccinations If you are travelling to an area that requires vaccinations, it is very important that this is discussed with your haematology team before any vaccinations are given. Flying It is important to recognise that travelling, especially with a low platelet count (less than 20) can present significant risks. The main risk of flying with a low platelet count is the increased risk of bleeds, especially in the head. It is therefore recommended that your platelet count is at least 50 before flying. You should also take into consideration the length of the holiday and whether a transfusion would be needed before making the return trip. Medications It's always a good idea to check with your airline about process re taking meds on board (especially liquid meds). Put Medication in hand luggage in case of missing baggage and take more than you need in case of delayed returns or if you lose them. Consider asking your doctor for a 'medications required' letter to take with you and take a copy of your prescription with you. Mobility issues Sam says: After your diagnosis or treatment, you will probably find that your energy levels aren’t what they used to be. Even almost six years post-transplant, I often find that I can’t walk as far as I used to, and need to rest more frequently. However, this certainly doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy your holiday! Airports and railway stations can be quite chaotic and stressful at times, not to mention that they also often involve walking very long distances. After my transplant, my mobility deteriorated quite significantly, and I found it quite difficult, and often very painful to walk long distances. To make things easier for me, I requested wheelchair assistance via the airline I was travelling with. Whenever I’ve needed assistance, someone has been on hand to escort me from check in and through security in a wheelchair, then to the boarding gate ready for the flight, and vice versa at the other end. I can truly say that requesting assistance helped me to get my independence back, at a time when I never thought this would be possible. Something I learned later on is that you can also request assistance when travelling by train! If you are familiar with Euston station in London, you’ll know how chaotic, and frankly rather terrifying the mad dash for the train can be when the platforms are announced, not to mention the long distances involved. By contacting the train company that you are travelling with, you can arrange for assistance to be provided throughout your journey, such as help with luggage or at many larger stations, for a wheelchair to be provided for you to transfer between trains. Again, I found this really helpful to help me to regain my independence after my transplant. Staying safe in the sun A lot of the medications that are used to treat or manage aplastic anaemia can make your skin much more sensitive to sunlight, and it is very important that you try and avoid exposure to sunlight as much as possible. Take sensible precautions such as using a high factor suncream, ideally SPF 50 or above, and keep exposed skin covered up when out and about. Sam says: When buying suncream, look at the star rating on the bottle as well as the SPF – the star rating indicates how well the suncream can protect your skin from UV-A light. Ideally, you should purchase one that has a five star rating. It's also really important to stay hydrated not only because of the hot weather, but also because some of the medications, such as Ciclosporin can affect how your kidneys work. In hot weather, we all sweat more than usual, and it is much easier to become dehydrated quicker, so try to make sure that you drink plenty of water throughout the day. Download our leaflet Take a copy of 'What is aplastic anemia' leaflet with you and download Google Translate. If you need need medical assistance when you're abroad you will be able to translate the leaflet into the language you need. Know your own body When we’re on holiday and enjoying ourselves, it can be tempting to ignore the signs that something isn’t quite right. If you do feel that something isn’t quite right, do go and get it checked out – get in touch with your travel insurance company as soon as possible and get in touch with your own medical team for advice. Travel Checklist Check your passport expiry dates Get Insurance -see our webinar for more information Get a Global Health Card, it’s free. Sunscreen Download Google translate Take a 'What is aplastic anemia' leaflet with you Swimsuits with UV protection and hats/tees with UV protection Put Medication in hand luggage in case of missing baggage Take more than you need in case of difficulty with returning flights etc. Check with your airline about process re taking meds on board (especially liquid meds) Consider asking your doctor for a 'safe to fly' letter Consider asking your doctor for a 'medications required' letter to take with you Take a copy of your prescription with you Put the number for your hospital and travel insurance company in your phone Insurers The following list of companies who offer travel insurance to people with pre-existing medical conditions was compiled with the help of our Patient Support Group based on their own experiences. However, the inclusion of any company in the following list should not be seen as a recommendation by the Aplastic Anaemia Trust. Insurance Company Contact Number All Clear Travel Insurance 0808 281 2274 True Traveller 0333 999 3140 Free Spirit 02392 419 080 Insurancewith 0333 005 1066 It’s So Easy Travel Insurance 01223 785 513 MIA Travel Insurance 0800 999 3333 Staysure 0808 281 6676 Payingtoomuch.com 01243 964 726 Towergate Insurance 01536 486060 InsureandGo Travel Insurance 0800 072 6678 World First 0345 90 80 161 Saga Travel Insurance (for over 50's) 0800 015 8055 Manage Cookie Preferences