Fear of flying. GP any help?

[Fordian]

My increasing FoF has developed over the last 20 years. I feel it is inhibiting our ability to go see things (DH, retired, 64; me, semi-retired 61.)

I recommend low dose sedation to my MRI patients that gets them comfortably through their scans.

Will a GP prescribe that to me so I can fly without well-controlled, hidden panic?

Please, no 'have you tried BA's program? Flights are So Safe, now!'

I've flown Aeroflot, internal Chinese/Indian airways, chicken in the aisle. Botswana airways. Garuda! I've crash landed in Alice Springs.

But much, much younger than I am now.

I feel I am inhibiting us from travelling. But, back in 1980, a GP would dole out Temazepan to a night shift NHS worker. Like, to me! I think they wouldn't, now.

Can I get an online script?

Any ideas?

My GP prescribes me a dose of Diazapam to fly.

I use to get diazepam for flying no problem. I’m ex cabin crew and ended up with panic attacks when flying due to a bad incident with a passenger 20 years ago, not the aircraft. This incident ended my time flying. However something has changed in the last 5 years as I went to get some earlier this year (first flight since pandemic) and they said they no longer give diazepam out for flights. They now give beta blockers instead, but I couldn’t have these due to my low blood pressure. So all very unhelpful! 🙄

I might have to say it's for an MRI, I guess.

YES saw it's for an MRI!

They won't give me diazepam anymore, but they gave me lorazepam which was very good. Took in the airport and felt a bit calmer I think.

I feel for you. It really restricts my life. I flew a lot when younger, too.

Yes bizarrely the doctor said he could have given it to me if I’d said panic attacks in general. Apparently NHS guidelines now say it shouldn’t be given for flying in particular, he mentioned DVT risk but it was only a 2 hour flight. He also said he personally had no problem giving it out for flying but couldn’t due to practice policy. All sounded a bit office/NHS politics to me.