Can I fly with GCA?

[Cathyhon]

I've been having temporal headaches on the left side of my head. Went to the doctors, who gave me a blood test. The results have come back, and I might have GCA, they said I had inflammation in my blood . I'm on steroids for now and just waiting on a hospital referral. The thing is I have a really expensive holiday booked in three weeks. I asked my doctor if I was ok to fly, but he said I should wait for my hospital consultation. The waiting list is a 13-week wait. I was just wondering if anyone else has flown with GCA.

A medical professional has told you not to fly. Claim off your travel insurance and rearrange for a later date.

If you are abroad and anything happens you will absolutely not be covered under your insurance policy for medical expenses or repatriation, so claim now under the cancellation section.

It’s not recommended. And I’d question why you’d listen to mumsnet over your doctor?

Your insurance will be invalidated for starters. You need to call your insurance and make a claim unless your holiday company can delay the holiday

My doctor didn’t say I couldn’t fly, instead he told me to see what my consultant has to say

That is literally the same thing though op otherwise they’d have said yes you’re fine to fly so a medical professional has advised you not to fly basically until you’ve seen who you need to see which would invalidate any insurance

Call your travel insurance company. Last time I called mine, they said if I was waiting for investigations for a medical condition they wouldn’t cover me for that or any other previously declared conditions. It’s a condition that can be managed but until it’s under control can be unpredictable, I wouldn’t want to be abroad until it was under control.

No.

You might have GCA, in which case no, you can't

You might not have GCA, but with consultations, further tests and a possible diagnosis pending, you'd be flying uninsured, regardless of how much you've spent on insurance

Flying aside, suspected GCA should be seen urgently, NICE guidance specify within 3 days. It would be worth checking with your GP if they have referred via the specific local pathway for suspected GCA.

Your doctor may not have said "you can't fly", but the only reason he would say wait to see what the consultant says, is if he didn't feel he had enough information to know if you could fly or not. If a GP needs specialist in put, Mum's netters aren't going to know!! Don't fly until you have seen your consultant.

This. I'm a GP and I wouldn't want you waiting anywhere near 13 weeks! You should clarify whether you've been referred on an urgent pathway as ?GCA.

How old are you? GCA exceptionally unlikely in under 60s. If it is likely then should be seen very promptly. Have you been started on steroid?

Hi I can’t see anything on my referral about urgency, should I ask my GP?

Yes, I'd contact the surgery. Waiting 13 weeks doesn't sound right!

Thank you for replying, I’ll give them a call Tuesday

again how old are you? If you are under 60 this will( almost certainly) not be GCA.