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Original poster

If you're CEV are you going abroad or would you go abroad this year?

40 replies

Tufty383 · 02/02/2022 14:29

Just wondering if it's considered madness. We've got a holiday booked to Croatia in May. I wasn't CEV when we booked it but am now on immunotherapy for IBD. I dont know if we should push it back another year due to covid and my new treatment.

OP posts:
DottyHarmer · 02/02/2022 15:02

Never mind the cev, I wouldn’t go anywhere with ibd! The very thought brings me out in a cold sweat thinking of desperate loo hunting….

Original poster
Tufty383 · 02/02/2022 15:29

DottyHarmer how ridiculous, I've had IBD for 25 years, I've travelled the world. You're incredibly ignorant and have made yourself sound rather stupid.

OP posts:
FrugalFrancine · 02/02/2022 15:32

I am not all that cautious about covid, but I don't have any reason to be (except for being a little portly recently, but I'm not obese or anything).

Anyway, I digress, but no, I wouldn't go abroad if I was CEV. Unless it was maybe the trip of a lifetime and couldn't be postponed. But also, despite having travelled a lot in my youth, I'm not that into travelling these days Blush. So I'd probably be just as happy with a really amazing uk holiday

DottyHarmer · 02/02/2022 15:44

Confused Ignorant of ibd? Ha bloody ha ha ha. Undoubtedly it comes in many guises, but I was talking of personal experience.

tiredofthisshit21 · 02/02/2022 15:49

My CEV husband (also with an IBD) went abroad in 2020, 2021 and plans to go this year. Go for it, just be careful. I assume you're jabbed up to the eyeballs and therefore well protected.

CatAlice · 02/02/2022 15:50

I am CEV and I'm toying with the idea of going abroad.
It all depends what makes you CEV I suppose.
I was immunosuppressed at the time I had my vaccines which is the big risk, meaning vaccines less effective. I've also had covid and was pretty ill.
I last went abroad early 2019 then got breast cancer. We would normally go abroad twice a year.
I have a few health issues and even pre-covid I limited my travel abroad to countries where I felt there was easy access to good healthcare so I wouldn't go to Greece for example (having once had the pleasure of a Greek hospital).
Knowing there is a more than average chance of needing a doctor or hospital is different from unpredictable emergencies.
Plus travel insurance costs me as much as the holiday.

I'm looking at Spain or possibly Portugal. Don't know what healthcare is like in Croatia though I've been many times years ago.

CatAlice · 02/02/2022 15:51

I assume you're jabbed up to the eyeballs and therefore well protected. For many CEV the vaccines don't give as much protection, hence the vulnerability.

HGC2 · 02/02/2022 15:53

I'm working up to it but am very nervous, also on immunosuppressant medication for IBD however have had covid so am more nervous about rules changing and us being stranded etc rather than catching it myself

treeflowercat · 02/02/2022 15:53

@CatAlice

I assume you're jabbed up to the eyeballs and therefore well protected. For many CEV the vaccines don't give as much protection, hence the vulnerability.
It depends on the reason for being CEV... Not everyone who's CEV is severely immune-compromised.
tiredofthisshit21 · 02/02/2022 15:55

@CatAlice I'm not trying to downplay your concerns but said CEV husband has just recovered from Covid and it was nothing more than a bad cold for him. I realise he's just one person and not everyone will be as lucky, but....

tiredofthisshit21 · 02/02/2022 15:55

PS he is immuno-surpressed.

Original poster
Tufty383 · 02/02/2022 15:55

DottyHarmer so you don't go anywhere?

OP posts:
DottyHarmer · 02/02/2022 15:56

Hardly.

Original poster
Tufty383 · 02/02/2022 15:56

Thanks for all the replies. It's a tricky one isn't it! I think we'll probably push it back another 12 months.

OP posts:
8MinutesToSunrise · 02/02/2022 16:00

I've booked to go away to the Balaerics in May. Was CEV in the beginning but only CV now as in remission (IBD on antiTNF). Also got covid at Xmas, not feeling 100% better but it's made me feel a bit braver and I'm desperate for sunshine and a break from cooking and cleaning!

countrylady2 · 02/02/2022 16:03

@Tufty383 I think you have made the right decision. I'm just getting over being ill and would not like to be ill abroad. Hopefully in 12 months things will be a lot better.

Blossom64265 · 02/02/2022 16:04

There are different levels and presentations even within CEV. You probably got some Covid antibodies from your vaccinations. If I were in your position, I would likely get out there and enjoy my life. That is entirely different from someone who has absolutely no protection despite multiple vaccinations and is high risk of complications if they are exposed to Covid.

Our Household with a CEV member doesnt go anywhere without wearing an n95 mask. That means no restaurants. Traveling abroad is not remotely an option.

DorisJoy · 02/02/2022 16:04

CEV here and immune suppressed. I went last November. I took FFP2 masks and avoided taking them off even to eat on the flight and used speedy boarding. Felt a nervous wreck on the flights but after 18 months of shielding hokey cokey it was worth it. Have booked for this year.

Original poster
Tufty383 · 02/02/2022 16:07

8MinutesToSunrise I think if I'd already had covid and knew how poorly I'd be with it I'd probably feel a bit more confident about going which I know is a bit silly as you could be worse if you catch it again. Could really do with 2 weeks lying on the beach in the sun though!

DottyHarmer sorry to read that, you should be mindful of what you say though. I could have been newly diagnosed, if 16 year old me had read that I shouldn't be going anywhere with IBD i would have jumped off the nearest bridge and I dont say that flippantly! Wishing you health.

OP posts:
Fallagain · 02/02/2022 16:08

Did you have your vaccines pre your immunosuppressants? Your IBD nurse should be able to give you an idea from your blood work how much much your immune system has been affected.

DH did go abroad last year. We went on an AL package holiday - very good masks for the plane, taxi transfer and avoided outdoor places. He is now off his meds as his IBD is classed as in long term regression.

Original poster
Tufty383 · 02/02/2022 16:09

DorisJoy good for you!! Sounds like it was well worth it. That's always been my attitude but covids done a number on my confidence. Nice to hear a success story! Happy holidays.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tufty383 · 02/02/2022 16:11

Fallagain yes I had my 1st two pre treatment and I've had 2 boosters since. That's a good idea to ask about my blood work, thankyou.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tufty383 · 02/02/2022 16:12

countrylady2 that's what I'm thinking, covid should be better again in 12 months and I'll be more settled on my treatment, its still new to me at the minute.

OP posts:
ABCDEFyou · 02/02/2022 16:13

@Tufty383

DottyHarmer so you don't go anywhere?
Not sure why you find that hard to believe. My own mother has shit herself in public about six times now, she stopped going out and about as much. Even a meal out in the pub two mins from him I can see how incredibly anxious she is so we don't pressure her to attend parties and gathering she'll be scared of shitting herself at. My mother has a caravan and they'll go away for the odd night or two in that but even then they stay on the campsite during the day.

Other people manage fine and travel all other, other people find the anxiety of not being near a outweighs any enjoyment. Does not make them ignorant at all.

TurkeyRoastvBubbleandSqueek · 02/02/2022 16:13

@Tufty383

DottyHarmer how ridiculous, I've had IBD for 25 years, I've travelled the world. You're incredibly ignorant and have made yourself sound rather stupid.
Sorry *@Tufty383 I came on to give you my answer as I am CEV, but after reading your response to @DottyHarmer* I don't think I will bother. So far I have only seen one person who is incredibly ignorant and who has made themselves sound rather stupid on this thread and it wasn't DottyHarmer.

From your OP Tufty it sounded like you had only just been diagnosed with IBD, and were put straight onto immunotherapy, through your very rude update we now know that you have actually had IBD for 25 years (I have had it for about the same length of time). However Dotty may have thought the same as me (so I guess that I am ignorant and stupid as well), that if you have been recently put onto immunotherapy then I assumed that your IBD symptoms must be particularly bad, and I imagine that anyone with any form of bowel disease would be very worried about how their bowel disease might present itself while they were away, particularly if it wasn't going to be so easy to stick with your usual diet - if you have one.

But apart from all that, your rudeness to someone who was just trying to be helpful astounded me, and I think that Dotty's take on the situation sounded much more sensible to yours, when we only had the information that you gave us in your OP.