Labyrinthitis - advice on travelling please

[katsh]

I've had labyrinthitis for nearly 2 weeks. Initially terrible dizziness and vomiting but now just sleeping a lot and nauseous. I haven't left the house for a few days, so I'm not sure how I'll be in the real world. Taking stugeron and today metoclpramide from the GP. Unfortunately my once in 7 yrs weekend away with my dh is booked for this weekend. We are flying to Rome for 48 hrs, and following a fairly stressful number of years with sick kids we are really in need of it. My GP doesn't think I should go, but I really don't want to cancel having got childcare etc in place and hotels and flights booked. Does anyone have any advice for flying with labyrinthitis please?

If I had travel insurance I really wouldn't go. I have had all sorts of inner ear problems and flying is awful. You'd be taking a chance that you'd get there and you'd be laid up unable to move.
I'd book somewhere nice here instead.

If you really think you want to go then get out of the house go for a walk and see how you feel. It's not just the getting there, it's the car journeys and the walking around. I sympathise- it is rotten and I have had to cancel big events as well due to being totally dizzy and vomitous.

thanks poozlepants. You know that's not what I wanted to hear . We do have insurance but will have to pay a £200 excess. I will try and do some stuff today - I've 3 children at home to look after apart from anything else, and maybe take a decision after that. I guess it feels so unfair, given we've had so many years with significant limitations due to our childrens' health that I really don't want to have to give something else up. However sometimes that's just life isn't it.

You poor thing that's an absolute bummer but its sods law that when you've looked forward to something so much something will happen- flu, snow, volcanic ash.
Have a look at your insurance and leave it until the last minute to cancel. Then if you still feel crap take the £200 hit and book somewhere through laterooms with the rest of the money where you won't stress about flying or throwing up in the Trevi fountain. Away is away whether its 20 miles or 700 miles.

I can really sympathise labrynthitis is awful. I had it a few years ago. If you are feeling horrible after a walk and a car journey or two I wouldn't go. Cancel and wait til you are feeling better.

I went away for the weekend in Jan when I had tonsillitis and I spent the whole weekend in the hotel room vomiting and not able to eat or drink. It's actually worse being sick away from home and I wouldn't even want to think about how the plane will affect you.

I feel so sorry for you. You sound like you really need the break but it won't be a relaxing weekend away if you are nauseous and/ or vomiting

Thanks poozle and lucky. I've just been out to the shops to get some food with the kids and although I feel ok now that I'm home I felt pretty bad walking around shops. I'll not make any decision until the last minute, but it's helpful to start getting my head around the option of cancelling.

thanks Bran. it seems I am in a minority of 1 in still thinking I should go . Just talked to my dh and have told him what the contributors to this thread and the GP have said, and we've decided we'll give it 24 hrs and then cancel if I'm no better.

I have Meniere's disease which is basically labyrinthitis over and over again, endlessly, same symptoms, so I know how absolutely awful this is. Labyrinthitis and similar problems are diseases of the inner ear, whereas problems with flying in planes affects the middle ear. Therefore you can rest assured that the actual flying off on holiday itself won't make things worse.

The symptoms you are suffering usually last for around two weeks or so, so they may clear up on holiday anyway. But as a precaution in case they don't, you can take different medication which will help the dizziness and sickness, which the doctor can prescribe: Stemetil (prochlorperazine) 5mg tablets are the best anti-sickness ones and can be taken up to 3 tablets a day (may make you feel more tired, though not necessarily). If your dizziness goes on for ages and doesn't go away, Serc (betahistine) tablets can help with this. GPs can prescribe these easily and they are drugs which don't cost the GP practice loads so it shouldn't be a problem asking for them. These may make the difference on your holiday.

Labyrinthitis-type conditions can be triggered by stress and over-tiredness (not the only causes though) so if you are in need of a holiday it may be what your body is asking for.

I've had this a couple of times and I don't think I'd want to leave my bed at all, never mind fly.

Journey that's really helpful re distinction between the inner and middle ear complications. I'm feeling much better tonight, but I am always better later in the day so I'll see how things are tomorrow. Rabbits, I've fortunately progressed beyond the being in bed stage so I'm hoping i won't go back there. I know what you mean though - a week ago I couldn't contemplate even getting out of the ladies' loos at work let alone getting home from work so flying would definitely have been off the agenda.

and Journey - I'm sorry that you have this all the time. That must be awful.

Hi katsh how are you feeling now? Did you travel?

Hi Lucky - I went! I felt significantly better Thursday and although still pretty ropey on Friday we decided to chance it. We had a great time. The flying was fine, although I had bought special ear plugs which helped with the changes in cabin pressure. I wasn't great inside lit buildings, so we spent most of our time outside, but as the weather was good that wasn't a problem. I actually woke on Sunday morning without dizziness so I think I am now properly better.

I was going to recommened stemtil as its so good but too late now! Glad you had a good time. I had it for 9 long months.