Pulmonary Oedema - Travel Insurance

[apostropheuse]

I'm just wondering if any of you can advise me about this.

I have pulmonary oedema, for which I take Furosemide daily and that takes care of the breathing problems associated with it. I was very ill with it a couple of years ago, but have improved dramatically and as long as I take the medication it is all under control. I have been back at work fulltime for fifteen months or so and haven't had a day off sick.

I have had every test imaginable for this. I had the x-rays that the doctor ordered due to a chronic cough, which triggered the whole lot of investigations off as it revealed the pulmonary oedema. I've had echocardiograms, cardio-pulmonary function tests, CT scans, VQ scans, blood tests for heart failure, blood tests for kidney disease, liver disease etc. My cholesterol levels are fine, blood pressure is fine with the medication.

Anyway, the results of all of these tests are that I don't actually have a problem with my heart or any major problem with my lungs. I just have this blood pulmonary oedema and the doctors don't know why. The consultant has discharged me to the care of my GP - unless I deteriorate again in which case I can go back to him.

The reason for this epistle is that I am about to travel abroad for the first time since this was discovered I and obviously needed to get travel insurance. I couldn't find anything listed under just the pulmonary oedema in the questions you answer to declare a medical condition. The nearest thing I could see what Idiopathic Oedema, which I believe means unexplained oedema. I ticked that and it then asked about medication and symptoms etc. The symptoms did relate to what I used to have or still have, so I think I'm ok with this description. I have bought the insurance declaring it as idiopathic oedema.

If there's anyone still reading this, and you either have experienced this situation, or know about it, can you please advise me if you think I'm OK with declaring pulmonary oedema with unknown cause as idiopathic oedema?

I'm just a bit neurotic in case I've done the wrong thing!

I just have this blood pulmonary oedema and the doctors don't know why - Not blood, bloody as in it's a bloody pain in the arse!

Can you check with your specialist? Perhaps ring his secretary or send a brief note. Insurance companies are quite tricky about declaring things. I had similar difficulties (allergy related) so technically pnuemonitis but declared it as pneumonia which because it was not an infection got the insurance people confused!

I've just had another look at my policy document, and it does look fine when I see what they've listed as my answers, which are perfectly accurate. When I ticked the idiopathic oedema it did ask about breathing difficulties and if I take medication for that etc. I do now think all is fine but I might phone them in the morning just to make sure.

Thanks for answering!