How to go abroad when you have a million minor ailments?

[TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince]

I’ve just returned from a 7 day holiday in Uk. On this holiday l suddenly got plantar fasciitis, and a blocked saliva gland (agony)
I also got a wasp sting which caused my whole arm to swell.

I have lots of back problems that flair up and down. I’m allergic to lots of insect bites and dust. I get bad eczema and have to take tons of different creams with me anywhere. Some of the have flammable signs on them. I also have to lots of eye drops to combat permanently itchy eyes .

When my backs in a flair l ask have lots of painkillers.

So, it it possible to travel abroad with all of this?!! I’m scared something would happen. Dd wants to go abroad, but with my history I’m nervous!!!

Of course you can. Do you world of good. I went to Egypt the week after I finished chemo. Best decision ever.

Go! Just make sure you get travel insurance.

But I’m so scared of something going wrong. Especially my back!

I've had cancer three times, I've got high blood pressure, high cholesterol, COPD, asthma, part of one lung removed and pernicious anaemia

My travel insurance is North of £300. But I go abroad for at least seven weeks a year.

Just go. Life is short. While you've got life, just bloody enjoy it

Swimming in a warm sea will be very good for your back. Moving generally is good for backs.
Pack some antihistamines.
Do foot roll exercise for Plantar Fasciitis.
Feels like excuse.

Get travel insurance and a more positive can do attitude.

Agree with the others. Focus on what you can do, not what’s going against you. Whilst climbing Everest or hiking the Appalachian trail might not be the best choice, many people with far more serious conditions go abroad on holiday all the time. Take a supply of any medication you gave, don’t think about what could go wrong all the time, be positive and you’ll probably find that you enjoy it. People in other countries manage with those conditions and worse. Let your hair down abd enjoy yourself and you won’t even have time to think about all the things that might be “wrong” with you.

OP, do you have a particular type of holiday in mind? Beach holiday? City break? Something else? That might help posters give you more focussed advice because the various issues you mention may be more or less of an issue depending on where you want to go. For example, you mention having a dust allergy. When I've stayed in Mediterranean beach resorts the accommodation has often had all tile floors (with cleaners coming in regularly). That type of accommodation might well suit a dust allergy sufferer better than the average UK home where the floors will typically have carpets.

Re your back, it might be helpful if you give a bit more detail, eg does it often get to the point where you cannot physically sit in a chair at all? Or are you OK sitting provided you can get up and have a walk around every 30 minutes, in which case perhaps taking the Eurostar and travelling by train might suit better than a flight, but obviously the practicality of that depends where you want to go. On flights it's often possible to pay extra to book seats with extra leg room. Would that be helpful for your back?

Re taking medicines abroad, I think it's the case (though perhaps someone who knows more on this than me can confirm) that medicines are authorised on an EU-wide basis and that therefore if a medicine is legal in the UK, it will be legal in other EU member states. If going outside the EU, you would need to take care to check, eg I think medicines containing codeine may be illegal in some parts of the Middle East.

Re travel insurance, you would need to read the insurance company's definition of pre-existing medical conditions carefully, make sure you declare any that apply and get confirmation that the insurance company will cover you. Based on what you've said, it sounds likely to me that you would be able to get cover from somewhere. Some companies specialise in providing cover for people with pre-exisint medical conditions. I can think of examples of people I know who have managed to get cover despite having had serious medical conditions.

Hope this helps!

I used to live and work in hot countries. I found tea tree oil waa the best for a bite. Took tge sting out immediately. Deet in clothes to keep insects away (assuming you aren't allergic to Deet). Fit flops stop me getting PF and I have to do 5 mins of foot stetch and roll exercise every morning like everyone else with PF.
There are usually clean, well-run private hospitals in resorts.
So you are never far from medical help

I have non-minor ailments - asthma.

After a scary holiday where we thought I'd end up in hospital we now plan holidays around what my triggers are and have a quick google before we go about how to find an English speaking doctor and emergency medical help. Every city that attracts lots of tourists will have one as will any resort.

For you I'd say you can pack up all your painkillers, eyedrops,ezcema creams. Work out in advance what suncream suits your ezcema and pack your own soap/shower gels so your aren't set off by using hotel wash stuff (I have to do this and it's annoying but you get used to it).

Wasp sting - you were unlucky, how often do you get stung by a wasp? But if you know you are allergic to insect bites don't choose to go somewhere notorious for mozzies/midges. Most pharmacies in major tourist places will be used to selling to tourists and have someone who speaks English or at least be able to sign at you - we had this when DH got stung by a wasp in Bologna.

Check your painkillers are OK to take abroad - you are going to be fine in Europe but may not be in Egypt or Dubai/Arab states. This may limit your choice.

Sorry I’ve only just come back to this. There has been some really helpful comments.

It may well be an excuse😞but having spent one holiday 3 years ago in agonising back pain, and the following year, dd catching a really nasty ear infection from a swimming pool, you can see why I’m reluctant to part with a lot of cash for going abroad.

But thanks for the help

I have a catalogue of minor ailments from asthma to eczema plus some much more serious ones heart/ lung related. My travel insurance comes with a bank account but I declare everything and it came to £260 for me and £150 for DH. Now I have breast cancer so won't be using the insurance for the foreseeable.

What I do is research hospitals / clinics before I go. I won't travel anywhere without good medical facilities (so unfortunately no more Greek holidays).
All drugs are carried in hand luggage and I take translated copies of my conditions and prescriptions.