Travelling with CD

[skikdi]

Travelling is one of my passions and I just wanted to know how it works with Crohns

For example I want to go to Amsterdam in August, but theres a chance that I could flare-up at any moment in time. Hospitalization is a possiblity and it could end up being very expensive if Im not an EU Citizen (which Im not).

OHIP (Ontario Health Thingy) says they cover emergencies but not pre-existing conditions. CD is a pre-existing condition right?

Another option would be to be to buy out-of-country insurance. I guess. Anybody travel with CD before? How long and which precautions did you take?

 

[bwightman]

With Crohn's there's always a chance of a flare-up. Usually, if I'm going to be traveling, I ask my doctor for a course of Prednisone to take with me, just in case. I figure it's better to have it and not need it than to not have it and need it. Usually I consider pred a drug of last resort, but I'd be willing to make an exception if I thought a flare was coming on while traveling (luckily this hasn't happened...yet).

Other than that, I'd say to just make sure that you have enough of whatever meds you're currently on to cover then length of your trip, plus a few days' worth in case of unplanned delays.

Good luck!

 

[xoxava]

oh how i would love to travel! from what ive been told CD is a pre existing condition. when i switched insurance companies i had to fill out this form explaining my condition and if ive ever been hospitalized for it etc. luckily i was able to switch even with the pre existing condition, although i didnt tell them every little detail. haha. i hope you are able to travel and do everything you wish to do. its hard to travel with CD for me, even just a few hours away. i always make sure im able to stop and use the restroom if needed. i hope someday im well even to do some real traveling!
best wishes

 

[skikdi]

Thanks for the comments guys, they do help. Never thought of taking some extra Pred, thats a brilliant idea

 

[Carrie]

It's possible to get travel insurance that covers pre-existing conditions. Yes, it will cost you boatloads more than it would cost a healthy person, but the piece of mind is definitely worth it. And as mentioned before, contacting your GI before you travel to make sure you have back-up whilst away is good, as well as making sure you have a way to actually get a hold of your GI, either via phone or email, is useful as well.

I just went back to America to visit family and friends in May, and was pretty sick most of the time I was there. I had travel insurance should it have come to needing a visit to the ER, but in the interim, had extra steroids to take, and was in contact with my GI via email to get advice from him. I ended up cutting my trip short and coming back a week early, but my GI was able to order all the tests I needed (blood work and x-rays) and gave me some options to get me through until I was able to see him in clinic.