[dwthancockParticipant]

Hi all

I’m interested to hear some experiences with travel following the stem cell transplant.

I’m 40 years old, diagnosed with multiple myeloma in Aug 23 and due to have my stem cell transplant in May 24. I live in London but am from Northern Ireland. Is it realistic that I would be able to fly to Northern Ireland for a holiday in July/Aug following the transplant?

Appreciate that foreign travel is generally not advised for 6 months at least but this is a short trip to another part of the UK although will involve taking a flight.

Any insights gratefully appreciated

Thanks

Darren

[gcoulterParticipant]

Hi Darren

It’s Graham here from Norn Iron. You’ve certainly got youth on your side which will help your recovery. My wife was 50 when she had hers in Sept 2016, in December she felt well enough to attend a wedding and a month later we flew to Tenerife.

Everyone recovers differently but 100 days is often quoted as being the time to allow your immune system to build up again.
In relation to flying “home” it wasn’t necessarily the flight we were concerned about, but the airports themselves, security queues, boarding, using the loos etc. When we flew we would have used fast track security, dropped off our bags so we didn’t need locker space and enabled us to board last on the plane.
So I would say August is more realistic but it really does vary from person to person.
Good luck with everything.

Graham

[dwthancockParticipant]

Bout ye Graham! Thanks very much. Here’s hoping I can get back for some Harp and Tayto

[briggs-family1974gmail-comParticipant]

Does anyone know if after the 100 days you can travel abroad ? If you are feeling well is it ok to travel before you commence your childhood vaccinations ?

[dahlia55Participant]

I recently decided at short notice that I wanted to consider travelling ( driving ) to a very special big family event in Europe.I was 10 weeks post transplant . I discovered amazingly that even at that stage I would be able to get travel insurance if I was deemed fit to travel by my consultant. My consultant was incredibly helpful and wrote me a letter for the insurance company taking everything into account – destination , proximity to hospital ,healthcare system in the country – and said I would be fit to travel. So I would discuss with your doctor. I think you would be likely to be travelling before revaccination as they need to be done between 3-6 months post SCT ?

[briggs-family1974gmail-comParticipant]

Thankyou will find out what they say.

[gcoulterParticipant]

We headed off to Tenerife about 4 months after SCT. Discussed with team beforehand and they were fine as neutrophils, bloods etc were back to normal.

[grandmatParticipant]

Hi my husband is in a clinical trial for MM and we’ve been turned down for holiday insurance even though we have had a letter from our consultant to say he is in remission and says he’s fit to travel, knocked us back a bit to be honest

[gcoulterParticipant]

There are a number of specialist insurers who should cover you. The Myeloma website has a fact sheet with some insurers on it.

Travel insurance and myeloma Infosheet

[Author]

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