Guest guest Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 I am new to this group and want to thank everyone for such caring and helpful postings when members have questions. I was diagnosed in August, 2007, and until this month have remained Rai 0. In late September, 2011 I woke up with a 102.5 fever and went to the local emergency room in Wisconsin where we were on vacation. By morning they had brought my temp down but I remained under the weather with low temps for a week and then a lingering chest cold for another 10 days. I usually don't get fevers with chest colds, but I suppose anything is possible given the status of our immune systems. I have an expert hematologist at Mayo in Rochester, MN and he has recently told me that I should not expect to travel to most parts of the world because of the need for good emergency rooms. What are others' experiences with fevers and emergency rooms? Is this something we all end up facing with more regularity as the disease progresses. I am leaving for three weeks in Europe on November 9 and am trying to contain my anxiety about fevers and emergency rooms in strange places. My WBC has remained very stable at about 65000 over the past three years. There may or may not be one enlarged lymph node under my right arm. Other than that my numbers are either normal or stable. After my emergency experience, my doctor did change my staging to Rai I, although I haven't had a chance to ask him why given that nothing has changed with my CBC and lymph nodes. Thanks for any reflections anyone has from their experiences. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 Tom, You do not say exactly where in Europe you are going but they do have excellent care there as well. In Scotland, Ireland, or Britain your emergency room care would most likely be free as well as in many other European countries. To put your mind more at ease there are a few things you can do. Register with the American/Canadian consulate in each country and give them a list of times, locations, and important contacts in case of emergency. Of course leave all the same information with your loved ones at home as well as a copy of your passport and important papers in case they are needed. There are several companies that sell supplemental insurance including emergency evacuation to anywhere in Europe or even back home if needed. Plan ahead and ask hotels or your host what you should do if a medical emergency were to arise. If you are worried about the flight environment you can wear a mask and support hose to help with circulation. I think we are all more likely to regret the opportunities that we let go by than the decision we made to expand our world. I guess it all depends on where you are with your health and immune system but I hope you go and let us all know how it went to benefit from your experience. I was just in Africa in February and had a few night sweats but no different than here in the US. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 Hello Tom, I am a registered nurse and have travelled to New Zealand, Australia, and England without problems, since my CLL diagnosis two and a half years ago. My Ig's are all low, but my personal hygiene standards are pretty good. I wash my hands frequently, carry hand santizer with me and avoid close proximity to people coughing. I have personal experience working in hospitals in New Zealand and England, and would not be concerned receiving treatment in either country. I would not have any CLL- related concerns travelling to central Europe or Australia and requiring treatment there, either. Emergency wards in most developed countries should be adequate to treat most infections. I suggest taking print-outs of your recent blood results, diagnosis and any medications with you, to help hospital personnel get up to speed, if it's required. In my younger days, I back-packed around many third world countries and today would have some concerns regarding hygiene levels in the hostels, cheap hotels and restaurants I frequented then! At major hotel chains in most big third world cities, hygiene standards are probably o.k. Some CLL'ers who post on other blogs have travelled to places like Africa recently without problems, but they likely stayed in good quality, clean facilities. It would be a good idea to have a list of recommended medical facilities in the cities you are going to, to have on hand in case they're needed. There are very good hospitals, even in places like India - you just need to know where they are. Traveller's insurance may be an issue though! That may be your biggest problem! Good luck, Kay W & W, Stage 1, WBC 55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 My husband and I traveled extensively throughout Europe for ten years making one to two trips a year during my CLL years. I always carried a broad spectrum antibiotic with me (never needed it) I was careful about drinking water where there were warnings. I have become almost a neurotic handwasher. (took extra vitimine C) not sure that was necessary. With low energy levels I found the cross country bus trips too strenuous. I found that cruise ships were better tolerated. When I was tired I didn't have to leave my room or the ship. - could stay in and rest all day. We never went into any of the third world counties. YuVonna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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