Panic - Will we be allowed to fly?

[joolz1910]

Also, I really think you should get your DD to the doctor tomorrow - if she is allowed to fly (if they are all scabbed), you will most probably need a letter from him saying so, otherwise the airline could refuse to let you board.

Please keep us updated - as someone whose youngest hasn't had it yet, this is a real fear for me.

Me too! My 4 year old and my 1 year old have not had it, and it's doing the rounds by us. We were at a friend's house for a party today and one of the little girls was unwell, high temperature, sniffy etc. I just kept thinking, 'Oh no, not now!' I've spent 3 years trying to get my middle DD to catch it - it is just sod's law that she will get it now.

 

[NULAH]

I hope you will be allowed to fly. I found that some lavender oil in their bath helped keep my childrens spots clean and eased the itching.

 

[angel girl]

If you look on the Health Protection Agency the current advice is that the contagious period lasts until the fifth day after the first spot appears, regardless of whether or not they are all scabbed over (though I wouldn't blame anyone who wouldn't want to take a chance if spots not scabbed over by this point!). Useful to know though as your doctor should be able to issue a 'fit to fly' certificate based on this information.

Good luck and let us know how you get on

 

[scampbunny]

hiya
i think its all down to the airline & ur dr - as everyone is sayin diff things!!
i was always told ur contagious til last spot is scabbed, and it was certainly true for my ds as they wudnt have him back to school til all spots were scabbed.....
fingers crossed for u & hope dd isnt feelin too bad - keep us posted!

 

[baby_belle]

Hi

My daughter caught Chickenpox back in May, 2 days before we were due to fly with Air France. Once the doctor confirmed chickenpox we contacted Thomas Cook who in turn contacted Air France and they confirmed that we would not be allowed to fly.

As it was Air France who refused permission for us to fly we were able to claim a full refund through our travel insurance. Although it was heartbreaking at the time to miss our holiday I don't think my daughter would have had a very happy holiday if we had kept quiet and just gone anyway. We just re-booked for a few months later.

Our situation was slightly different as she had just come out in the spots but hope you get a definite answer and find out one way or another. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[joolz1910]

Hi

My daughter caught Chickenpox back in May, 2 days before we were due to fly with Air France. Once the doctor confirmed chickenpox we contacted Thomas Cook who in turn contacted Air France and they confirmed that we would not be allowed to fly.

As it was Air France who refused permission for us to fly we were able to claim a full refund through our travel insurance. Although it was heartbreaking at the time to miss our holiday I don't think my daughter would have had a very happy holiday if we had kept quiet and just gone anyway. We just re-booked for a few months later.

Our situation was slightly different as she had just come out in the spots but hope you get a definite answer and find out one way or another. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

That must have been so disappointing for you. You make a good point though, how would your DD have enjoyed herself? It's such an awful dilemma because some kids get a few spots and recover quickly, while others feel rotten and are covered head to toe.

 

[karenmoloney]

Hope you get everything sorted out to fly & that your daughter gets better quickly. Can't offer any advice on the chickenpox as neither of mine have had it yet.

 

[PJackson]

What a nightmare for you. I hope your Doc thinks she will be OK to fly and issues a note - I'd definately have to have one if it were me just in case.

I'm sure no-one would think of taking a child on a plane who is clearly contagious. Not only dangerous to pregnant women (I *think* it's only those women who have never had it themselves though otherwise their immunity protects the baby), but it's highly dangerous to others with compromised immunity - i.e. recovering cancer patients and the like. It can be incredibly dangerous for them.

I really hope you get it sorted out and your DD is feeling well enough to go too. Like someone else says I've heard bicarb in the bath works wonder (as does lavender oil and gel stuff - great if you put the latter in the fridge first to cool it?)....

Let us know how you get on.

 

[cookie334]

Thank you everyone for all your responses.

I've been having a good think about it today. The problem I'm having is that it's still a holiday here in Scotland tomorrow, so our doctors is still shut and will not re-open until Monday - the day after we're supposed to leave.

I've looked through my insurance though and that definitely covers it, but will also need a doctors note, so either way, I need a doctors note.

I'm going to phone NHS 24 tomorrow and see what they have to say, hopefully I'll be able to see an on-call doctor at the hospital on Saturday and they can give me a note either way, so either we'll get to go or we'll get our money back.

I've been trying the Bicarb of soda baths - thanks to all that suggested them. Will pop lavender oil in her bath tomorrow too as I didn't think of that but have some in the fridge anyway.

I wouldn't dream of taking her on the flight if there was any chance she could pass it on to anyone anyway, but I think there's a good chance she wont be contagious by then. Her face is absolutely covered, but a good few of them have scabbed already and we were told by the school just before they broke up that they are contagious before the spots appear and up until 5 days after the last spots have appeared.

I guess it's just a bit of a waiting game now. I'll have to phone the insurance company tomorrow as well and let them know what's going on, but I don't suppose we'll know if we're going or not until Saturday if we get to see a doctor.

Thanks again everyone, all your help and feedback is much appreciated. I'll keep you all posted.

 

[ema74]

Good Luck with it all!!!

Neither of mine have had it, Mia missed it so many times, even when everyone in her class had them so I'm dreading it!

Hope you'll get to go to DLRP!

 

[cookie334]

Good Luck with it all!!!

Neither of mine have had it, Mia missed it so many times, even when everyone in her class had them so I'm dreading it!

Hope you'll get to go to DLRP!

Any other time I would've been pleased, as apparantly it's better to have it younger than older (I'm not sure how true this is as DD is 15 months and absoltuely covered), but it's just flippin typical that it's right before we are due to go

 

[jillrobinson]

Will keep my fingers crossed for you that you are able to get a doctors note, there must be an emergency gp somewhere who could do it for you

 

[poppyolivia]

I really hope it works out for you but I think since it only appeared yesterday (is that right?) its cutting it fine. Fingers are crossed for you! Even when she is scabbed over you WILL get people staring, happened with my wee man, I felt like screaming at them!

Again good luck! xxx

 

[ema74]

Any other time I would've been pleased, as apparantly it's better to have it younger than older (I'm not sure how true this is as DD is 15 months and absoltuely covered), but it's just flippin typical that it's right before we are due to go

Yes, it's a lot easier to have it younger as I had measels when I was 22 - I thought I was going to die

 

[tennisfan]

Isn't your GP linked to an emergency/out of hours Doctors?

We have something like this where we live, so if you need to see a Dr out of hours we phone this place for an appointment. Our GP hates people doing this but he refuses to do house calls during normal surgery hours let alone out of hours.

Hope you get it sorted one way or another

 

[daisybeetlebug]

Im sure our Doctors advised us it is 3 days after the last spot has crusted over it is not contgaious?
It normally takes 2-4 days for all the spots to come out Im afraid so If your little girl started coming out in spots yesterday then I would say your child will probably still be contagious for flying.

This happened to us last Feb when I was due to fly for my friends wedding-my little one broke out 2 days before we were due to fly and we weren't allowed to fly -I was heartbroken but to be fair it was for the best.

I used to work in travel and Airlines are very strict about the Chicken pox -it can actually be very serious-If there are any pregnant ladies travelling on your flight it can have serious consequences for their baby. (also any elderly people travelling)

I know it may be tempting to just hide her in hat and scarf but beside other peoples health how is your dd feeling? If she is slightly unwell or has a temp with her chicken pox then the last thing you need to do for her is wrap her up -plus she will be itchy and that won't help.

Sorry this has happened -hope you can manage to get someone at G meds or similar to have a look at her.

We flew with BA and they luckily were happy to let us use our flights again due to the situation -Would your Insurance cover your hotel stay?

Good luck.

 

[cookie334]

Hey everyone

Thanks again for all the messages. I'm having a total nightmare of a time at the moment. I've phoned NHS24 - we have to do this to get put in touch with our out of hours doctor, there is no direct way to contact them - and they have pretty much told me that there's no way I'll get a doctors note. Apparantly the doctor wouldn't write a note anyway, but also because it's not deemed a medical emergency.

I'm totally stuck on what to do. I phoned the airline who have said that she wont get to travel without a doctors note. I've read my insurance documents which state that to claim the money back I need to have a doctors note to say she's not fit to travel

Looks like we could lose all the money and have no holiday . I'm waiting to hear back from NHS24 again, but I can't see them changing their minds.

Any more suggestions anyone? Considering a trip to A&E to see if they can help me

 

[joolz1910]

Hey everyone

Thanks again for all the messages. I'm having a total nightmare of a time at the moment. I've phoned NHS24 - we have to do this to get put in touch with our out of hours doctor, there is no direct way to contact them - and they have pretty much told me that there's no way I'll get a doctors note. Apparantly the doctor wouldn't write a note anyway, but also because it's not deemed a medical emergency.

I'm totally stuck on what to do. I phoned the airline who have said that she wont get to travel without a doctors note. I've read my insurance documents which state that to claim the money back I need to have a doctors note to say she's not fit to travel

Looks like we could lose all the money and have no holiday . I'm waiting to hear back from NHS24 again, but I can't see them changing their minds.

Any more suggestions anyone? Considering a trip to A&E to see if they can help me

You are in Catch 22 situation. You can't get an appointment with your GP because it is a holiday and they won't come to see you because it's not an emergency

Can you elect not to travel and then get a doctor's note in retrospect on Monday? I think it is full of loopholes that would be exploited by your insurance company. I would go to A&E and explain the situation. I've PM'd you.

 

[karenmoloney]

That's awful that you can't get in contact with a doctor when you need one. I think the NHS in N. Ireland is different. I rang the emergency number yesterday (New Year's Day) & was phoned straight back by a doctor who prescribed me antibiotics over the phone & DH went to pick them up for me. (I did apologise for not being an emergency but that I was going away & needed to get better quickly). I had to use them one night about a week before Christmas too for one of my kids & was given an appointment within the hour, seen very quickly & sent home with the required antibiotics. If I were you I would go to A&E. At least someone would have to see you there and would feel like you were doing something instead of sitting in the house. Good luck.

 

[cookie334]

That's awful that you can't get in contact with a doctor when you need one. I think the NHS in N. Ireland is different. I rang the emergency number yesterday (New Year's Day) & was phoned straight back by a doctor who prescribed me antibiotics over the phone & DH went to pick them up for me. (I did apologise for not being an emergency but that I was going away & needed to get better quickly). I had to use them one night about a week before Christmas too for one of my kids & was given an appointment within the hour, seen very quickly & sent home with the required antibiotics. If I were you I would go to A&E. At least someone would have to see you there and would feel like you were doing something instead of sitting in the house. Good luck.

Usually they're really good here too. I've never had any problems with being seen before, especially when it's with the kids, but I think because it's not actually anything medical and I just need a note, they're frowning upon it when they could be seeing to someone that actually needs a doctor. Screw the fact I'm going to lose £1500 and my kids wont get their holiday - that's not important to them. I can kind of understand, but it just totally sucks for us. DD's just gone down for a nap, but if they haven't phoned me back by the time she wakes up I'm going to take her to A&E. Although even though that will guarantee we get seen by a doctor, it wont necessarily guarantee that we get the doctors note