Holidays abroad save lives!

[Albacore]

My first trip to France with my new campervan was much anticipated. My mother was coming with me but her attack of 'gout' that started 6-8 weeks ago, without improvement despite many trips to surgery (not being able to see gp I might add) and hospital, put me in 2 minds whether we should go...

Her opinion was that she may as well be in pain in the van as the house, and I figured it was less far for her to walk! So on April 27th we took the night ferry to roscoff. Three days in, her mobility got really bad and she was in a lot of pain. I felt really guilty because she wanted me to have a holiday, especially after being told during my last half hour at work on the day we sailed that I'm being made redundant after 16 years of service!

She put on a very brave 81 year old face, but was clearly very unwell, almost like shutting down. I decided to see a French doc seeing as we couldnt get to an actual gp in England, hoping they could give her steroids which was the only thing that previously improved her gout at home. The campsite emergency doc was not available until the next day, so, as she seemed a bit confused (I suspected a water infection as well as gout issue, having to pee every hour and of course needing assistance) we followed his advice and travelled south to Dax hospital.

She was seen within a hour, I was called in at hour 2, told me it wasn't gout. We had doc, er consultant and vascular specialist all looking over her and concluding she had a large femeral arterial clot which was stopping blood flow to the foot causing necrosis. The cramps she had repeatedly complained about to docs in uk and was ignored was a very relevant symptom, but not for 'gout'. The French docs were touching multiple places on her legs making a comparison of her pulse at key points, enabling them to reach their conclusion (which ct confirmed). Uk docs never once touched her foot or legs. The vascular specialist got annoyed that I kept referring to gout, but at home that's what we were told repeatedly it was.. he said its NOT gout, its serious, she could lose her leg!

Long story short (sorry) the ct confirmed their suspicions and yesterday she had a stent fitted to see if its enough to save her leg. She has tingling in toes which is a good sign.. we'll see how the next few days go. Fingers (and toes) crossed she doesn't need to have her lower leg amputated, god knows how we'll fare with that!

So moral of story is, if you are being given the run around by the NHS at home (hate to say it but it's true) then come on holiday to France (or anywhere outside UK probably) to get decent and swift treatment.
Holiday plans completely out of window, but at least moho makes that level of flexibility possible.
My decision to come away despite her pain was a very difficult one but could hopefully have saved her leg, or indeed her life. Thank you Dax hospital ❤

The other issue we have is the insurance may not cover it as it didn't start after the trip commenced, even though it was never diagnosed previously. Oh well, it's only money, I'm just glad shes still here to learn some more French... They don't speak much English and my 38year old A level French is rusty. Plus they don't even attempt to speak slowly and loudly like we do

 

[Grianan]

Sounds as if that trip was meant to be. You have a lot on your plate - take care. I hope your mum recovers.

 

[Phill D]

Hope your mum recovers well and quickly.
Take care

 

[ManTheVan]

Insurance: I reckon she travelled with an undiagnosed illness. You can’t be expected to know, in advance, that “a bit of gout” would turn out to be a femoral clot.

Hope recovery goes well. The French medical services are amazing.

 

[ChrisL]

Does your Mum not have a GHIC card? If she does you may not have to pay for treatment. If she hasn't got one you can ring the NHS overseas healthcare services on +44 191 218 1999 during office hours Monday to Friday and they may be able to help get a card to you.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Albacore]

Does your Mum not have a GHIC card? If she does you may not have to pay for treatment. If she hasn't got one you can ring the NHS overseas healthcare services on +44 191 218 1999 during office hours Monday to Friday and they may be able to help get a card to you.

Yes she does but I understand it only covers 80% of cost and basic only? Not sure

Sounds as if that trip was meant to be. You have a lot on your plate - take care. I hope your mum recovers.

Thank you

 

[Albacore]

Insurance: I reckon she travelled with an undiagnosed illness. You can’t be expected to know, in advance, that “a bit of gout” would turn out to be a femoral clot.

Hope recovery goes well. The French medical services are amazing.

Those are my thoughts exactly. I'm hoping that having red pennant involved might assist us with the complaint I will make on our return. To say I am angry with our gp surgery is an understatement. They are amazing over here. The last time we were in France in 2018 she broke her wrist 3 days before we were sailing back. She had a plate fitted under local anesthetic... Everyone who sees images of it since are amazed at the work and ask who did it!

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Wow, what an experience, trust your mum recovers OK and it was the best thing you did to go on holiday with her.
All the best.

 

[ChrisL]

Yes she does but I understand it only covers 80% of cost and basic only? Not sure

You may be able to claim the 20% back from the NHS.

Claim a refund for treatment costs | NHSBSA

How to claim a refund for treatment you paid for while visiting another country

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk

 

[Jolak]

I totally agree with Albacore's comments re French medical services. On my trip to France a few weeks ago, I almost keeled over during a walk. A very helpful French couple phoned the paramedics who did a few checks and blue lighted me to hospital in Vannes. Despite language difficulties, young French doctor diagnosed that taking my three blood pressure tablets at once, then using my GTN spray when I started to struggle, caused my blood pressure to drop to zilch and blood wasn't getting to my brain, causing me to almost faint for the first time in my life. I didn't have to stay in overnight and am now wiser having received advice from them. No charges, only 80 euros for taxi from the hospital to the campsite. Back in UK where I've given up waiting for a hip replacement and on waiting list to get a hernia sorted. My wife walks around with leg at strange angle from knee joint and just gets told physio is wonderful and persevere with that. I just hope I'm born in France for my next life because it's not going to get better here in my lifetime. (still enjoyed my holiday!)

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[gus-lopez]

Insurance: I reckon she travelled with an undiagnosed illness. You can’t be expected to know, in advance, that “a bit of gout” would turn out to be a femoral clot.

Hope recovery goes well. The French medical services are amazing.

This ^^^^^^^^^^

Yes she does but I understand it only covers 80% of cost and basic only? Not sure

You should be able to reclaim from the travel insurance.

 

[Lenny HB]

Those are my thoughts exactly. I'm hoping that having red pennant involved might assist us with the complaint I will make on our return. To say I am angry with our gp surgery is an understatement. They are amazing over here. The last time we were in France in 2018 she broke her wrist 3 days before we were sailing back. She had a plate fitted under local anesthetic... Everyone who sees images of it since are amazed at the work and ask who did it!

Sounds like she has had a lucky escape and hopefully will make a full recovery.
I had a ruptured gallbladder in Germany in 2020 during Covid, had excellent treatment spent a week in a German hospital, I may not have still been here if I had been in the UK.

 

[PP Bear]

Sending hugs to your mum and hopefully a speedy recovery

Well done on all your efforts, as pushing for a froggy doc has already made all the difference

 

[jumartoo]

That sounds like it was meant to be.

I hope your mum makes a good recovery and that you get your money refunded.

If not, it was still meant to be. Mum is still with you to enjoy her life.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Just being abroad can improve your health, so I recommend it without hesitation.

If you need them the French docs are excellent.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[steve69]

For a long time now I have believed that the NHS are genuinely not interested in you if you are over 70 years old. You had your life and a many younger people we need to attend to more importantly than you.
i know there will be many nhs workers will be horrified at that comment but i am sorry a lot of evidence points to that attitude.

 

[ianrm]

When was the last time she visited the GP and was told it was Gout?
I would just tell the insurance that she was fine when she left the UK. She wouldn’t have gone on holiday if she was in pain.
She had strange feelings in her leg once away and it was diagnosed as the clot.

 

[Phill D]

If the gout condition is accepted as a notified condition on the medical part of the policy and your mum was not awaiting further test / hospital assessment then I would think that all will be well.

I hope that it can get sorted out amicably for you.

 

[Albacore]

When was the last time she visited the GP and was told it was Gout?
I would just tell the insurance that she was fine when she left the UK. She wouldn’t have gone on holiday if she was in pain.
She had strange feelings in her leg once away and it was diagnosed as the clot.

Oh multiple times in the weeks leading up to our trip last one was probably 6 days before we left. They even supplied tons of codeine and allopurinol so that she wouldn't run out whilst we were away. She had a xray on her foot a week before we left looking for arthritis but still haven't had results.

 

[gus-lopez]

How is your mum getting on? Hope her leg is improving.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Albacore]

How is your mum getting on? Hope her leg is improving.

The stent is working thank you so the thrombosis is sorted, however she needs to stay in for another 3 weeks as they need to monitor her toes with regards the gangrene/necrosis for a while so they can minimise the amount of amputation required. She will definitely lose some toes, maybe even the foot as its in her heel too. Good job I don't have a job to rush back to! The surgeon is lovely but we have a bit of a problem with a doc who is concerned about us paying. He doesn't believe the ehic/GHIC is valid anymore as we are not in Europe and wants lots of proof in writing. I don't suppose in a small town like Dax they get to see many Brits with expensive stays (€2k per day) so he's nervous. Red pennant are being very good and helping to overcome his fears. The underwriters are saying it should all be covered because it was a misdiagnosis, it helps also that the surgeon is the vascular specialist we saw in A&E so we have continuity of care and his original 'it's not gout' diagnosis. RP said the underwriters will probably go after our GPs to recover costs anyway so not to worry. I guess we need to change gp when we get home!

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Wow its still very serious for your mum then. Have you contacted your GP who diagnosed "gout". If the French hospital charges, you want to make sure its covered by the uk NHS . A case for a claim to at least cover the costs.

 

[Albacore]

Wow its still very serious for your mum then. Have you contacted your GP who diagnosed "gout". If the French hospital charges, you want to make sure its covered by the uk NHS . A case for a claim to at least cover the costs.

Yes I had a bit of a do with them about them providing notes to the hospital. We'll likely put in a negligance claim to them on our return and I suspect the insurers will attempt to recover their costs too. They are appalling, I only complained to them a week or so before we left about not being about to see an actual gp... They always put patients in front of their primary care team ie. nurses and paramedics. I don't dispute their skills but they go trotting off to the gp for advice... The gps should see bloody patients. All the receptionist could say when I complained was 'we have a locum in tomorrow, try calling at 8.30 for one of the 6 appointments' yes, right, along with the other 25000 patients hoping to see a doc. I give up! I hope red pennants insurers go after them with big guns.