HAE Travel and Relocation Guide
With Yong Hao Lim running a little late from giving a talk in the Scientific Track, Fiona Wardman briefly stepped in and introduced the next session, which looked in greater detail at the key things to know before traveling or relocating to a new country.
“Make sure you’re prepared. Speak to your physician. Let them know. You can’t talk to too many people about this.”
You can also simplify preparation by using essential apps like HAEi Companion. This app gives you information about the countries you want to visit, with emergency cards in local languages, to advise hospitals about your HAE and what to do.
Yong Hao had joined the session and took the microphone, recognizing that travel can still be impossible for people with HAE. A patient from Malaysia was unable to participate in this Regional Conference due to a lack of treatment for her unpredictable attacks. However, the situation is changing.
Fiona and Yong Hao agreed that research can connect you with local resources, as can contacting your HAEi Regional Patient Advocate. “We can help direct you to the right person,” was Yong Hao’s message.
Returning to HAEi Companion, Yong Hao showed how it lists all the places in a country with knowledgeable HAE physicians, but their clinic or department might not be the right place to go in an emergency. You should prepare and have all your documents (letter from doctor, insurance certificates, etc) in hand and to check what your insurance covers before you depart.
Other tips from Yong Hao on managing HAE when you’re away from home:
- Plan for the worst rather than just hope for the best.
- Educate as many people and agencies as possible. If you’re relocating and have children with HAE, the school may need a lot of education.
- Get the medication you might need in advance, and find out if there are resources to appropriately store treatments (such as constant refrigeration).
- Get your documentation in order before you go. Make sure you have letters explaining your condition and treatment. These letters could be helpful for customs, not just healthcare professionals.
- Use all the support HAEi supplies. Everything is readily available through the website.
You can find, read more about, and download the HAE Travel & Relocation Guide on HAEi’s website.