Medical Question

[journey2002]

My husband and I are ecstatic about our upcoming cruise in June...literally counting down the days.

 

However, I do have a question. I have fairly severe asthma. It is well-controlled and my specialist will be sending me with lots of goodies (spare meds) before we go, but I am curious about what can happen if I have a severe enough attack. Is RCCI's med facility fully equpipped? If it becomes necessary to seek additional health treatment, will they evacuate you from the ship?

 

Any information here will be helpful.

 

Thanks!

[Toto2Kansas]

Not sure about he medical facilites on board in reguards to your specific medical conditon, but I have witnessed people being taking from the ship by Helicopter when it is life threatening.

Just make sure to have purchased your insurance within the time frame to cover pre-existing conditions as a medivac can run in the tens of thousands of dollars if it should be needed.

 

I think it I were in that serious of shape that I would contact the cruise line myself to see if they can handle a problem if it should arrise. I know that the doctors office is only open a few hours each day and even an emergency can find it hard to locate the doctor and have them there when needed.

[journey2002]

Just make sure to have purchased your insurance within the time frame to cover pre-existing conditions as a medivac can run in the tens of thousands of dollars if it should be needed.

 

 

Which insurance are you referring to? Cruise-care insurance?

[normaxs]

There have been mixed comments about the facilities on board. I've only used them once and it was very good. As always, it depends on the problem and the expertise of the physician. You might ask your doctor to write out orders for an acute attack for them to follow. They should have the meds on board. They do have oxygen if needed.

If it very bad they will evacuate you and I hope you have purchased insurance that covers pre-existing conditions, it can be very costly and some health insurance won't cover if you are out of the country.

Good luck, you should be fine.

Have a great cruise.

Norma

[Toto2Kansas]

As for Insurance. If you purchased it seperately and not from the cruise line, there is a time limit on the time you purchase after you booked your cruise so that it covers pre-existing conditions. IF you purchased from the cruise line, make sure it also covers those conditions you had before purchasing.

[kirky]

I am also asthmatic. Do you have you own small portable nubulizer (sp) for ventolin. I have the small machine which I take when we travel so that I can give myself a ventolin treatment if required. I just go off the NOS last Saturday and was surprised at how good my asthma was on the ship. It must be the clean sea air. I am sure that the medical facilities are equipped for asthma attacks as it is a common ailment. Good luck

[fa]

I was on a Christmas cruise on the Grandeur of the Seas. My father (82) took very ill the evening before we ended our cruise. He had a high fever and diffculty breathing. Since we were faced with a long flight home the next day we decided to take him to the medical facility. The doctor arrived within half an hour. The nurse had already taken blood samples. He said that he would like to keep him for observation for an hour, he also was going to give him antibiotics intravenously. We left him and then they called us in aprox an hour to take him back to the cabin. That cost $900. The doctor wanted to see him in the morning before we disembarked. Dad still had a fever and difficulty breathing in the morning. They wanted him admitted to the local hospital. The morning bill was $800. To tell you the truth, I think they have a great facility and can probably handle an emergency if necessary, but I feel their main objective is to make money. The bill was outrageous...

 

I missed my flight home and remained in New Orleans with my Dad. After he had some more tests at the hosptial, it was determined he had a cold and a touch of bronchitis. He was prescribed some antibiotic and discharged in a few hours.

 

Bottomline...get insurance

[dc-snoopy]

Call RCI during US East Coast business hours (roughly 9-6 M-F) and ask for he Special Needs department. Let them know the situation and find out if the cruise ship is prepared for an asthmatic attack.

 

One issue we faced is that DW has severe allergies, amongst them cigarette smoke which in sufficient doses can cause her respiratory problems. We were worried since *ALL* cabins on all ships allow smoking in the cabins. If the previous residents were smokers, the smoke would be in the carpet, the curtains, the bedspread, etc. They told us that we should visit the room on arrival and should the room smell of smoke, or she have a problem, that we should contact Guest Relations and request that a special cleaning be done of the room to remove smoke. This would include full surface cleaning and deluxe ionizing to ensure that all smoke particles were removed from the room. We were fortunate that the room seemed fine when we found it and we doubted that smokers had inhabited the room prior to us and we didn't have to request the special cleaning.

[Boo's Mom]

Journey2002...

 

Both of my children are asthmatic. We always bring our travel nebulizer with us.

 

I have only had one experience with the ship's hospital. This was a Carnival Ship. My friend and I wandered down to the hospital...just to see it, etc..

 

It was a lot bigger that I thought it would be. The Dr. was there...and we visited with him quite a while about sea-sickness.

 

I would not worry. They are going to be equipped to handle most things.

[Alphawave]

One of my friends is a chronic cruiser, and has chronic asthma, she is also, like myself, a nurse. First, she has never had an episode while cruising. She always takes med, nebulizer and of course an Epi-pen. The ships do have oxygen if needed, don't worry.

One hint from my friend, if smoke bothers you, stay clear of the casino and the past midnight lounge entertainment.

 

Hope that helps!

[nbean98]

I am a respiratory therapist and the advice I would give you is this. Make sure you stick to your asthma plan. Take your rescue inhaler with you and your steriod inhaler. If your on Singular make sure you have that as well. The ships have to have nebulizer machines for those who get into respiratory distress. They are all ACLS (Advanced Life Support) certified and have oxygen on board as well. If nothing else they could give you aerosol treatment with oxygen. Have a great time. Stay away from second hand smoke and you should be fine.