24 delay with Thomson WHOLE holiday ruined for medical reasons

dollyxdimple

Bogalot wrote: »

None of which is relevant to your complaint.

Claim your 261 compensation and move on.

OK, thank you.

phatbear

Oddly ive just found i have a phobia of over long rambling posts!

The hotel you are staying at will have access to a doctor so email your doctor and explain the situation and get them to email the dr in cv and he will write you a perscription, happy days.

As others have said claim your eu compensation.

As far as expecting a plane to be able to get you to your destination you do realise mechanical things break right?

dollyxdimple

Bogalot wrote: »

There is a pharmacy in Sal. The hotel also would have been able to get you a doctor if a prescription was needed. Did you ask?

I was in Boa Vista. I went there a few years ago and had an allergic reaction, I couldn't get anti-histamines so one of the reps gave me some of her personal ones. Also, you know, it's not a life threatening condition or anything. Just me being an idiot about flying. I have enough problems getting the pills from my own Dr. LOL

Anyway, I'm sorry to have posted, I didn't mean to offend anyone. I think perhaps I'm letting people wind me up, friends etc, telling me 'that's so out of order/I'd have gone mental if that was me/you need to sue them' ect. Sorry again (

leylandsunaddict

dollyxdimple wrote: »

I am scared of flying. When I say scared, I am terrified. After several goes at hypnosis and taking a Flying Without Fear course with Virgin, the only way I am able to get on a plane is to get Diazepam, which is prescribed by my Dr. Due to the addictive nature of the drug, my Dr will only ever prescribe the exact amount I need to get me through one return flight at a time.

So, on Tue 3 Jan my husband and I were due to fly to Cape Verde. I took my meds, the plane took off, I managed not to have a complete panic attack and all was as well as I can just about stand. Until, over half way to CV, the plane develops a technical fault and we have to turn around and go back to Gatwick.

They put us up overnight at a hotel and we flew out again the next morning. Now I only have enough meds for one flight. I spent the whole night awake panicking. I had NO sleep and my husband had hardly any either because I was pacing and crying etc. The next morning I thought the only thing I could do was take half the meds I had left, just to try and take the edge off. It did not work. I had the most awful time. But, eventually we arrive in CV. Then I am in the position where I only have half my meds for the flight on the way back and I know for a fact they are not going to be enough. I spent the whole holiday stressing about it. I could not get any relaxation at all. Panic, panic, panic. I know it might sound daft, but this is a real phobia that I have which needs treating with medication.

I am fuming to say the least. Let alone that we lost an entire day of our holiday, wasted money on booking a hotel the night before the flight, paid an extra day for car parking at the airport etc.

So, naturally, I want to haul Thomson over the coals about this. Do you think Thomson will even care about it though? I know I can get money back for the delay, but really, I feel I need compensating for the whole holiday as it was totally ruined. I'm not even sure I could ever fly again at the minute to be honest, as flying is bad enough, let alone I was on a plane with a technical fault (my worst nightmare). I feel that this experience may have damaged my ability to fly ever again (

Anyone else experienced any such thing and if so, did you get any sympathy at all from the airline?

Thanks in advance.

Apart from the delay, which presuming was due to tech problem and which you can claim EU261 delay compensation for, it is not the airlines problem.

I used to be extremely scared of flying. I don't know what triggered that fear because I'd flown for years with no problems. Following a very bad take off out of Fuerteventura many years ago where it wasn't just me crying, I stopped flying for several years. It suited my OH because he used to say I was a nightmare and he used to dread holidays.

Obviously I did eventually fly again, but at that point my GP prescribed me some meds (not benzodiazepine because he wouldn't prescribe something so strong because I was choosing to put myself in the position where I needed them). They worked to some extent but I didn't like taking drugs just to get me on a plane, so I got hypnotherapy, which didn't cure me, but it helped. At that point I gave myself a severe talking too, refused to pop pills just to go on a holiday and decided if I was going to fly I was just going to get on with it. I did a lot of internet research, read a few books and booked a longhaul holiday which I later amended to a short haul one due to fear, but I got through it.

I even managed a 12.5 hr delay proceeding a 10 hour flight. I was popping my meds, and was in serious danger of having too many. By the time we boarded I was inconsolable. After sitting on the aircraft for about another 30 mins (no idea what the hold up was) my husband told a member of the cabin crew if the aircraft didn't move within the next 10 mins we wanted offloading because he said he just couldn't put me through the agony any longer. She did go to speak to the captain, and we did move. I guess the last thing they needed was another hold up while looking for our bags.

None of this was the airlines fault, or the tour operators. When you book to fly knowing you have a major problem with it, you choose to put yourself in that position. You cannot expect the tour operator or airline to compensate you for stress you choose to inflict on yourself. To put it bluntly, Thomson didn't ruin your holiday, your irrational fear did, just like mine nearly ruined ours and our friends that we were going with us.

Over the years I have got considerably better. I know longer have to sit next to a window, or cry like a baby taking off, or make my OHs hands bleed where I've squeezed them so tightly. I choose to sit across the aisle from him, and he nods off lol. I know I have to help.

Seriously, if I was in your position which appears to be worse than mine was, and couldn't get myself out of it then I just wouldn't put myself or my husband through it. I'd be seriously worried how I would react in the event of an emergency, and whether my reactions would endanger the lives of other passengers.

As has been mentioned, a cruise sailing from the UK, or even staying in this country would have been the options for us.

Hotels even in Boa Vista either have a doctor on site, visiting, or one on call. I'm sure your rep or reception could have assisted you to see a doctor.

Jackieboy

I need to take tranquillisers for travel as well but you need to get your doctor better trained. You aren't going to get addicted if he gives you a few spares to cover delays etc.

[Deleted User]

For information, you can buy Diazepam online

http://www.diazepamtablets.com/

Might be worthwhile to have a few spare 'just in case'.

dollyxdimple

Jackieboy wrote: »

I need to take tranquillisers for travel as well but you need to get your doctor better trained. You aren't going to get addicted if he gives you a few spares to cover delays etc.

Thank you. It's horrible isn't it. I feel so stupid like I need to 'man up' LOL. My Dr is a nightmare, I can only get them if I pay for a private prescription (which I don't mind, I do get that the NHS shouldn't have to pay just because I wan't to go on holiday) but really, he gives me the 3rd degree every time I go to see him about it. I might have to get a new Dr. LOL. x

leylandsunaddict

dollyxdimple wrote: »

Thank you. It's horrible isn't it. I feel so stupid like I need to 'man up' LOL. My Dr is a nightmare, I can only get them if I pay for a private prescription (which I don't mind, I do get that the NHS shouldn't have to pay just because I wan't to go on holiday) but really, he gives me the 3rd degree every time I go to see him about it. I might have to get a new Dr. LOL. x

I know how you feel, but your Dr sounds like a good GP. It's the not so good ones that dish out the tranquillisers, antibiotics, sleeping pills etc.

I have sleeping problems and I have to beg my GP for sleeping pills. He prescribes me 10 7.5mg zopiclone tablets every 12 months. Would I like more, you bet, but part of me is glad he won't give me anymore because I do know he's right. Pills are not the answer.

Jackieboy

dollyxdimple wrote: »

Thank you. It's horrible isn't it. I feel so stupid like I need to 'man up' LOL. My Dr is a nightmare, I can only get them if I pay for a private prescription (which I don't mind, I do get that the NHS shouldn't have to pay just because I wan't to go on holiday) but really, he gives me the 3rd degree every time I go to see him about it. I might have to get a new Dr. LOL. x

I haven't flown for over 40 years - fortunately I enjoy Continental rail travel.

My doctor treats me like an adult, gives me a prescription for 10 Valium at a time, 2 or 3 times a year, and checks that I'm not increasing the amount I take.

GwylimT

dollyxdimple wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, but have you been to Cape Verde? It really is incredibly barren. Apart from a tiny airport and two or 3 hotels dotted on the beach, there really is nothing there. Like nothing. The trip from the airport to the hotel is on a half built road with scenery like the surface of the moon, with only a few scabby goats to see on the 30 minute drive! I would have loved to have been able to get the tablets, believe me ;o) xx

I've been, I also had no problem visiting a doctor when I had some infected insect bites.