Severe Hypo's on a Plane?

Hi All,

I was wondering if anyone had had a severe hypo while flying? I recently visited family in Australia and went into convulsions while crossing the Indian ocean.

I have flown all over the world with no problems, but I've also always flown with someone. I've heard of stories that people have had hypo's and no one was able to help in time..... It's always scared me.

Anyway, my Mum chose to accompany me and my daughter, but Qantus chose to separate us. I explained to over 7 different people that it was important my Mum sat with me..... but each time I was ignored. By the time I sat down in my seat, I knew there was no hope, but I felt it should be fine.... everyone had told me it was impossible.... even though we had booked seats together!!! My mother (bless her) threw a wobbly when she was seated upstairs (that's how far away she was from me), but again, she was told it couldn't be done.

I did go into convulsions, my worst nightmare..... my daughter was woken and shouted 'help Mummy she needs sugar'. But by the time the air steward came, they found my Mum and my Mum managed to get me the glucogon (helped by 2 doctors), I had lost consciousness and had been 'out' for half an hour.

I am really angry that this should've happened. It made the first week of my stay in Australia awful. I was so ill. When the plane landed, the staff of Qantus were so rude! I asked for a wheel chair because I had been throwing up and had been given tablets to help with the sickness and head aches. But was refused. I could barely walk and collapsed in tears. No one came to help! All the Qantus staff had walked past me (including the captain). Eventually my mother went to get help and left me on my own. One Qantus staff member came and told me she would only take ME through passport control, I wasn't able to take my daughter with me, she had to go through with my Mum.

For those of you who don't know me, I am a 40 year old woman and consider myself slim and healthy. I have been type 1 diabetic since the age of 10 years. My daughter has a severe disability which has left her unable to be in school. You can understand why I was so upset that she wasn't able to come with me through passport control.

I have complained to Qantus and have also written to 'The Independant' and another Australian travel program. Qantus hasn't apologized and no one has even acknowledged what had happened. If my mother had sat with me, she couldn't helped me when the convulsions first started, but to have left it for 30 minutes.... I don't think people realize how serious a hypo can be? I could've lost my life.

Sorry for the waffle.... but has anyone had similar treatment when they've been ill? I feel everyone thinks it was all my fault and if I looked after myself it wouldn't have happened. My blood was 8.2 before I fell asleep...... My HbA1c and not been higher than 7.5% for the last 13 years. It was 6.8% in January.

Just needed to share with people who understood.....
Thanks for listening!
Tx

Jaylee said:

Hi,

Sorry to read about the bad customer care Qantus gave you & your family..

May i ask do you use an insulin pump??

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Yes, I do. I think that might have been the problem.... time zone changes and eating time changes too...
But I've travelled to Australia before with the pump, to the Maldives and to South Africa.

Funny, when I travelled to South Africa, my husband and I were separated with BA. My husband complained and they upgraded us to business class. Just shows you..... BA took it seriously!

Scandichic said:

Absolutely shocking! Glad you were ok! Can you not sue?

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Scandichic, no one will take this seriously. TBH, I haven't been left with permanent damage or anything, just livid with it all! x

Thanks for you good ideas and kind responses. Would I want to do the journey again? I struggled to fly home after the trip. Thankfully we flew Emirates home, they were brilliant and we were kept together.... as we had originally booked! Emirates also allowed me to carry a bottle of Lucozade on the plane. WOW!

After my hypo, one of the doctors that had helped was quite adamant my Mum needed to sit with me for the rest of the journey...... Guess what? They rearranged the passengers and my Mum DID sit next to me for the rest of the journey. Apparently (according to my Mum, I wasn't fully functional to notice) there was only one passenger that was inconvenienced by having to change her seat. The chap sitting next to me was so pleased because he had also been separated from his family. It was certainly not a big deal to change and it made a few people a lot happier!

I think I would've just shrugged my shoulders and thought 'well, I'll never fly Qantas again' if it was just the hypo that had happened. I think it was nothing short of humiliating, extremely terrifying and the feeling of being so vulnerable when we got off the plane and I was refused help. For those of you who have had convulsions.... you can understand how scared you feel afterwards. I am very protective of my daughter and I couldn't support her. I was sobbing so much I was surprised the airport security didn't come and check that I wasn't carrying anything illegal.

I am hoping Diabetes UK can do an article. One thing I did learn was that it was a blessing I carried my glucogon with me on the plane. I was told when I came round that they were not allowed to use the plane's glucogon without permission from the ground staff???????? Not sure who they had to radio first, but I don't think I would be here today if they had to do that first.

I'll let you all know what happens. You've given me new inspiration to do something about it. Any more ideas I'm only too willing to hear.
Thanks so much again.
Txx