Travel Insurance with Gallstones

Having gallstones shouldn't hold you back from travelling and enjoying some well earned rest & relaxation. Our Kent-based travel insurance team specialise in providing suitable medical cover for travellers with pre-existing medical conditions.

How do I declare my condition?

Declaring your gallstones, is just a simple matter of completing the brief online screening process. You'll be asked a number of questions related to your condition, so we can come up with the most suited policy for you.

Here are a some questions you might be asked when being screened for Gallstones:

• Whether you have had a cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal).
• If you are awaiting any procedures to treat your gall bladder or bile ducts.
• If you have had any symptoms related to your gall bladder or bile ducts in the last 12 months.

Although your medical screening can be completed online, for more complicated cases, you might have to book your travel insurance over the phone with one of our specialists. To book your policy directly, call our helpline and a member of our team can help you through your booking.

Tips for travelling with gallstones

No one wants to deal with a gallstone attack while on holiday. Attacks can last up to 5 hours with sufferers experiencing intense, excruciating abdominal pain. What's more, the changes that can occur in your diet when on holiday can have the potential to create complications with your gallstones. With that being said, if you follow these practical tips and the advice of your doctor, it's possible to enjoy a trouble-free trip.

• Drink plenty of water: drinking enough water helps keep bile production running smoothly and is vital to flushing cholesterol out of the body. Maintaining proper water content in the liver is crucial for keeping the symptoms of gallstones at bay. Experts recommend drinking at least 6-8 cups of water a day.
• Be careful about what you eat: If your doctor has advised against eating certain specific foods, then it's handy to have a list of these foods translated into the local language so you can be sure to avoid eating them.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol: there is evidence to suggest that caffeine can trigger the contraction of the gallbladder and for people with gallstones this is bad news. For this reason it's best to stay off the caffeine at least for the duration of your trip. If you do decide to treat yourself to a coffee occasionally, make sure you never drink it on an empty stomach as this can be disastrous for your digestive system. Similarly, avoid drinking alcohol in large quantities.
• Bring painkillers: If you are taking medication like painkillers, be sure to have enough with you to last the duration of the trip, and take a copy of your prescription and a doctor's note should you need to top up during your trip.

Looking for information regarding a different condition?

Be sure to have a read up on our pre-existing conditions travel insurance.