DH holidaying in USA when I have been diagnosed with heart disease.

My late DH lived with ischaemic heart disease for decades - it never affected him doing anything.

He then contracted other conditions, which did leave him disabled - but nothing to do with his heart.

As for America, well my son emigrated there 15 years ago, to Illinois, and he’s not had a single problem with ICE or anyone else.

Let your DH go - he might not be up to it next year. 👍

Margomar - Your anxiety about your 'newly-diagnosed ischaemic heart disease' is quite probably completely out of proportion with the reality. Lots of people live and travel with ischaemic heart disease and with appropriate medication there is no need to stay behind if your husband wants you to go. It's not as if it's a Third World environment, or transatlantic flying can't cope with someone with a heart issue. My advice is to get proper intelligence on your true medical state, get it managed, and if there's any chance of going with your hubby, organise special assistance on the journey. You'll be well looked after, use a wheelchair if it makes you feel any better, and enjoy the holiday together. If you can't bring yourself to go, decide what care you think you might need and order it in from a local care agency. The act of really thinking hard about what help you get from your husband that you truly need will be helpful if showing whether you actually do need to be anxious about going with him or staying at home. However, all previous comments about medical insurance do apply. My husband is well into his 80s and the premium to cover his ailments is always high.

Margomar

Thanks for all the comments - my diagnosis is very recent, admitted to cardiac unit as an emergency 6 weeks ago . So this has come out of the blue and has thrown me - I’ve been pretty healthy up till now, aged 78. I agree that many people with heart disease live alone and manage ok and I need to calm down! He’ll still go on his dream trip but thinks he shorten it by a few days . Good advice about getting his health insurance sorted!

Last we were in the USA health insurance needed specific notations to pre-existing conditions. Medical costs are surprisingly expensive. I believe we paid 200dollars for my husband's insurance for 20 days.

We've always booked travel insurance at the same time as booking flights etc just in case we had to cancel for any reason. Plus, of course, any visas required.

Actually I assumed that he would have already sorted out health insurance as a first step, knowing how difficult it might be to get cover for the trip, given age, duration and destination and the fact that he’s going on his own.

Make sure everything is declared. Don’t let him be cavalier about it.

Margomar
Re your getting his health insurance out
Read the document again then again then again.
They are written in a way purposely for you not to understand.
An example: has your husband been recommended to take a medication that he has refused.

Thing is when you get used to your condition and manage it (which you will) and it all becomes part of you , you would hate yourself if you had stopped him going because of a panic
You ve done the right thing and as an older man travelling he needs to make sure his insurance covers everything even if it costs more, USA is untenable if you get even slightly ill there

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/21/karen-newton-valid-visa-detained-ice?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Margomar

Thanks for all the comments - my diagnosis is very recent, admitted to cardiac unit as an emergency 6 weeks ago . So this has come out of the blue and has thrown me - I’ve been pretty healthy up till now, aged 78. I agree that many people with heart disease live alone and manage ok and I need to calm down! He’ll still go on his dream trip but thinks he shorten it by a few days . Good advice about getting his health insurance sorted!

Well done and I hope you will do well now with treatment you have had a diagnosis.

Thanks for all the comments - my diagnosis is very recent, admitted to cardiac unit as an emergency 6 weeks ago . So this has come out of the blue and has thrown me - I’ve been pretty healthy up till now, aged 78. I agree that many people with heart disease live alone and manage ok and I need to calm down! He’ll still go on his dream trip but thinks he shorten it by a few days . Good advice about getting his health insurance sorted!

No, we will not forget dear Renee Good and the OPs 81 yr old husband is not her.

Margomar might be more worrued about herself without her DH more than worried about her DH venturing alone. I can relate to that because I have felt terrified after losing my DH. It is so very lonely and more.

imaround

A Po Boy is a great sandwich. New Orleans has amazing Cajun and Creole food! And the pastries!

Definitely sample some BBQ while here as well. American BBQ is like its own food class and it is different in every region of the US. BBQ you have in Louisiana will be much different than BBQ you have in Missouri.

I am well thank you! Keeping my head down and trying to maintain my sanity in this world as long as possible. It is almost time to start my vegetables garden, so I am trying to stay absorbed with that.

Hope you all are well where you are!

New Orleans has amazing Cajun and Creole food! And the pastries!

It also houses the fantastic traditional-jazz band, "Tuba Skinny" led and largely orchestrated by a diminutive woman, Shaye Cohn, on cornet!

I don't think traditional jazz features in the lives of young people, but those in my generation sort of grew up with it in the background, so to speak.

Tuba Skinny is famously known for its street performances in the French Quarter.

Your comment about BBQs in Louisiana made me think about them as that's where they're based. .

I was diagnosed with ischaemic heart disease. in my 50s and am now in my 80s. Ive never taken any special precautions and in that time I travelled all over the middle east.

Or could you discuss with your consultant about the possibility of you going too.?

Could he shorten it to 2weeks maybe? 3 seems excessive.

Your DH is 81, maybe the last chance for him to travel so far for his idea of a holiday of a lifetime. Send him on his way with your best wishes and tell him not to worry about you because you'll be fine.

If it helps to put your mind at rest my husband has had IHD for 22+ years and with plenty of meds he’s doing fine

I agree

Kate54

There’s a trip to Nashville etc using trains and - which might work for you - two Transatlantic crossings on the fabulous QM2. Would take 28 days but at least no flying and very relaxing

The insurance for this would be astronomical. On our cruise on the QM, 3 people were airlifted off on separate occasions.

OP, hard as it may seem at the moment, wave your DH off with good grace. He may become resentful if in the future he ends up becoming your carer and can never undertake this trip. And I know, my lovely husband would be fine about it, but I would feel guilty to deny him this holiday.

Your husband too is at risk at the age of 81. Insurance for him will be astronomical because of his age alone. He won't have assistance either. But maybe he has thought all that through already. I hope so for your sake.

If you are struggling, it might be good to pay for some help whilst your husband is away. There are lots of agencies or people who you can get who will make sure you are safe once or twice a day.

imaround

I am sorry about your recent diagnosis. It must feel very frustrating for your husband to choose now to travel.

I am happy to answer any questions or research concerns you may have with his being in the Southern US from my side of the pond if you would like. I know the US seems scary right now, but millions of people live here each day safely. You are welcome to PM me privately so as not to divulge personal travel information.

I am going to be blunt, so I apologize for my American bluntness, but is he white and does he speak English? If so, he won't have a problem as long as he has proper ID and travel documents and doesn't try to earn income while here.

Americans are a lovely people overall, and Southern hospitality is second to none. And the food is out of this world! I recommend a true Southern style biscuit and gravy (American biscuits, not English ones )

My bigger concern would be to have some type of emergency health insurance. If he gets sick or injured, medical treatment could bankrupt you. A single surgery can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. If he needs simple medical care while here. Have him find an Urgent care vs going to an ER (A &E). Total cost would be an office visit (plus meds), which would be less than $200.

If he is coming in the summer. It will be hot and very humid based on location. We do make use of air conditioning as much as possible, especially in the South, so that helps.

I hope he has a wonderful time, I hope you get stabilized quickly and can't wait to hear how his US Southern experience went!

Kind helpful post.

I don’t think Margomar is concerned about how her husband will fare in the USA, but rather part of her anxiety is how SHE will manage on her own.

In her original post Margomar said she is worried about both these issues, so advice from both sides is valuable.

Maremia

Well, the situation has changed, hasn't it.
Do you have other family or friends back up?

I hope you receive the help you need should your husband go on the tri without you. I agree that it would be a shame for your DH to cancel his trip and I feel that there is no way that my DH would want to go, knowing that things have changed. At our age we both feel that every day is precious and neither of us goes far without the other. I would worry the whole time he was gone- this might just be me but do you know how much care an 81 yr old man requires? How much work it is to keep house and do all the cooking and cleaning. If this is reversed and he does it all- book some home help. You go on the trip with your GP’s advice. Or book a nice staycation for yourself. There is absolutely no way I would go to the States. Come to Canada for a trip, good medical care, no guns, no dictators- we don’t risk crossing the border to go there as we have no family or support there to advocate for us if we get caught up in an incident and there are lots of incidents. We have the Montreal Jazz Festival or if it’s County music he’s a fan of, there are many festivals in Alberta which advertises itself as America lite, and he won’t be taking big risks.

From the original post

"I am getting more and more anxious about him going partly due to the actions of ICE in the states"

I took this to assume that she is anxious about him being in the United States due to the current administration. If my information wasn't helpful to anyone, it is easy to skip it over.

We never know who may be lurking that information was helpful for as well.