Want to travel to Australia for a year

escapism

...Has anyone done anything similar?? On anti TNF and methotrexate wondering how I can manage this long distance treatment. :?:

dorcas

Hi escapism and welcome to the forum!

I've not done anything like that but think it's such a great idea. so more power to you !

Have you spoken to rheumy about your plan and how to/ if it's possible to manage your meds long distance?... there might be problems carrying/ keeping these types of meds but you won;t know until you ask!

good luck and I do hope you get to 'live the dream'. please keep a journal and if you can post us here on the forum.

Iris x

frogmorton

you HAVE to do this if you have the chance!!!!

I sure would but with three kids......

well you know.....

get yorself off to the docs and check out how it can happen

and let us know

Love

Toni xx

gickygawky

Hi there,

Australia and the UK have a reciprocal health care agreement so if you are entitled to health care here you will receive the same there. Google 'Medicare' for more info on the Aussie version of the NHS.

I would imagine that you would have to liaise with a Rheumy in Australia before you left the UK to ensure your 'supply' is available once you settle in Oz. The assessment for Tnf is almost identical to the UK so there shouldn't be too many hiccups.

I have recently been looking at this myself as I am Australian and have plans to return in a few years.

The one thing I would say to keep in mind is that you may find that it is tricky to see any sort of consultant outside of the most populated areas. In rural areas such as my home town a Rheumy will visit from Melbourne one a week or fortnight only so there is a long waiting list to be seen. This is something to bear in mind if you are travelling inland (outback) and have a flare, need help etc.

'Arthritis Australia' is also worth Googling.

PM me if I can help with anything else

A x

madgirlzzz

Hi!
please keep us posted on this one, i have been having a re-think on life and travelling is an option.

hope there is some info out their for you. and good luck! hope you get to travel.

gayle

escapism

Wow i'm really touched by the support. Of course I will update people on how this goes. Had hospital appiontment this morning and asked. They didn't seem too suprised by the question and are going to update me on the options.

They do seem to think I would have to get a referal to a Rhum doctor as soon as poss to manage meds etc for the duration of the stay taking a 4 month supply of meds to start me off.

Some people have recommended getting family to courier over essentials.

I'll post whatever outcome there is.

Thanks for the vote of confidence

barbara12

Hi
Oh I love this, you go for it, If you get all the info you can off your rheumy and everyone on here then you will feel more confidant.
And dont forget, you always regret the things you didn't do not the ones you did.
Good luck and keep us posted
Barbara x

dreamdaisy

I'd be happy to get to the end of my road - I swear it's as far as Australia!

What a wonderful thing to do but the major difficulty would be keeping your drugs cold. Not sure how you could overcome that one. Crack that and go for it! The very best of luck - I hope the plan comes to fruition. Dreamdaisy

tinkerbelle08

Hi,

Definitely go for it - we have!! We moved to Melbourne at the end of January for 12 months and it is going really well. I'm in a slightly different position in that I am 8 months pregnant with number 2 and had stopped my sulpha before I came out.

However my rheumy in UK photocopied all relevant blood results, letters etc for me to bring across. You then go to see a GP here who refers you to a local rheumy and will ask if you want to go public or private. As mentionned Medicare is the reciprocal health server out here and providing you go to a doctor who 'bulk bills' all bill go straight to the government. If you go private they will ask you to pay eg $150 for an appointment and you will get $90 back from Medicare. It's complex but works well.

As for standard of care - it's fabulous. I've gone private and have the consultants mobile number. As my flare-up post baby is so unpredictable she has given me presciptions for pred, hydroxy and sulpha which I can start on telephone advice if needed and to ring her anytime and she will see me ASAP. I also have numbers for nurse, ward and registrars - I feel very well looked after.

Do not think of athritis as another hurdle to jump as it will be fine,

Best of luck
Penny

frogmorton

Hi penny

Congratulations

On the move, but also on the baby

good on ya gal

Love

Toni xx

escapism

Wow!!!!

Fantastic this is the best advise i've heard in.....ever!

It's amazing to hear that you've done it and managing it, and had your second baby ( congrats )

Can i ask. How long did it take for a referal? Is the basic care good enough if your RA is reasonably stable? What are the costs involved if you DONT go private given this reciprical agreement?

Over the moon to hear from you thank you!

Escapism

tinkerbelle08

Glad it's a positive spin on the Aussie dream for you!

The health system here is so different but works well. First you go to see any GP of your choosing, you don't necessarily have a 'regular' GP you can walk into any surgery and be seen. Best to find one that 'bulk bills' so it is free to you. The GP I went to said it may be 4-6 months to be seen publically and 1 month privately. He then writes a referral letter and gives you a copy plus faxes one to the rheumy. Once you have letter you then ring yourself to make appointment.....very strange! I got an appointment for 4 weeks after seeing GP but in meantime had rang local hospital and asked to speak to rheumy nurse - this is where I am booked for delivery so wanted all appointments in one place. She told me they ran RA clinic privately but would bulk bill and they could see me in 6 weeks but to call if any problems before hand. So think you can find private clinics which will cost you nothing!

In terms of the public system and standard of care - it should be exactly the same but waiting times longer. It is usually in hospital OP department and same consultants will see you as private. I'm under the public system for obstetrics as you can't get private cover if temporary residents, and I have to say it is great and better than the NHS.

I hope that helps, where are you thinking of going in Oz?

x

escapism

Well it all depends on the treatment really. Me and my boyfriend really wanted to travel all over the place but I feel i have to be realistic in terms of needing a base. I love the sound of melbourne. It's arty and I think it would suit us. However I really fancy diving in queensland and seeing friend up the East coast. I don't know how much flexibility i will have but i'm thinking if i know I have an appointment on X date i can organise my travel around that. I think we have to except our plans may change once i get to see a Rheumy.

Thank you for your help I hope if anymore questions spring to mind you wouldn't mind me calling upon your experience?

Thanks x
E

tinkerbelle08

Feel free to contact me at anytime. We love Melbourne and would definitely recommend it, but it depends what you're looking for.

Good luck

goneabroad

Curious about the weather conditions in Australia and whether this will have a positive effect on your condition (regardless of your meds situation).

I know as I sit in London during the summer, that these cooler and damp days tend to have an addtiional effect. I know the weather in Australia is dryier...an Aussie summer must be better than a British one, no?