any tips on enbrel and traveling please

chrissycl
chrissycl Member Posts: 27
edited 5. Feb 2011, 14:16 in Living with Arthritis archive
Any advice please,I have just started on Enbrel injections and although I'm not flying till august (forward planning or what?) I just wondered how easy it is getting through the airport security and how to keep the meds cool on a 9 hour plane journey after 3 hours in airport. anyone out there any advice thanks.

Comments

  • julie47
    julie47 Member Posts: 6,041
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    mroning chrissycl

    no advice sorry but do enjoy the hol. 9 hours on a plane must be somewhere nice.

    take care
    juliepf x
  • mp1952
    mp1952 Member Posts: 425
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi

    I can't offer any advice about the travelling, but just wanted to know how you were finding Enbrel ... is it working for you??

    Marion
  • chrissycl
    chrissycl Member Posts: 27
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    thanks for all answers. Marrion I've only been on enbrel for 2 weeks but already feel a lot better , alot less pain in my hands and can actually use them in a morning,
    juliepf I'm going to Dom,Rep and yes it is really nice
  • wallysatt
    wallysatt Member Posts: 87
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi,

    I was given a cool bag with gel packs by the hospital so you could ask your rheumatology nurse if they have any.

    As others have suggested, get a letter from the people that provide the medication or from the hospital and I also telephoned the airline or travel company (they usually have a telephone number for disabled people) to see if I could put the meds in their fridge on the aircraft. This was only ever a problem on a short flight as I was told they often don't have a fridge on board but on long haul flights I've never had a problem with this.

    To bring the used syringes home I always put them back into the packaging so they were still properly labeled.

    Dom Republic sounds great. I got back from Maldives on Wednesday and feel a lot better having been in the sun.

    I hope this helps and you have a lovely time.

    Sally.
  • sullivt56
    sullivt56 Member Posts: 33
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Unfortunatly I am Diabetic so have had these issues with insulin...Enbrel looks like iy needs to be treated in the same way.
    There are lots of diabetic medical suppliers on the web for pouches and travel sharps containers. DESANG is one such site or look at diabetes uk who have links. I would suggest that you check to make sure of the size as insulin phials are much smaller than the enbrel pen.
    As I am just waiting for my enbrel pens to be suppllied not sure but you may not need to carry in cool bag, depends if going somewhere hot I guess. Insulin is good out of the fridge for approx 6 weeks in britains temperate climate I would ask my specialist about that in terms of enbrel to be honest.
    As to needles had load of hassle with that when i flew as have to check sugar levels at certain times and BA would not accept that the tiny fine prick needle was not potentially a terroist threat so it was either in the hold or get the letter from doctor costing 20 quid. It went in the hold and took bottle of lucazade just in case.

    Hope this helps in some way
  • chrissycl
    chrissycl Member Posts: 27
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    thanks sally that helps knowing someone else has used an on board fridge puts my mind at rest a little.
    about the doctors letter i have been offered one from both the hospital and the med supplier so will take up both offers ,the more the merrier I think.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    This is not strictly relevant as I don't inject anything but I always take 3 days supply of all meds in hand luggage in case the hold luggage goes awol.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • wallysatt
    wallysatt Member Posts: 87
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I take all my meds in my hand luggage as I know people who have lost luggage before and it has never been traced. I have also been delayed a lot, sometimes for more than 24 hours so that's another reason I always have everything with me and take lots of spares.