Traveling abroad

Please advise me anyone

Hello Dawn,

When I go on a long trip to the USA I take Sumatriptan injections with me. I plan on having enough for two a day or whatever I can manage if I don’t have that many in stock. I take 2 in hand luggage and the rest in checked in although I know the risk of luggage going astray. I know some on here recommend a doctors letter to certify you need them but I have never bothered. I have not had a problem at airport security with the two in hand luggage. I also stay in The French Alps for long periods of time and normally drive there, I take all my stock in case I need them and have never had a problem even when French Customs searched my bag and saw a mass of medication they simply wearn’t interested.

i have been in a bout in both these locations and have managed fine with my supplies. In the USA I supplemented my meds with some Red Bull which if drunk as fast as you can when ice cold can abort an attack.

its good to know you are have applied for Oxygen, I have never bothered to try to arrange supplies abroad but I know some on here have who will hopefully respond. There is also something you can take to prevent an attack on a long plane journey if in a bout, again not for me but Val will hopefully respond on this with her excellent knowledge.

Try and think about what a great trip you are going to have and don’t focus too much on something that may never happen. ATB

John

Hello Dawn

We have a page of holiday hints in our downloads section: https://ouchuk.org/sites/default/files/downloads/holiday_hints_0.pdf&nb…;  that should help with general advice on how to cope with flights and meds and getting 02 overseas etc.  

Best wishes 

Val. 

Hello Dawn, there was a similar question on the FB OUCH page, here is my reply.

I hope you manage to have a good and painfree holiday.

I regularly travel to Central America and take supplies in main hold luggage, with set of injections in hand luggage. Have been questioned (what are these for etc) but nevr any problems. On the flight I have had to take injections, the cabin crew have always been very understanding. They request the used item is deposited in a special sharps bin they carry for any passengers with medicines that use sharps. You should ask doc for a covering letter confirming prescriptions just in case as some countries list that as a requirement. But dont let doc charge for such a letter, should be standard practise for them.

Hello Superflyguy

Can I just point out that it is better to carry all your injections in your carry on bag, because the injections must be kept between certain temperatures and it is too cold in the main luggage hold for them.  This is in the info sheet I mentioned in my earlier post.  We also suggest as you do the covering letter from doctor/neurologist and also taking a repeat prescription if you have one.  You might also like to try the Frovatriptan tablet, also covered in our holiday information, which has a half life in the body of up to 26 hours and keeps me painfree on flights to Australia.  You can get it from your GP.  We thought we had discovered a brilliant preventive for CH, but the more you use the tablet, the shorter the painfree period gets until it is not worth using.  But occasional use can mean a sufferer in a bad bout can get a good night's sleep now and again, if you are taking an exam, or doing a presentation it will keep you PF and you can enjoy family occasions without having to think about where the loo is in case you need a jab.  

Hope this helps. 

Val. 

Im travelling to Jamaica has anyone had anysuccess getting oxygen there.  Does any one know whether a tank can be bought?