Travel on Warfarin

[Tickertalker]

Hi all, I've been thinking a lot about how much my life will change post OHS with a side salad of a stroke. One of the things I have always enjoyed most is travelling to remote places usually on a motorbike and I don't feel ready to stop moving just yet. My fear is the risk of losing my Warfarin. Is it easy to get emergency supplies if needed or are there countries where it would be a problem? Also, I haven't tried bleeding since my operation. On my last trip to Myanmar a bamboo bridge colapsed while I was riding across and me and my bike got washed down river. Just how risky is, for example, a graze on your leg or a cut on your elbow?

[RufusScamp]

Talk to your GP or other support people. And make sure you have good insurance before you travel!

[Tickertalker in reply to RufusScamp]

With my list of health problems I reckon holiday insurance would cost more than the holiday. Obviously the sensible thing to do but being sensible has never been my strong suit.

[RufusScamp in reply to Tickertalker]

Please don't go without insurance. I've seen Swiss hospital bills. Remember, thanks to brexit, the EHIC card is no longer valid. Have a holiday in the UK this year. Plenty of lovely places to visit.

[Tickertalker in reply to RufusScamp]

Brexit has a lot to answer for but I think you can replace your EHIC card with a GHIC card. The G stands for global which is quite an overclaim. I think we'll all be holidaying in the UK this year and, of course, there are some great places but the weather is so unpredictable. I took my youngest son camping in Wales last summer and it never stopped raining.

[gladliz]

As RufusScamp says talk to your GP etc. It's bad enough trying to get supplies if you run out in UK let alone the back of beyond. The other thing I would suggest, if I am not preaching to the converted, is a good set of bike leathers worn all the time whilst riding even in hot countries. Protects one from the slings and arrows of outraged natives😊😊

[Tickertalker in reply to gladliz]

Doesn't the I in INR stand for international? Surely that means you can get the Warfarin worldwide.

[Fuzziehugs]

Hi there, have you also considered how you will get your INR test and results should you need to. I’ve had these done in the past whilst in Portugal but now I am on one of the new blood thinners which don’t require an INR test.

[Tickertalker in reply to Fuzziehugs]

No I hadn't thought about that. I'm fairly new to Warfarin but I'm only being tested once a month so I figured I'd do a test then jump on a plane for a few weeks away then have my next test when I got home. I've heard about those new thinners but unfortunately they don't work with mechanical valves. Maybe it's time to throw away my passport and invest in a virtual reality headset instead.

[Ianc2]

Plenty of places to go to in Europe, but you will have to check out the Ghic card acceptance As I understand it, it only covers some counties in Europe. Even the old EHIC card was not accepted in all areas.

[OldHippy]

Oh, Tickertalker, I hear you! The wanderlust should be indulged as long as physically possible, if you're that way inclined. I'm the same, and recoil at the thought of having my independence curtailed. Many years ago I had a most unusual health condition when in the wilds of Mayan Mexico. So many different medical specialties were represented even in smallish rurla towns, and I found it easy to access the Dr I needed, and the relevant medication. I would imagine that the supply of warfarin or similar, along with INR test availability will be fairly established. Just protect yourself with the leathers as mentioned by Gladliz, and practice a bit of first aid before you go, and keep a decent kit with you at all times.

[Tickertalker in reply to OldHippy]

Yup, It's kind of difficult adjusting to the new me. I feel like I've been catapulted into old age. No more exploring, no more motorbikes, no more alcohol and no more chasing after wild women. Oh well. Never been to Mexico but I do spend a lot of time in South America. There and Asia always call me. I think the answer is to put down roots in one town that I love and can register with a local doctor. Essaouira in Morocco I'm thinking. (Jimi Hendrix's old manor, but you knew that.) Flights are dirt cheap and it's close enough to pop back to London once a month to pick up my mail and have my INR done. Might work.

[Mossman]

I’ve been on Warfarin for more than ten years. I was advised by my cardiologist that I shouldn’t change to the new injectable anti-coagulation drugs, as I travel to countries that do not yet know how to manage a bleeding emergency and “turn off” the system anticoagulant. Warfarin is much easier to manage. I also self-test with a battery operated INR meter and can send results via internet and receive new dosing instructions via internet. I’m not able to travel abroad much longer and may switch to the long-term injectable anticoagulant when I stop.