On holiday without meds

[HenryTudor]

I’m currently on a Rhine cruise and have not taken any of my heart meds for four days. The usual cocktail of statin, beta blocker, asprin - five in all.

Air France failed to transfer our cases at Charles de Gaulle in Paris, and although we can see them now at the airport in Munich (Apple AirTags) the airline is being extremely unhelpful in getting the cases to us.

The chances of getting in touch with my GP in Northern Ireland to send an emergency prescription are zero. I’m managing ok and keeping an eye on my heart rate to ensure it doesn’t go too high. The daily walking tours are not very demanding.

I just wonder if anyone has any similar experience and might be able to give some advice. In Germany they are big on alternative medicines, so can anyone maybe suggest something to get me by.

Thank you.

Henry

[Lezzers]

Hi Henry

Looking at your previous posts I wouldn't recommend alternative medication, particularly as you take Entresto which is protecting your heart.

Assuming you've advise air France of the situation, do you have a holiday rep that can step in & help/advise? Have you got a copy of your prescription, could you or the holiday rep contact a Dr or hospital and get an emergency script/meds, we've done that before but that was in the UK.

Another possibility is maybe phoning NHS111 who may be able to advise what do or maybe phone the BHF nurses tomorrow.

Good luck, I hope you can get it sorted.

[HenryTudor in reply to Lezzers]

Lezzers, thanks for your reply. The guys on the river cruise ship have been in regular contact with Air France, who are clearly stonewalling. I have a copy of my prescription - in my suitcase with my tablet organiser! I would normally have had all this in my hand luggage, but for the first time ever put it in my suitcase (based on online advice - yup, stupid). Last time I tried 111 from home it told me in NI to call 999. So, I reckon no chance from Germany.

Good advice, thank you, re Entrestro and alternative medicine. I will give the BHF nurses a call tomorrow and thanks too for that advice.

I’m staying well hydrated, getting outside and taking gentle exercise, and feeling well enough to be fully functioning.

I read your posts in here and you are both kind and helpful. Thanks again.

Henry

[Lezzers in reply to HenryTudor]

That's really kind of you to say that, thank you.

Don't beat yourself up about the suitcase issue, it happens, don't let it spoil your holiday, it's great that you're feeling good.

Definitely phone the BHF tomorrow for advice. But maybe if you visit a local Dr/hospital they may be able to contact your surgery for you & get an emergency script, I can't imagine this would be a new thing for them.

Meanwhile, keeping a watch on your HR is brilliant, maybe ask the ships captain to ask if any of the passengers have a blood pressure monitor with them just so you can also keep an eye on your BP, Entresto does keep your BP down. Another alternative is maybe pop to a local pharmacy for advice/BP check.

[HenryTudor in reply to Lezzers]

Further excellent advice. You’re a star man.

[Lezzers in reply to HenryTudor]

Or maybe even a star woman 😉🤣 having dealt with my husbands medical conditions for what seems like millions of years, we've covered most things that can go wrong, including twice passing out on planes, once having the paramedics waiting on the tarmac for the plane to land. Then the paramedics arguing with airport security who wanted us to go through security etc & the paramedics saying no, he needs to go straight to hospital, the paramedics won!! But security held on to our suitcases so I get your frustration with them!

I don't doubt it'll get sorted for you, enjoy your cruise. One of the best holidays I had was a river cruise round the Netherlands, husband wasn't with me that time 🤣

[HenryTudor in reply to Lezzers]

Okay, star woman😉

[Lezzers in reply to HenryTudor]

🤣

[Prada47 in reply to HenryTudor]

Agree lol

[Lezzers in reply to Prada47]

Are you being my champion Frank, I need as many as I can get in this group 🤣🤣

How are you getting on?

Kevin has full bloods tomorrow, including cholesterol & thyroid. We're hoping there's been no deterioration in his kidney function 🤞

[HenryTudor in reply to Lezzers]

I’ll see how I might get on tomorrow. I’ve had good advice all round. The problem is that on a river cruise you only have a few hours on any one stop.

Good luck with Kevin’s bloods. Yes, we have to also worry about and balance the CKD.

[Lezzers in reply to HenryTudor]

I know stops are limited & they're usually organised trips with time limitations but hopefully everyone will be understanding and you'll get it sorted. Good luck 🤞

[Prada47 in reply to Lezzers]

Hello Going OK back up to full meds BP and HR Lowish but just need to watch dizzy spells, think I will need bloods soon Consultant who I saw said Kidney function was well down but may have just been the Pneumonia ! so we will see lol.

I will carry your colours into Battle and fight to the last breath, so it won't be a very long fight lol

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Following on from Lezzer's great advice. I have one other thought.

Do you order your repeat prescription online through the NHS app?

The NHS app should list your medications, perhaps ask if this will be sufficient for a German doctor to prescribe your medication.

[Lezzers in reply to Milkfairy]

Excellent advice. We don't have access to the app so I wouldn't have thought of that.

I'm pretty sure this isn't an unusual situation and the drs/hospital in Germany will come up with a solution.

[HenryTudor in reply to Milkfairy]

Thank you, further good advice. Yes, I do use the Patient Services app, and keep a list of meds and doses on my phone. I’ve been optimistic and assumed each day that we’ll get our luggage “tomorrow”, but that’s not going to happen.

[Rosie1066]

I always carry my medication in my hand luggage when I travel and would never travel with it in my suitcases. A lesson to be learned.

[HenryTudor in reply to Rosie1066]

It certainly is. This is the first time I haven’t and it’s only the second time my case has been lost.

Thanks.

[Lowerfield_no_more in reply to Rosie1066]

Which is the advice for anyone reading this thread. Always carry your medication in your hand luggage, with your prescription details, as I do, with enough to carry you over for a few days in the event your return home is delayed.

[Rosie1066 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Yes, when I travel mine never leave my sight as I know how much I depend on them, especially my Warfarin,

[Farmer63]

Farmer here also Northern Ireland, I went off heart meds for a month back in March lambing time, due to fatigue, don't know which med caused it. Went back on the April, still here . How long is cruise a few weeks should not cause any issues.BUT it all depends on your heart conditions. Trying to get a doctor here,NI, is like finding hens teeth.

[HenryTudor in reply to Farmer63]

Yes, Farmer, it’s bad enough phoning from home, as the lines open for a short window, but from Germany no chance.

The holiday is only ten days, so if you’ve managed a month of lambing I’m sure to survive. I had four stents fitted 4½ years ago. I’ve been meds for hypertension plus statins for over 20 years. Plus the beta blocker and a couple of others since my HA.

Thank you for your reassurance.

[Farmer63 in reply to HenryTudor]

No problem man

[Hidden]

If you have the EU healthcard then you can use that and go to a state run hospital. I forgot my pain meds and showed the hospital my nhs app, i was then prescribed gabapentin. I did this in Cyprus.

[HenryTudor in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, I do have the health card.

[dawnz]

I am sure you can contact the nearest hospital or pharmacy and get your meds. A pharmacy in France provided me with diuretics after contact my pharmacy here in the UK . Nobody wants you to risk your life so let them assist you.

[HenryTudor in reply to dawnz]

Thanks for that.

[elliebath]

It could be worth trying the local pharmacy with the prescription details. Last year I somehow managed to pack for a sea cruise without my BP med, Ramipril. So on our first day I tried the pharmacy in our first port (Montenegro) . They checked the brand, found their brand equivalent and gave me a 2 week supply for just €3 ... the leaflet was written also in English so I was happy that it was suitable.

[HenryTudor in reply to elliebath]

Interesting. Many thanks.