Administering own prostap?!?!?

[Anjeleena]

Has anyone here been allowed to do their own injections??? I'm going on holiday when I'm due my next dose and no idea what im going to do unless I can have it 5 days early (wishful thinking???)

[Impatient]

It can be self administered - there are videos on youtube, however if you haven't done it before or are worried about doing it yourself, then one option is to take it with you and ask a local hospital nurse to administer it.

You may have to pay for that service, if you are travelling abroad, but it would be cheaper than messing up the injection and losing the drug and urgently having to source a replacement dose at very very short notice.

I would also urge you to check the laws on the country you are visiting that they would allow you to travel with prostap because it is a highly toxic chemo drug and some countries may not permit you to travel with it in your baggage or not permit self administering.

And check with the airline's medical department as to how they want you to travel with it, and plan for how are you going to safely store it in the right temperature setting as you travel and when you arrive till such time as you need it. Airlines have very strict rules for travelling with preloaded syringes ...even for diabetic passengers traveling with their insulin.

It isn't as straight forward as it at first appears. There are security implications and safeguarding the drug in transit as well as the temperature it must be stored at all the time.

An aircraft standing on a baking hot tarmac , while baggage is left out in the heat before being transported to the terminal could be too much for the drug. Tarmac heat can easily exceed 100 degrees even in the uk in summer. And also the baggage hold temperature can be too cold or indeed too hot. it is a drug which will perish in too high a heat.

If you are travelling within the EU, it might be easier to get a letter from your GP, translated in to the language of the country you are visiting, and then you take this to the local doctors or hospital and pay them to supply you with a Lupron shot which has been stored correctly locally.

some of the names by which Prostap aka Lupron is called in other countries in on the following page

drugs.com/international/leu...

and some travel tips

ehow.com/how_5998044_travel...

And if you do travel with it for self injecting - you can buy a sharps container from most chemists that are collection points for drug users and diabetics old needles. The sharps boxes cost about £3 at my local chemists. a bright yellow tough plastic container that can accommodate the used needle(s) and probably the syringe too. the lid snaps securely shut and you hand the box to a pharmacy for safe disposal. Do not throw in regular rubbish - anywhere in the world please.

All in all - for simplicity sake i would check out getting it sourced and injected locally.

Research online, find the nearest hospital, contact them by email and explain you will be on vacation near by and will need a Lupron (of whatever the local name is) shot on a certain date, ask if can they provide it and what the cost will be for it, and where you go in the hospital to get it administered and what paper work you need to bring with you. If you speak the local language or know someone who does who can translate the letter for you, then get that letter translated. Take a copy of the prescription from your GP and a letter from him/her requesting that you have the drug on a certain date. You can have it a day either side of the 28 days if that makes it easier.

If you encounter problems sourcing it, please inform the british consulate and ask for their assistance -especially if there is a communication issue.

It will not be covered by travel insurance so you will be expected to pay for it overseas within certain parts of the EU and outside of EU.

The EHIC card -free from the NHS may entitle you to reduced cost care in the EU so if your destination is outside the Uk but still within the EHIC card zone then make sure you apply for and carry the card with you.

nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcar...

You would also be wise to inform your travel insurance provider that you are on the drug if traveling overseas.

there are side effects that may hospitalise you, and failure to inform the travel insurance company could render you footing a very expensive medical bill, which just isn't worth the risk. So make sure the insurer is aware and more importantly that you are covered, it may mean paying a higher premium for the increased risk, but it would certainly be cheaper to do that than come a cropper and end up owing a fortune to the hospital because the insurer refuses to pay out because you didn't tell them you were on the drug. When you mention the drug - explain it is for endometriosis not cancer. they will probably assume cancer unless you tell them otherwise. And get the name of the people you have spoken too at the insurer as well, just incase there is any dispute about a claim you may need to make.

There will be men and women who often travel and need GnRH while away, so google online for how others planned for this, and get some tips to prepare, and hopefully with homework done and a Lupron shot booked you can relax and enjoy your holiday and have much less to worry about.

It will be available in most countries - but do your homework to make sure.

[hayls]

Hi

Just wanted to say that you can definitely have it early - up to about 7 days early is completely fine. I had 11 doses and generally had them 5-7 days before the 28 day point each time x

[Anjeleena in reply to hayls]

Thankyou so much for this reply, feel better about it now x

[Jembee]

It would have to be carried in your hand luggage on the plane and in a sharps box! You would also need a doctor note and you would have to call the airline and let them know you are carrying it and why.

[Anjeleena in reply to Jembee]

I'm travelling through the euro tunnel

[Jembee]

I shouldn't see any problem on euro tunnel. If you are in your car but maybe still get a doctor note just in case

[Anjeleena in reply to Jembee]

Thanks. I will try to get it done early, failing that will try to get the injection and note and get my sister to administer it for me, I've given myself anti clotting injections but not sure I'm as brave with the bigger needle

[Bradd]

I have also had prostap early, its definitely ok. I think some people regularly have it early because it wears off faster for some. hope this helps