long haul travel with refrigerated meds

[SonyaNME]

Hi,

I recently started Benlysta which needs to be kept in the fridge. I’ve done a few short flights & have a travel bag with ice packs which works well. I’m flying to Canada in the summer which will take about 2.5 days so my ice packs would have melted. Has anyone travelled long haul with meds that need to stay cold & how did you manage it?

Thanks!

[DorsetLady]

If you check in advance with airline I think the cabin staff will store your meds in their fridge…but they do need to be aware beforehand. Do not let them go in hold…

[Star13 in reply to DorsetLady]

although you are not supposed to put meds in load luggage only carry on, the load gets very very cold so would in fact be better. But then that would only be for the flying not for the on the ground or transferring.

[DorsetLady in reply to Star13]

Think you need to check with airline- how many stops do you have ?

[Kell12 in reply to Star13]

I would not take the risk of them loosing your luggage with your meds in.

[SonyaNME in reply to Kell12]

no definitely not, always take my medication in hand luggage, is a nuisance but better than losing it

[SonyaNME in reply to DorsetLady]

thank you, I’ll contact the airlines & see what they say

[PMRpro]

There is a French company that has a superb mini-frig affair (for a price)

lifeina.com/en/home/14-life...

[Star13]

2.5 half days to get to Canada!!😳Heavens which way are you going??!!

[DorsetLady in reply to Star13]

The pretty route 😂🤣

[SonyaNME in reply to Star13]

flying from Northern Sweden so have transfers & overnight

[Star13 in reply to SonyaNME]

well a good little insulation bag with an ice pack should last you to your overnight stop. You should be able to put ice pack in freezer overnight and medication in fridge of where you’re staying and then start again. Most places are helpful. I’ve got a good medipack bag that works well and is orange so alerts airport staff to the fact it contains medicines.

medpac.co.uk/

[SonyaNME in reply to Star13]

that’s a good idea having one that is more medical looking, thank you

[Blearyeyed in reply to SonyaNME]

Have you got one of those small polystyrene boxes that they use for frozen food deliveries which extend the frozen time of your ice packs?You can fit the meds and ice packs in the box and add other ice packs either side of the box inside a easy to carry insulated cooler box bag.

Just make sure you have your printed off prescription list or letter to show at the terminals like you do for diabetic meds and needles.

We found you could freeze or buy pre frozen ice packs to replace the melted ones at overnight places , especially if you email them to arrange it first. The extra poly box gave use nearly 48 hours at the lowest temps even without changing the packs.