Travelling with Pegasys

[hall2]

Hi everyone

I've just started on Pegasys. I'm thinking ahead to holidays abroad and I've seen mention on here of people having travel pouches or something like that with ice packs to keep the drug chilled while travelling. Where can these be obtained? How long can Peg be left out of the fridge? Any advice about travelling with this will be very gratefully received.

Thanks!

[Kinsale]

Hi Hall2. Having only started on Peg in October last year, for the first few months I wasn’t confronted with the whole how do I travel with Peg when I am flying thing. Near Christmas I was planning to fly interstate (I’m in NSW in Australia), so I spoke to my haematologist re this challenge. She said that there is a travel pack called Fridge to Go which is designed for medication such as Peg. It was $45 and when not using it you leave it in the freezer and then when you need it it’s prechilled. I’ve used it at Christmas and in fact packed it in my check in luggage instead of hand luggage thereby avoiding the whole security thing when they see syringes in your hand luggage. It’s pretty good. Speak to your haematologist re how long Peg can be left un-chilled, but the Fridge to Go is a good solution.

Mark

[hall2 in reply to Kinsale]

Hi thanks very much for your reply. Fridge to go sounds ideal I'll look into it!

[MPort]

Hello, you don't say what sort of travelling you are thinking of or duration😯 so I will tell you about the trickiest ie flying. Yes a pouch is handy. There are many options on line for diabetics that do a good job. The freezer block fits neatly into one side and the syringes and needles into another. But I keep a flattened box with them for identification.

When flying you need to keep it in handbagage. I got caught out by putting in it hold bag then we got diverted and baggage wasn't loaded on next flight. Security now needs thinking about. I have declared it and got into a long debate. I now just put it in the bag and they haven't spotted it. Sometimes I keep syringes in the pouch and have the needles separate. It all depends on how many you have to carry.

For car journeys I keep boxes in tact and use standard ice packs all parcelled neatly and treble wrapped.

If only going for a short time I have also avoided the whole palava by taking injection a day or to early or later and not brought them with me. Because you have to have fridge access at the other end for longer term storage.

But it's easily manageable and over the 15 years I have had PV I have travelled extensively and managed fine, except for that diversion!!

I think pharmacists say 8 hours out of fridge is ok. They don't give any cooling options when I pick it up.

Happy travelling

Mairead

[hall2 in reply to MPort]

Hi Mairead thanks for your reply. It's flying I'm mainly concerned about with security etc so I'll look into cold pack options. Doing injection a bit early or late is a good idea!

[tessa46]

When I was on Pegasys I used a Frio Insulin travel wallet, very easy to use, refrigeration not required. Simply activate crystals by soaking in cold water: friouk.com.

[hall2 in reply to tessa46]

Thanks a lot I'll have a look at that!

[swimswam]

Hi, I am on Interferon, ( which means having to take more injections a week ), and have just travelled to Goa for 2 weeks ( from the UK ). I used a Frio cool bag for the journey. (Available on -line ). On contacting the company I was told it was really only suitable for diabetics as insulin doesn’t need to be kept as cold as Interferon, but as there seemed no other option I used it anyway . I was 8 hours from leaving home to boarding the plane, and 4 hours in India from landing to getting it in a fridge in the room. I contacted the airline before travel, and carried a note from the consultant, and was allowed to put it in the cabin fridge for the 10 hr flight. The insulin seemed fine, and was obviously OK as my bloods were fine on my next check up on my return.

Enjoy your holiday, Chris

[hall2]

Hi Chris thanks for your reply! I'm flying later in the year so trying to plan ahead. I'll ask about the letter at my next appointment.

[JackLina]

Mini Frio wallet! that's all you need. Not expensive and very effective. Take a look at the info online. This is what i use very effectively, every time I travel. Larger wallet required for more than one of course and I will be trying that in July, when I go away for one month!

All the best

[hall2 in reply to JackLina]

Hi Thanks for your advice. I'll look into that!

[JackLina in reply to hall2]

You're welcome. we're going away for a month in July . for that, I will fly with one dose in my Frio wallet and my husband carries the others in a mini fridge that plugs into the car cigarette lighter! He drives and crosses the channel with our dog, so it works out very well. ATB. x