This is just a bit of a bright note. I just finished a bit of a holiday prior to a 5-day conference in Brussels, Belgium. I had to fly with the Besremi then store it for 6 days once in Brussels. The Besremi stayed in the Yeti cooler bag with 2 ice-gel packs for over 12 hours with no problem. TSA security was no problem doing the visual inspection since it cannot go through x-ray. They did not ask for the signed doctor's note. There was no refrigerator in the room, so hotel staff stored it in the hotel fridge with no problem. For all those planning travel with one of the interferons, know that with a bit of planning it is no problem at all.
The holiday was terrific. I have been all over Brussels and did a day trip to Luxembourg. Lots of interesting sights, good food, great chocolates, and excellent beer.
The next five days will be at a Neurofibromatosis conference, another rare disease I am involved in advocacy and work with. When I get home, I will be off to the Summer Camp for youth with NF and other chronic diseases. We will be doing more work this year helping youth transition into adult care. It is a huge challenge for young adults to learn how to manage their own care. In truth, it can be a challenge for older adults too.
For any of you in the Mid-Atlantic in the USA, there is a Patient Conference in Asheville, NC in August. mpnadvocacy.com/event/ashev... I am attending and hope to see some of you there. I still plan to try to make it to one of the MPN Voice Patient Forums in the UK someday. Hope to see some of you there too.
Happy travels and all the best to all of you all!
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hunter5582
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That's a happy, happy post, Hunter. I'm glad you enjoyed Belgium. I have only had a couple of little visits to Bruges and Brussels, but then I didn't have to travel so far as you did. I am impressed with your planning for flying with the meds. It's good to hear from you. I am enjoying the summer here, in the UK, which started just before the solstice. When I say enjoying, I am not getting out much, just hospital visiting every other day and doing lots of adminny type stuff on my days off. Sadly, my partner's diabetes is very brittle but it would seem that the hospital are keeping him against his will. I'm hoping he will come home soon and be back to his normal independent self.
I hope your partner is soon recovered and free from the confines of medical care. Advances in home-care can make many conditions manageable outside of a hospital setting. Hope that becomes available for your partner.
Thanks Hunter, we have several carers, with increasing visits when he comes home, which should be soon - once a space is cleared for downstairs living (don't believe this is necessary but we are being bullied).
So very happy you are enjoying a well deserved holiday before the conference. Wanted to thank you again the knowledge and help you share with all of that are not well versed in MPNs.
Wow, what an inspirational update. Very happy you have had some personal time mixed in with the business of MPN and NF. Thank you for devoting time and energy to these topics. Your experience and expertise is appreciated.
Hi Hunter, glad you liked our little country. There is more to visit, so if ever you come back to Belgium give me a sign and I will give you some suggestions!
I will take you up on that if I get back to Belgium. I have had a great time in the days I was in Brussels. I would like to see Antwerp, Bruges, and a few other places. So much to see. so little time.
You are having a great time, good. It is good you are able to help these organisations, they will certainly benefit from the vast range of info and help you will be able to give them!
Thanks for the lovely positive post, great photo and tips re.travelling with meds; it’s very reassuring to read that these things are still do-able. Great way to start your summer!
I am here in the southern part of Alabama. It sure looks beautiful there. I know going places and seeing the beauty of them does wonders for the healing process. Glad you are able to do and go. Peace from myself and family.
Great photo and you timed it well as summer seems to have finally arrived! Enjoy your trip and conference and thanks as ever for your positive and encouraging comments about travelling abroad.
Sounds like an amazing journey. Thanks for sharing the details of your travels. When I read a post like this I find it very encouraging because in my mind, my days of traveling overseas are over. The fear of blood clots, the sheer exhaustion of it all, and just being that far away from home, has all been very daunting for me since diagnosis. You are such an inspiration Hunter, and I admire your energy. You give us all such hope with your genuine, informative, positive posts. Thank you for all you do. Enjoy the rest of your trip.
Glad you are having a good trip! And thanks for the information about traveling with Besremi. I will be traveling with Pegasus in a month and I’ve worried about how to execute that part of the travel. Just curious, why can’t it go through the X-ray? Thanks again!
PharmaEssentia recommends that Besremi not go through x-ray/ The concern would be for potential compromise to the stability/efficacy of the medication by exposure to x-rays. While I have never seen the same recommendation for Pegasys, I would assume that there would be a similar concern. It is not a big deal to request a visual inspection. In some countries, having a signed note from a doctor can help if there are any questions.
Beautiful picture in the Grand Place, I was an expat in Brussels many years ago, fond memories. Thank you for all the information you provide, I signed up for the MPN patient day in Asheville this summer. I don't live that far away and it will be nice to meet others with this disease we live with, it can be a bit lonely.
It was good for me to read your post because I plan to travel soon with Besremi and I was wondering about the X-ray, etc. Thank you for the practical info.
Did you have a doctor’s note with you just in case they asked for it ?
I always take the signed travel letter when flying with Besremi. I have never needed it for domestic travel or for flying out of the USA internationally; however, I did need it when flying out of Vienna, Austria. PharmaEssentia provides a travel letter along with the recommendation that it not go through x-ray that can be pre-filled in for your doctor's signature. besremi.com/pdf/BESREMI-tra...
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