Travelling across time zones

[KatyMary]

Hello folks, me and my hubby are planning a road trip across America a bit later in the year and it just crossed my mind that we will be changing time zones quite a bit. How do I keep track of when to take my meds? Do I stick to UK time for taking them or will it not matter that much? Any thoughts would be much appreciated! KatyMary x

[tamnwill]

I'd stick to the Brit time zone unless it's bonkers to, and means you're waking at 3am to take meds (then I'd take them as soon as you wake @ say 7am) hth

[KatyMary in reply to tamnwill]

I had thought of that but it just gets too complicated (for me anyways!), so I think I'm going to stick with morning and evening regardless of the time zone. Thank you for replying! KMx

[helixhelix]

Personally I wouldn't bother trying to work out UK time while you're away. If you're starting on the west coast then it's only a 5 hour difference, so you can just adjust a couple of hours a day over the first couple of days. And as you drive across it only changes an hour at a time, so really doesn't matter.

[KatyMary in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks helix, I guess once we're there, the time differences aren't too bad, and I should stick to my morning and evening routine. KMx

[Katheryn13 in reply to helixhelix]

East coast is 5hours, west coast is 9

[helixhelix in reply to Katheryn13]

I always get my left & right mixed up!

[earthwitch]

I've done some big time zone changes, and what I do depends on the frequency of taking meds. First make sure that if you do change the timing, that you don't end up taking any doses too close together (eg for paracetamol, you would have to make sure all doses were at least four hours apart and there was no 24 hour period where you took more than four doses). If you are just taking meds once or twice a day, its easy enough to just shift the time of the dose by an hour or so each day. The best thing to do while you are changing times to keep track is to write down when you take each dose, and how many hours it has been since the last one, then you can avoid the risk of taking something too soon after the last. When you write down as you take something, do a calculation and also write down when you should be taking the next (taking into account any time zone changes). Its a bit of a faff, but I find if I don't write it down it can get really confusing when you aren't taking things at the usual time.

[KatyMary in reply to earthwitch]

Thanks Earthwitch, plenty to think about, and trying to fit in what has to be taken on an empty stomach and rest that's with or after food, probably means writing it down is sensible! KMx

[car-p]

Hi, I've travelled around the world & I would recommend that you get a cheap watch, kept to British time. I found one with a alarm very useful.

Enjoy your holidays. Areas of the States are just out of this world.

[KatyMary in reply to car-p]

Thanks car-p, not sure about eating in the wee small hours for the "with food" meds though!!! KMx

[angel-delight]

Hi, I take warfarin which told to take at 6pm each day. When I visit my family overseas it is 5 hours behind the UK so I take the warfarin at lunch time. My other meds are every 12 hours so I take those morning and evening as discussed with my GP.

Take care, Sue

[KatyMary in reply to angel-delight]

Thanks for your reply angel-delight! My meds are going to take up half my hand luggage and the maps/guide books/hubby's million lists of must-see places will fill the rest. KMx

[angel-delight in reply to KatyMary]

HI katyMary,

Enjoy your trip with your hubby. Last year I had to carry Enbrel pens in a cooler bag as well as all my other meds etc in a trolley type bag. Let us know how about your holiday must-see places. Don't forget your letter with the list of medications from your GP.

Take care, Sue xx