Travelling with Benepali

[Mhairi54]

Morning everyone. Hope you are all well. I posted last week to ask about keeping Benepali cool until it's time to use it whilst we're away on holiday. However it's just occurred to me that I'm not sure what to do with the used pen. Should I just take it home with me again to put in the sharps box at home?

[AgedCrone]

If you will only have a couple that might work ...but otherwise maybe a local pharmacy where you are going would dispose of them for you?

If you are using a travel agent - maybe they have been asked this question before & know the answer?

Your Rheumy nurse might know?

Bottom line...I dunno.....but maybe one of the above will work!

Happy Holiday!

[Mhairi54 in reply to AgedCrone]

Thank you!

[oldtimer]

You can get small boxes for used syringes for travel.

[Mhairi54 in reply to oldtimer]

Thanks. Do you know where I could get one from? Do you have to buy them?

[oldtimer]

I can get them from the local hospital - the Day Hospital supplied mine in the past. If you are prescribed on the NHS you should be able to get your travel box from wherever you got your main box from.

[Mhairi54 in reply to oldtimer]

OK thanks, will try that.

[Moomin8]

Hi - I've just been speaking to a very nice pharmacist guy from Healthcare at Home about travelling with Cimzia. He said that they have sent me a letter to print off saying what I take and why and from whom etc. I can travel on a plane with a coolbag and injection pen in my hand luggage. He's sending me a small sharps bin. When I've given my injection, if I want to take it home, I'd have to put everything in my suitcase as the injection will be spent. I'm going on a cruise from Southampton so that's not a problem for me. He said to ask the cruise line if they have a medical fridge to store my Cimzia. Also to either ask for a sharps bin in my cabin or ask them to dispose of it for me. I'm going to ring Celebrity now ☺

[Mhairi54 in reply to Moomin8]

That's really useful, thanks Moomin8. Enjoy your cruise when it comes! x

[AgedCrone in reply to Moomin8]

You are right to ask the cruise line well ahead of time.......I used to fly as cabin crew & lots of passengers turned up with their meds to store in the Fridge! Aircraft fridges are tiny, plus at transit stops the ground catering staff re-stock them....any little packages of meds could quite easily end up in the bin.

I'm sure the the cruise line will have larger fridges & will be able to help....but they will need to know in good time!

Happy Cruising!

[Paula-C]

If I'm flying I put my Enbrel in a cool bag and I also take a soup flask with extra ice packs in for topping up when required. Healthcare at home sent me a digital thermometer with a long wire with a probe on the end of it. We always put the probe next to the Enbrel inside the coolbag and the temperature display is outside the bag so you can keep a check on the temperature.

I email the airline and request an additional carry on bag to keep everything in. Never had a problem, I don't think they can refuse because it's vital medication. I always print off all correspondence just in case there's a problem at the airport. I just put the top back on the injection when Ive used it, put it in a bag and bring it back with me to be put in the sharp bin at home.

When I've been on cruises there always been a fridge in the cabin. You can keep an eye on the temperature with the thermometer. Personally I wouldn't want someone else looking after the drug.

I now always carry a spare battery for the thermometer with me. A few years ago just before it was time to go to the gate the readings on the thermometer started going haywire.....the battery was going!!!! I was running around the airport like a headless chicken trying to find a shop that sold the right battery....what a time for it to die!!!!

Paula x