Pred while traveling

[judyb100]

Is it a good idea to take extra pred. while traveling? I've had PMR for a year and am taking 9mg and feeling quite good. I live in Seattle in the U.S. Next week is my sister's 70th birthday. She's always wanted to go hiking in our beautiful national parks in the Southwest. So by brother, my sister-in-law, and I are taking her Arches National Park and other places in Utah.

I used to walk and hike often before PMR reared its ugly head. Now I still walk, but I don't go up steep hills very much. I'll try not to overdo it on this trip, but I'm wondering if I should take extra pred. I remember some people saying they took extra pred. while traveling, but I can't seem to find their posts.

Thank you for any advice. I love this web site and have learned so much from you wonderful people!

Judy

[1Purplecrow]

Hi Judy, I was at Arches NP last year..much of that amazing park is accessible by auto. Walk as much as you feel like. Be prepared to be awed by the spectacular panoramic geology. Take a few tylenol with you in case you need a bit of pain relief for sore muscles. I did not need additional pred., but had it with me...in case😜

Birthday wishes to your sis, and enjoy your trip!

Regards , From Bellingham Wa, jerri

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi JudyB,

Very good idea to take extra with you, but might also be wise to taken an extra mg on the day before you depart, and certainly on the first few days there. You may find you don’t need them after that, but best to be pro-active rather than reactive!

Plus remember to give yourself time to rest and recouperate, even though you still walk, the whole holiday “thing” and more difficult hikes although very enjoyable can still be stressful!

Enjoy!

[judyb100 in reply to DorsetLady]

Sounds like a good idea. I may take an extra mg for the first few days. I think others have mentioned this, but it's hard to get friends or relatives to believe that you can't do everything you could before PMR. I've tried to explain this, but they always forget!

[Tamtan2 in reply to DorsetLady]

As you know I came back from ThailandIn January 20 , live there 6 months of year and ...............no although I have a house there I look after my grandsons Robin born Christmas 19 And Reece 7 1/2 years it’s not a holiday sunbathing etc before Pmr and Gca I was in all the fun parks etc Full off life and looking forward to a lovely life in retirement ............that’s not how life is, now when will after all the world rights itself will I be able to travel back, do I need to get stable and medications organised or Is it no quite so easy. 🙏🏽

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Tamtan2]

You need to make sure your medication is doing the job first and foremost.

Not sure when travel is going to be okay again, especially for you if you are still on high doses of Pred, and therefore in the “shielding” category....depending on how long tgat continues.

Plus you must remember that you have a serious systemic illness, so doing all the grandmotherly activities may well take their toll.

[Tamtan2 in reply to DorsetLady]

Hi thanks for that a nanny will be organized for me if and when I get back no chance of taking part in activities that are to much for me think I will be be a spectator for a while. 🙏🏽

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Most of us take extra for the long travelling day across time zones so we keep our daily dose at the same time as usual. Otherwise I don't usually bother - unless my body tells me to!

[GOOD_GRIEF]

I always take backup medication with me. You never know when some incident somewhere in the world will cause travel disruptions, or maybe you'll decide to extend your stay for one reason or another. Getting prescriptions filled across state lines in the US isn't as easy as it used to be.

I keep the dosages I plan to take for the duratrion of my trip in my purse, and I put the backup in my carry-on. I also carry a day two in a little pill box that's always in my purse, even when I'm just traveling to work.

Others may think this is overdoing precautions, but I always feel better when I'm prepared for the unexpected. Having backup plans for my backup plans has been a lifelong habit that has stood me well.

[judyb100 in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

A good idea. I didn't think of that. I was planning to put all my pills in my bag, which I have to check. If it gets lost, I'd be in trouble trying to hike with no prednisone. I've never been so dependent on pills before!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to judyb100]

Not - don’t put in hold luggage, carry it with you!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to judyb100]

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Put some in the hold luggage. Carry at least just enough for the entire trip with you in the hand luggage. And if you are travelling with someone - ask them to carry some pred for you.

Depending on where you are going - take a letter saying what you are on and why and a prescription. You won't be able to use it but you can show it to a medical person to get an emergency script.

[GOOD_GRIEF in reply to PMRpro]

You have to be careful here in airports with prescription meds. It's not a good idea to have someone else carry yours for you, even if it is only pred. Hand searches of carryons yielding drugs not prescribed to the carrier have caused problems even for the totally innocent.

Our pills don't weigh anything and don't take up much space. I only divide what I carry between my purse and my carryon in case one or the other goes missing.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

Noone has ever asked me about my medications. I carry them in a ziplock bag the same size as the fluids one and all go together in the security tray. And we always carry stuff belonging to the other - because we've lost stuff in the past.

[judyb100 in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

Thanks! I'm on my trip now. I took your advice and carried one set of pills in my purse and one set in my carry-on. Had no problems and we're having a great time!

[GOOD_GRIEF in reply to judyb100]

That's wonderful! I'm so glad to hear you're having fun.

Travel safely.

[Hidden]

Since having PMR I find I have a lot of feet pain. I purchased some Skeechers? shoes which are softer and have good suspension. Perhaps some hikers poles may help you also. I wouldn't know about increasing your dose, but I do know about travel. You need to plan rest days into your itinerary. Do not go out every day. Take a break and do something relaxing. Travel is stressful, the airports, sleeping somewhere else, and different food all takes its toll. Always keep your medication with you- never in a checked bag. I recently went on a trip from AUST to USA ( yes I went to Seattle) and my bag got left behind in AUS. Finally it caught up with me 5 days later.

Have a wonderful trip, but put yourself first and say NO if not entirely up to a big day out.