I’m flying to Australia for a month tomorrow and wondered if I’ve ticked all the necessary boxes . It’s about a 23 hour flight . We’ve spent the kid’s inheritance and gone business class . I’ve organised assisted wheelchair boarding . I’ve got my blue badge packed . I’m hoping they recognise it in Australia - does any one know ? I’ve got a list of my meds from my GP including injecting methotrexate . I’ve got the thumbs up from my ( yet another new) rheumy to increase my prednisone from 8.5mg to 10 mg daily ( more if I need it) since I’m really struggling now anyway .
How should I manage the time difference and taking all my drugs ? I normally take them all at about 9 am. All I can think of is to not change the time on my watch🤷♀️. I don’t sleep well anyway so I guess taking my pills in the middle of the night won’t be a big thing . How have other people managed their meds, please? We shall be based in Sydney and Melbourne .
I’ve done long haul a few times now, but they were many years ago when I was decades younger and long before this 🤬disease took over my life . I never thought I’d attempt long haul again , but my son lives there and is getting married so I felt I HAD to go . I’m very , very lucky because my husband , despite 2 new knees recently , is pretty fit and helpful .
Any advice would be greatly appreciated . Better get back to my packing !
Written by
katiemills
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Long haul advice and timings of meds– based on my trip to NZ.
Long before GCA, my son always said put your watch (and mind) on local time in country of arrival -and work to that.
Depending on which way you are going… forwards in time or back you need to think about medication times.
So if you take your meds at 7am at home, keep to 7am local time wherever you are.
Just sit down with times of flights and work it out -always better to take an extra dose or half dose than not enough .
Make sure all meds in original boxes and copy of prescription in your hand luggage -and book assistance-always a long walk at airport… even if you think you don’t need it. Another bonus, the cabin crew will also be aware so will be a bit more attentive - makes life so much easier.
Don’t do too much for a couple of days after flight, but most of all enjoy yourself!
My example
On my first trip to NZ when still on Pred, I took usual morning dose in UK (taking an early evening flight) with stopover in Singapore.
Took another dose with last meal on plane before landing at Singapore-local time 17.30 next day (UK time 7hrs behind).
On stopover days - took usual morning time.
When just in transit, [on second trip] I left Singapore evening around 3-4 hrs later arriving at Christchurch mid-morning following day (another few hours ahead) so again took dose with breakfast on plane.
Back to morning (local time) next day.
So, I actually took 3 doses over 27hours rather than 2 -but no issues, and probably helped with travelling hassle…
On return flight -left NZ their noon -so usual dose in morning -either take half a dose in Singapore airport or on UK flight plane with supper (flight left evening local time) and then usual dose with breakfast on plane just before landing 6am UK time.
I work on local time too - same as DL. Travelling out I take my meds in the morning before leaving and then a proportion of them after about 20-24 hours to carry me over until the next day dose would be due at the same time as home but Oz time. It is probably about 50% of the daily dose for this trip for pred but anything else I just take the usual dose for the 12 hour difference. Depends what else you take but for most things a bit too much is generally not a problem.
DorsetLady has described exactly what I do and it works very well. My daughters and grandchildren live in Australia and I have visited there over 20 times. So yes, do change your watch to Australia time, for the Prednisalone and live as an Australian for the duration. I have been put on BP medication relatively recently and worried about that, I ended up taking BP meds late on Australia time (so less overall) and the Prednisalone early - this ends up as more - this mitigates the inevitable stress of the long journey even though you have done everything to make it as gentle as possible. Business class is addictive - it makes a massive difference, again the kids inheritance. Have a wonderful time. You’ll be going again if there is the patter of little feet, I guarantee.
I did the same as Dorset Lady when we flew to Sydney just over 3 months ago. It didn’t somehow seen too much of a problem. On the plane the meal times helped as for taking the meds with food. I always carry my meds separate in hand luggage and when filling in the form I get worried on the medical part about steroids. I just hand the card in as we go through at Sydney and say they are corticosteroids and they never really seem at all interested!
I don't understand uping the Prednisone. I can offer this my Rumi had me split the dose 1/2 in AM the other in evening to keep better balance through a day. This was very helpful for me when I was trying to taper
Slight different scenario- because of time difference between northern and southern hemisphere and therefore may not able to adhere to the normal 24 hours between doses, it is sometimes suggested to add in another dose/half a dose. It is not a permanent change, it’s a one off , and may also help with the stress in travelling.
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