Travel and Hypothyroid

[flop2018]

I know this isn't the type of question that usually gets asked here, but does anyone have any experience long term travelling with hypothyroidism?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I do not have experience! But here are a few suggestions of possible issues:

A UK GP is only supposed to prescribe for a relatively short period if you are out of the country. (Two or three months, I think.) So you need to consider how to get more whether before you go or en route.

Carrying levothyroxine could expose it to high temperatures. (Assuming you get blister packs, they do help to reduce the likelihood of oxygen or humidity affecting the tablets.)

If you re-supply as you go, you could end up having little choice of make. And switching makes can be a bad plan.

At least think through your options should you lose some of the medicine - e.g. lost baggage or damage.

If you will be at altitude, it is important to understand that can significantly affect thyroid hormones.

Your local climate could affect how much you need. Just as some in the UK need slightly less in summer, and more in winter, so can things change as you go from cold to hot countries and back.

Timing of doses can be a problem. In transit we can all end up with our usual routines comprehensively re-arranged. For example, eating at odd times. Which can also affect when you take your thyroid hormone.

If you don't feel right, you might wish to try to get tested wherever you are. You'd probably also want access to all previous results so you can see how things have changed.

Others might well come along with additional thoughts.

Think through and plan. But you are quite likely to have no problems at all! Enjoy your trip.

[Sheba678 in reply to helvella]

Thank you for these helpful tips.

Could you explain a bit further as to how altitude affects thyroid hormones ?

Do you mean altitude affects the thyroid hormones produced by the body or the medication itself ? or both ?

Thanks again.

[pam_eelcrag in reply to Sheba678]

I have read there is a connection between the effect of altitude and thyroid hormones. I worked as a trek leader for several years. I now have Hashimotos disease and would love to go back to high mountains. Please tell me more.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to pam_eelcrag]

No personal experience. See here:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Sheba678

[pam_eelcrag in reply to helvella]

Interested to read dose required may vary between summer and winter and when travelling abroad. Please explain how this works or refer me to information. I asked this of my GP recently and thought maybe I'd asked a 'silly question'. I have noticed I deal with heat less well. Also have wondered if there is a connection with melatonin. I used to work as a trek leader at altitude and would like to go back to the high mountains. (I have Hashimotos disease).

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to pam_eelcrag]

Have a look here:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/308...

Not super-clear but at least identifies that there is some connection.

[ZippyAppletush]

How about 52 year expat experience, hypothyroid, recently retired? Travelled primarily Middle East working/visiting. Took 6 month prescriptions from UK (rules in early days...now only three month max for holidays, at least with my GP on production of travel dates). I have only been on Levo so can only say for that but OTC access always easy and had no reaction with Euthyrox.

I always travelled with one month supply in my carry on and remainder in suitcase. A letter also from the GP to cover the meds I was prescribed. Ditto my daughter’s meds.

It all depends where you’re going and for how long, but Emirates/Qatar/Saudi have excellent emergency care...at least that’s been my experience with my daughter.

Safe travels!

[MMaud]

I'm actually away at the moment. I'm not yet on a stable dose, but I took a view.

As my major, major issue is temperature dysregulation, meaning I am constantly very cold, even with the heating at 25c, I felt a bit of time in the warmth would do me good. Frankly, it feels like it has. OK, the daytime temperatures have been 38c, and I'm about the only non-local person around these parts not "glowing" like mad.

maybe my underlying condition is better, or maybe I just got a bit warmer, who knows, but I'll go with it for now.

I am away for a total of 8 weeks this time. Before leaving UK, I had a frank discussion with my GP about my plans and the trip and she was absolutely fine to prescribe enough medication to see me through. In fact, she kept asking if I was sure I had enough.

I also had a discussion with her aqbout titrating up, if my symptoms persisted, but she got very jittery about that, so I (somewhat reluctantly) agreed to stay at my 125mcgr until I have tests when I get back. Thankfully, I haven't regretted that.

Here in SE Asia, one can buy Levothyroxine over the counter, without a prescription, which is useful to know. I have also acquired some NDT to have "in stock" should I not get to where I need something more than just T4.

Of course, that's a gamble, but it was easy to acquire here; less so in UK. I hope it will be delivered tomorrow or Tuesday.

All in all, I guess much depends on where you are going, how long for and how bold and confident you are in terms of your strategies.

I really do hate it when conditions get in the way of life's adventures, so I try to "keep calm and carry on" where I can, but of course, that's not always practical. I did have a period last year when I didn't travel and was more miserable than ever in the cold.

Good luck whatever you decide to do, and let me know if I can help in any way.

[flop2018 in reply to MMaud]

This is really reassuring thank you! I've been having a rubbish time with the diagnosis, having gone from being the happiest I've been travelling the world solo for six months at a time to feeling like I can't trust my body to get me anywhere and feeling stuck and miserable at only 22 but knowing people are out there doing it is great to hear. Hope your SE Asia adventure is great, that part of the world holds a special place for me

[Hidden]

We have a motorhome and usually travel between 4-6 months of the year in Europe. I have an under active thyroid and also Atrial Fibrillation and to date have had no problems. If I run out of tablets I usually visit the local doctor for a prescription.

Di

[flop2018 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply, it's really reassuring that it gets better and I'll be able to travel for that amount of time still

[silverfox7]

Might be worth finding out before you go what the availability is for the places you are travelling through just in case. Anything could happened to your luggage, hope it doesn't, but nothing worse if anything like that happens and then you have to start looking at alternatives when you are stressed.

[ZippyAppletush in reply to silverfox7]

Had to smile at this one...I stopped in Bahrain once but my luggage made it to Hongkong! 😂

(I did get it back a couple of days later, but definitely reassuring to know I had a long enough supply in hand luggage to cover any problems.)

[faye1117]

I traveled to Nigeria I had a horrible time the time change and jet lag made my hashi fatigue worse the heat destroyed me has flares back to back and the doctor never heard of my disease.

[Hotentre]

Hi there yes I have.I have had to change time Zones and do find that it does effect me

[Petronella]

Like others here, I have travelled extensively with hypothyroidism and never had any problems - except last summer, when we were with our son's family in Denmark with our campervan, and when we were about to leave for a long slow drive back to England, I realised I didn't have enough levo. for the trip. The local pharmacist was sympathetic but said I must get a prescription from the doctor (which would have been free, with my EHIC card), but I didn't have time. In the end, I just carried on, and survived a few days without the medication. I'm more careful now!

[MMaud]

Others have mentioned changing time zones. We're currently on +7 hours, so it meant coming I had one dose of Levo a bit sooner than usual, and similarly, on the way back, I'll end up with a slightly longer gap between doses.

Yes, jet lag coming this way is worse, but I didn't notice any difference in its impact from prediagnosis. I just had a couple of spaced out days, living in a daze, but some would aks, what's new in that!

Have a wonderful adventure. It's what life's about.

[flop2018 in reply to MMaud]

Thanks for your reply, it's extremely reassuring for me! What kind of activities to you get up to when you travel, do you still feel like you're able to hike and be adventurous outside?

[MMaud in reply to flop2018]

To be honest, I have never let anything get in the way of my life's adventures. Some years ago, I went on a 9-month, ocean-going sailing trip, just 3 weeks after diagnosis of T2 diabetes. In the time I was away I managed to reverse it.

I walk, sail, dive, drive - whatever I'd do at home.

Any long term diagnosis takes a little while to get our head around, but being determined counts for a lot in this life.

Of course, I have been lucky to be able to be the way I am, and not everyone is - no matter how hard they might try.

I had a break from travelling when I was trying to get my (what now transpires to be thyroid) issues diagnosed, and spending time in hot climates, then complaining of the cold (even though I'd be cold in the Caribbean) made it too easy to be dismissed with statements like, "what do you expect, having been in that heat". That was a very, very frustrating time, but this year, although still trying to sort things out, I decided the warmth and change would do me more good than almost anything else I could think of.

Take it steady, but honestly, don't let these bumps in the road hold,you back..

[flop2018 in reply to MMaud]

So inspiring! Thank you so much for taking the time out to give me the pep talk, it's exactly what Ive been needing to hear.

[Blot]

Yes but how long is long term and where travelling to. It makes an enormous difference. A warm place eases the strain on an under performing thyroid- cold makes managing it much more difficult. If you are travelling around you must ear and sleep well. Take extra glandular to boost the thyroid and supporting supplements. Make a very good inventory of each place you travel to. Gather loads of information so there are few surprises, makes friends if travelling alone and rest if tired. Beware of roadside food and don’t lick your fingers in hot countries like India Thailand Philippines or any high humid countries. Also avoid anxiety. Leave jewellery at home. Ticket passport and credit in a body belt with only a little purse of currency. Travelling is then no bar for hypo thyroid people. . And carry clean water. OK

[Blot in reply to Blot]

Sorry. Eat and sleep well!!

[LAHs in reply to Blot]

Just FYI, if you click on the downward arrow next to "More" it allows you to go back into your text where you can edit any errors.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Blot]

You may not realise that you can edit any posts or responses you have made here.

HealthUnlocked have produced a simple demonstration of how to do this. You can find this here:

support.healthunlocked.com/...

I am pointing this out purely to ensure that you know your options.

(If you make extensive changes, it is sometimes helpful to add a comment so that people can see that you have made changes.)

[LAHs]

Excellent advice above. My two cents worth: Put your pills in your suitcase the night before!! That way you don't drive off without them. (Been there, done that).

[Biloxi]

I travel and have hypo.

But my travel is a few days each week. I have these little pill keychains that I ALWAYS keep in my purse, and also carry my pill pack in my suitcase. I always have what I need. Hope these ideas help!

[brfran]

I travel long haul and stay away a couple of months. I'm using NDT but if I have to I can get by on T4. I don't use hold bags but if you do make sure your meds are in the carry on. I take my NDT with me, I don't have a prescription for it so always take some levo with a scrip, just in case. There is no way on god's green earth I will let any medical condition stop me leading my life. Including eating street food, I might add. Hot or cold places, high altitude, walking, whatever. Do it.

[flop2018 in reply to brfran]

This is exactly what I was hoping to hear! I've been having real trouble with new sysmptoms and wrong dose/brand since diagnosis and as I've said in previous replies it was kind of depressing at 21 going from planning to work in different countries and travel extensively like I had before to feeling like my bodies and mind are failing me. But it sounds like you travel in the way I like to steet food, altitude and generally being outdoors is extremely reassuring to hear, thank you!

[Kiwidel]

Hi, I travel quite a bit but not for long periods. I’m not sure what specifically your question is so ... My UK GP gave me a prescription for 6 months worth of meds when I moved from the UK to Canada as I had asked for enough to see me through finding a new doctor (6 months was his idea, I was on a stable dose). When I travel my meds are always with me in my carry on luggage - I have never been stopped / had this challenged at the airport but it might be safe to have a copy of the prescription with you. If travelling to different time zones I alter when I take my meds to the times zone I’m in (I take NDT when I wake in the night) - this is in part because jet lag is easier to get over the quicker you operate to the local time and also to use routine to remind me to take the stuff!

[flop2018 in reply to Kiwidel]

I guess I just wanted to feel like it was still possible as I'd spent the past few years travelling for 6 months at a time and had hoped to make use of all the working holiday visas available. I'd spend the past few months feeling like this was it and I was stuck in the UK feeling ill for the next 70 years. Your reply has really helped

[Kiwidel in reply to flop2018]

Just do it, you may actually find your chosen destination is more enlightened about the treatment options available. Good luck! 😊

[Proudie]

Hi I'm on levo and buy mine over the counter at chemist in Spain and go to doctor and get injection it costs me 2.50 euro for 5 ampulets and 6euro for injection. (private doctor) or free using EHIC. I keep it in fridge.

Hope this helps