traveling with meds

Hi All,
My frst post so quick intro - female - geno1 - high vl - interferon combo therapy - week 24. Tx going ok - detectable at 12 wks but vl to low 2 read (so thats a plus), fingers x next time undect.
I am travelling to USA from Aus in Dec and will need to carry my meds. When we booked it was possible to have aircrew place interferon in onboard fridge. Due to recent events this is no longer possible so I need ideas on how to keep my meds chilled for a period of approx 15hrs.
Once in the USA is should have no problems with just using my hosp ice pack & hotel bar fridges.

Cheers if anyone can help, GC

[GrandOak]

Given the recent bans on any liquids on most flights, that could be a problem.  I would suggest talking with airport security, customs, perhaps even embassies to see what is or is not permissible these days.  Explain your situation and the dependency you have on these medications.  It might not hurt to also have perscriptions and a letter from your doctor to back your need for these meds.

If unable to transport them, you may also want to see if perscriptions can be transfered stateside for refill of what you need while here as a possible alternative.

Just a few thoughts which rattled around my brain fogged mind as suggestions.

[GrandOak]

Another thought is to see if a HCV patient stateside here might not be able to help you obtain the meds you need while here too.  Perhaps your doctors could correspond or I've even heard of cases where people used less than honorable means to obtain meds for their tx, sometime because the meds they wanted were not approved and available.  Maybe you can properly send your meds via courier to someone stateside so they are here when you arrive?

Not that I would suggestion anything illegal of course, but how can we expect to unify together in a global cause to increase public awareness and funding for alternate and more effective treatments if we can not even help one another out with simple requests such as this?

[mycoldfeet]

Day before yesterday the American press stated the airlines relaxed the ban in regards to meds. The kit from pegasys has a freeze pac or you can buy a couple more. As long as you have a script from your Doc and the protective cap is installed you shouldn't have a problem, btw they even have a lock box in the area behind the cockpit to stow legal firearms in their prospective locked boxes with the bolt or slide removed, so whats the big deal with a couple mg of prescriptions. And don't fret too much about the fridge, even without the freeze pacs Pegasys is stable for 72 hours at 76degrees, call the airline also.

[Kalio1]

Your drugs are fine and you can bring them on the plane with you, both Interferon and the riba in the correct containers with your name/doctors name on them. You might call the airline you are using and ask their specific policy regarding keeping them cool on the flight as the cooling agents might be a problem as many are gel or liquid. They can outline their rules. I'd call so I didnt end up with a problem at the airport. All medications are OK now if properly labeled,even injectibles, just dont bring your lipstick or shampoo in your carry on!

[DougV]

Just as another option, peg is available in powdered form.  Comes with a small vial of peg and a vial of distilled water.  You simply add a specified amount of water to the powder vial, wait a few minutes, and withdraw a specific amount.  Big plus is it does not need to be kept refriderated at all.  I didn't like the redipen and traveled during tx so I found this option to be the best one for me.  Generally no problem getting a doc to give you this instead of the redipen.  Enjoy the flight, my rear end is still sore from that one and it's been three years since I made it.

Doug

[Kalio1]

I agree with Doug I also use the powder/saline mix vials and I find them easy. The fact they dont need refrigeration is very handy. Maybe your pharmacist can help?

[pigeonca]

I use a Frio travel wallet for insulin.  It should work just fine with any med that requires refrigeration.  Here in the US it's sold at http://www.coolerconcept.com/.  Probably there's a source where you live too.
pigeon

[goodcoffee]

Cheers All,
Thnx for the advice a few ideas to explore. I have contacted my airline and been informed that aircrew will no longer take responsibility for medication. It must go in main luggage and I am not sure of temperature in area, will try & find out. Will ask my Doctor about powdered form.
Next hurdle will be if Doc wants me to get bloods in U.S.A cross that one if needed.

Cheers GC

[turtle 2]

I travel from Houston to Peru on a monthly basis.  This is what I do.  I have a small insulated soft sided lunch bag that holds 5 boxes of the Redipens and two small ice packs.  I put this bag inside a slightly larger insulated bag.  I put ice packs in the larger bag all around the smaller one.  I put all this in a carry on sized suitcase and still have room for my shaving kit and a few clothes. I have done experiments to see how long the ice packs would last in this set up and they were still partially frozen after 48 hours.  Do not use dry ice as the airlines have restrictions on this.  I check the bag so I don't have any problems going through security but I've been told it is OK to carry perscription drugs on the plane as long it has a label with your name on it.  BTW The larger insulated bag I use is made by Coleman.  It' called the "FrostBite Insulation System". It is very well insulated but not bulky.  I bought it at Wal-Mart.  This trip, upon arriving in Lima, I put the smaller insulated bag with the meds and an ice pack in the fridge.  Thinking if the power went out I would still be OK.  After one day the meds were frozen.  The point being don't get too carried away trying to keep the meds cold. You can over do it.
Hope this helps.

[pigeonca]

I use a Frio travel wallet for insulin and will get another one for interferon once I begin tx.  It should work fine for any med that requires refrigeration.  You can find info at http://www.coolerconcept.com/.
pigeon

[hippygem]

Sorry about that I meant Sunspot, I can understand now how some of us make mistakes here when we havent had a good sleep, sorry once again.

Linda

[jmjm530]

Coffee: detectable at 12 wks but vl to low 2 read
-----------------------------------------------------
I'm a little confused here.

The definition of "detectable" is viral load HIGHER THAN the sensitivity of the test taken. So, for example, if your viral load test had a sensitivity of 50 IU/ml, then you would be detectible if your viral load was higher than 50 IU/ml but you would be NON DETECTIBLE if the test results read <50 IU/ml or some such notation.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if your viral load -- as stated above -- is "too low to read" -- than you may indeed be NON-DETECTIBLE which is good news. Maybe you can clarify or if you're not sure check with your doctor.

All the best.

-- Jim

[sunspot]

Welcome to medhelp forum. Please visit at any time but I thought you might like the addy of a new Hep site that started up in Aus.

http://hepcaustralia.thruhere.net/

A very nice site started by a member here named Linda.

[cuteus]

the way I read the post was that she was detectable by qualitative but not quantitative?

[jmjm530]

To me, being "detectable at 12 wks but vl to low 2 read" is an oxymoron. If it was a qualitative, she would be detectible above whatever the test limit was. Maybe it was just the way she worded it and hopefully she will clarify and hopefully she indeed is non-detectible.

[jmjm530]

On second thought, it could mean she was detectible by TMA but that she was non-detectible by whatever PCR they use in Australia, which maybe isn't all that sensitive.  Still needs clarification.

[Tater-ToT]

Even Under a Code orange security alert meds ARE allowed on flights...

Make sure name on prescription Matches passenger name, Also (Hint) I have found that dry ice works Better & Longer than ice packs, & not near as messy!

Then there is of-course FEDX overnight which works exceptionally well with dry ice & an alternative I used often between Alaska & Georgia... don't know about international rates on FedX... but it was only about 25 bucks for me & also saved me any airport security hassels... so that 25 bucks boughtme a LOT of peace of mind!
;)
Psst... as a Java Junkie, I must say that I LUV your monkier!

[hippygem]

I hope that you come and register with us at the site candoman mentioned above, would love to have any of you come there and share your expriences.

Linda

[can-do-man]

WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT? IM CAN-DO-MAN AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO YOUR SITE NOR HAVE I EVER mentioned it. Care to explain? Thanks

[cuteus]

I love the name too!  
one question, if you were still detectable at wk 12, are you still doing only 48 wks total?

[goodcoffee]

Hi people,
Sorry a error with VL count, my Doc was away last month & was given miss info from fill in. But saw my guy y'day and have the full picture. Started with VL 8,200,000 after 12wks had dropped to 62,000 which is just below required to continue program. I had my 24wk VL done this week & will get results next Doc visit in 4wks.
Thnx for info on travel spoke to Doc (threw him a curved ball) he feels using a icepack with a few bricks will do the job, my journey from home to destination will be approx 18hrs. But he wants me to get bloods while away just a FBC as my neutrophils are fairly up & down. Hope this won't be a drama.

Cheers GC