I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Traveling Tips and Stories => Topic started by: flipperfun on May 12, 2011, 07:04:03 AM

Title: EPO in a refrigerated container
Post by: flipperfun on May 12, 2011, 07:04:03 AM: Hi everyone, I have been advised I need to take my EPO with me in a refrigerated container when I go on holiday. Does anyone know where I can get such a container. I've heard of gel packs for insulin, is this the same for EPO?

Any advice would be useful. Thank you
Title: Re: EPO in a refrigerated container
Post by: Jie on May 12, 2011, 12:04:03 PM: Pharmacies usually use a thick envelop that some ice in plastic bags are inserted inside the envelop to mail the EPO. It can last about 2 weeks.
Title: Re: EPO in a refrigerated container
Post by: greg10 on May 12, 2011, 12:11:25 PM: Quote from: flipperfun on May 12, 2011, 07:04:03 AM
Hi everyone, I have been advised I need to take my EPO with me in a refrigerated container when I go on holiday. Does anyone know where I can get such a container. I've heard of gel packs for insulin, is this the same for EPO?

Any advice would be useful. Thank you
FRIO cooling pouch activated by water through evaporative cooling.
http://www.amazon.com/FRIO-Insulin-Cooling-Carrying-Wallet/dp/B0002262DA
Title: Re: EPO in a refrigerated container
Post by: jbeany on May 12, 2011, 07:02:41 PM: You don't need to overthink this too much. Any kind of a lunch cooler will do. Get a solid freezie pack like you'd use to keep lunches cold and stuff it in the cooler. When it starts to melt, use ice from where ever you are vacationing to replenish it. Just don't put the epo directly on the ice pack, since it shouldn't be frozen.

I always traveled with my insulin and epo in the same cooler I used for snacks and drinks.
Title: Re: EPO in a refrigerated container
Post by: Willis on May 13, 2011, 07:40:21 AM: Maybe you can find something here to give you some ideas:

http://www.compactappliance.com/12-Volt-Travel-Coolers/Outdoor_Living-Travel_Coolers,default,sc.html?view=grid
Title: Re: EPO in a refrigerated container
Post by: flipperfun on May 15, 2011, 12:23:18 AM: Thank you for those very helpful suggestions.

Have a great day everyone.
Title: Re: EPO in a refrigerated container
Post by: Stever on June 27, 2011, 08:42:19 AM: Quote from: flipperfun on May 12, 2011, 07:04:03 AM
Hi everyone, I have been advised I need to take my EPO with me in a refrigerated container when I go on holiday. Does anyone know where I can get such a container. I've heard of gel packs for insulin, is this the same for EPO?

Any advice would be useful. Thank you

Hi,
We did a cruise with Costa last year and needed to take EPO with us, travelling from Heathrow to Nice to Savona.
I bought a gel cooled pouch from Boots and it was ideal. As I recall , you initially immerese it in water to activate the gel and then enclose your medication. We paid circa £12, expensive, but worth it.
Title: Re: EPO in a refrigerated container
Post by: poncho on October 28, 2011, 01:38:59 PM: aranesp will last a week non refrigerated. micera a whole month. if you're on epogen or procrit you're out of luck.

The problem is getting the gel pack or icepack through airport security. Also, airline usually will not let you put the epo in their onbard fridges.

What I did (before switching to Mircera) was to get a soft pack cooler and a waterproof bag filled with ice and the epo. Just before security, I dump the ice and just after I find a restaurant and ask them to fill it back up with ice for the trip. i used this technique during a 2 month round the world trip.