If you lost your meds while traveling

[MooseMom]

I travel abroad at least once a year, and like a good patient, I always carry my meds on board with me instead of placing them in my checked luggage.

Last night, I had a nightmare in which I was in a city that was supposed to be London but certainly didn't look like London (as so often happens in dreams), and I saw that I had left my meds back in the US.  I tried so hard to find out what to do, but no one had any answers.

So, in real life, I am sure that this sort of thing does happen, but I'd like to ask anyway.  What DO people do if they lose their meds abroad?  I looked at my travel insurance policy, and it says nothing about the cost of replacing meds, but that's sort of beside the point anyway.  How do you replace immunosuppressants that have to be taken every single day?  Where would you get your evening tac FOR THAT EVENING?

Do you just go to a local chemist and have them phone your tx center for instructions? 

I'm going to London later this month, and what if my bag was stolen at Heathrow?  And all of my meds were gone?  What would I be told to do next?

They always tell you that if you need to evacuate the plane, you should leave all of your belongings behind.  But what if you had to leave your meds behind?  What would happen next? 

Anyone know?

[Jean]

I have no idea, just hoping some of us will know. Good post MM.

[cattlekid]

I made the mistake once of not having more than one day of meds with me while traveling on a short flight.  My bag did not make it with me, but I was in the states.  So I called my transplant center, called CVS and I was able to get the basics refilled on a short notice.  I learned my lesson and now I always travel with my meds on my person. 

[Paul]

If you are in London (or anywhere in England) 'phone 111, NHS Direct are very helpful in an emergency, even to non British citizens in the UK.

[MooseMom]

Cattlekid, yeah, I guess calling your tx center would be the first thing to do.  I use UW-Madison's mail order pharmacy, so it makes sense to call them first.  I know that they do not mail meds overseas, but I guess if I was in the US, they could just liase with the nearest pharmacy.  How much were you charged?  How did your insurance respond?  Those meds are expensive!!!

Paul, that's a good idea.  I seem to remember seeing signs around for NHS Direct but never took much notice.  I will now!  What do you think they would suggest I do?

[cassandra]

In The Netherlands I only discovered I had no Tinzaparin when I was putting stuff ready for a nice session. I sank through the floor, nearly threw-up. I Googled and phoned hospitals till I found one that did dialysis. They told me to ring some central Doctors post who worked out for me how much Tinzaparine I would need (duh) en then  I had to pay for the consultation and pick up a prescription about an hours drive away. Than go to a pharmacy somewhere else and pay for the Tinzaparine. This was all with my Ehic card (European Health Insurance card) The whole thing cost a day, stress, patience, energy, more energy and money. And then do the nice session. Lesson learned. I can now D without Tinzaparin. And I put a full weeks meds in each suitcase, handbag, coat pocket and car boot that's coming with.


I've given up finding a solution for the case of plane trouble, or boat trouble.
I can't swim The Channel, and it will be very cold. And I've never been able to fly either.

[kristina]

I travel abroad at least once a year, and like a good patient, I always carry my meds on board with me instead of placing them in my checked luggage.

Last night, I had a nightmare in which I was in a city that was supposed to be London but certainly didn't look like London (as so often happens in dreams), and I saw that I had left my meds back in the US.  I tried so hard to find out what to do, but no one had any answers.

So, in real life, I am sure that this sort of thing does happen, but I'd like to ask anyway.  What DO people do if they lose their meds abroad?  I looked at my travel insurance policy, and it says nothing about the cost of replacing meds, but that's sort of beside the point anyway.  How do you replace immunosuppressants that have to be taken every single day?  Where would you get your evening tac FOR THAT EVENING?

Do you just go to a local chemist and have them phone your tx center for instructions? 

I'm going to London later this month, and what if my bag was stolen at Heathrow?  And all of my meds were gone?  What would I be told to do next?

They always tell you that if you need to evacuate the plane, you should leave all of your belongings behind.  But what if you had to leave your meds behind?  What would happen next? 

Anyone know?

Hello MooseMom, I do hope such a nightmare-situation won't ever happen in real life, but if by any chance it would, it might be a good idea to travel straight to the nearest kidney-transplant-hospital and ask the medics about urgently needed prescriptions. Some kidney-transplant-hospitals do also have a "rapid-assessment" unit, where transplanted kidney-patients have a chance to find quick answers to medical problems and medics surely appreciate how precious a kidney transplant is and how important it is to take medication at all times to keep the transplant ...
Dear MooseMom, I do hope you won't have such a distressing nightmare again and I send you my kind best wishes from Kristina.

[MooseMom]

{b]Kristina[/b], I have absolutely no idea where the closest transplant hospital is to where I will be in the Croydon area!  I've googled it but have found nothing.  I don't know where people go in London for a transplant!

Do GPs see "foreigners"?  My old GP's surgery is still just down the road.  I don't know what he would do, anyway.  I don't think he could write prescriptions for me since I no longer contribute to the NHS.  I certainly don't expect to get anything for free, rather, I'm just curious about the logistics of it all.  I'll be in London for almost a month, and I'm sure many tx recipients travel the world for extended periods of time because what else is a transplant for?  LOL!

I'm guessing that what I'd have to do is to call 111 and see if it would be possible for the local dispensing pharmacy to contact my tx center in Madison to verify my meds and dosages.  Hopefully the chemist could issue me meds for about a week's time because I'd have to get Madison to send new meds to my husband for HIM to mail to me via some sort of expedited delivery, and all of that takes time.

Mind you, I plan very, very carefully when it comes to travelling and making sure I have enough of my meds in case there are travel delays, but I had never thought of what would happen if for whatever reason I lost ALL of my meds!  I do NOT anticipate that happening, but that doesn't mean it would not.  Bags get stolen all the time, even carry on bags.  Imagine the disappointment a thief would feel if he stole my pills and found out they were not "fun" but, rather, they were immunosuppressants!  What's the street value of tacrolimus?  ha.

Perhaps I'm overthinking this.  Still, I'm curious.

[MooseMom]

Oh, well, I DID find this:

http://www.travelinsurancereview.net/tips-and-advice/travel-safety-tips/replace-prescriptions-abroad/

Of course, since this article is from an insurance website (insurance being the bane of existence for all Americans), they say to first contact your "travel insurance assistance service".   OK, fair enough, but I am not too sure I would want a "travel insurance assistance service" talking to my transplant coordinator about something as complicated as immunosuppressants.  I take a couple of other meds prescribed for me by my regular doctor, too, so that would be an awful lot of phone calling I'd have to trust the "assistance service" to do competently.

Fortunately, I think I can competently explain my "condition" to a local doctor! 

[PrimeTimer]

Maybe you can ship some of your meds to your destination before arriving. Of course I know nothing about immunosuppressant meds so ignore my suggestion if it's a stupid idea.
fyi: just to be clear, the meds you ship ahead of time could act as your "emergency reserves" in addition to the meds you actually travel with on your person.

[Cupcake]

I always squirrel some extra cash away in my carry-on in addition to my purse, so could squirrel away a few pills, too! I got these little zip lock pill bags from cvs that would hold a days supply at least. I'm getting my new kidney  October 23, so it's great to review this issue! As soon as I'm given the OK to travel, I've got big plans to travel. PD has cramped my style.

[MooseMom]

Maybe you can ship some of your meds to your destination before arriving. Of course I know nothing about immunosuppressant meds so ignore my suggestion if it's a stupid idea.
fyi: just to be clear, the meds you ship ahead of time could act as your "emergency reserves" in addition to the meds you actually travel with on your person.

You know, that's not a bad idea, particularly for someone who might have to make a lot of travel connections when handheld/carry on bags are more likely to go astray!  Thanks for that thought!

[MooseMom]

I always squirrel some extra cash away in my carry-on in addition to my purse, so could squirrel away a few pills, too! I got these little zip lock pill bags from cvs that would hold a days supply at least. I'm getting my new kidney  October 23, so it's great to review this issue! As soon as I'm given the OK to travel, I've got big plans to travel. PD has cramped my style.

Oh, I am SO into those little ziplock bags!!  They are brilliant and I use them all the time while travelling.  As soon as you are up and about after October 23, you go out and buy a whole bunch of them in celebration!!!

[Paul]

Paul, that's a good idea.  I seem to remember seeing signs around for NHS Direct but never took much notice.  I will now!  What do you think they would suggest I do?

Have twice known non-British citizens ask the NHS for help over a long standing condition, one was an American tourist with leukemia, the other was a Bazilian illegal with aids. In both cases the NHS treated them and supplied the required meds. In the case of the American it was in consultation with their doctor back home. I don't know, but I doubt if the Brazilian's doctor was consulted because he was pretending to be Portuguese (Portuguese have a legal right to live and work in Britain, no questions asked - Brazilians don't). Oh yeah, and neither was charged despite the fact that the American spent weeks in hospital and the Brazilian required expensive aids medication.

I have absolutely no idea where the closest transplant hospital is to where I will be in the Croydon area!  I've googled it but have found nothing.

St George's Hospital, but you may have to go through St Helier Hospital as they are the main renal hospital (St George's "do" the transplants but St Helier does all the arranging). I know this because I dialise at St Helier.

Incidentally, if you are in Croydon and you have a medical emergency, the local hospital is Croydon University Hospital (also called Mayday Hospital). Try your hardest to get them to take you elsewhere, Croydon University Hospital is one of the worst in the country.

Cannot understand why, with all of Britain to choose from, you would come to Croydon. I live there and so can say from experience that if Britain were an animal, Croydon would be the part of its body that the poop comes out of!

[iolaire]

I’m carrying two weeks of medicine in my backpack. Never to be checked but you never know. In Croatia today!  First I’d call the transplant center to let them know if need emergency help. Then start with a larger hospital at the destination to try to get recommends. Being in the EU if that didn’t help I might reach out to a transplant hospital in the U.K. or Germany with the hope they could suggest a pharmacy that could help with a same day air shipment if needed. I’m sure it might cost a lot. Generally I do not buy additional insurance and this type of experience would be something that hits my self insurance wallet hard.

[kristina]

{b]Kristina[/b], I have absolutely no idea where the closest transplant hospital is to where I will be in the Croydon area!  I've googled it but have found nothing.  I don't know where people go in London for a transplant!

Do GPs see "foreigners"?  My old GP's surgery is still just down the road.  I don't know what he would do, anyway.  I don't think he could write prescriptions for me since I no longer contribute to the NHS.  I certainly don't expect to get anything for free, rather, I'm just curious about the logistics of it all.  I'll be in London for almost a month, and I'm sure many tx recipients travel the world for extended periods of time because what else is a transplant for?  LOL!

I'm guessing that what I'd have to do is to call 111 and see if it would be possible for the local dispensing pharmacy to contact my tx center in Madison to verify my meds and dosages.  Hopefully the chemist could issue me meds for about a week's time because I'd have to get Madison to send new meds to my husband for HIM to mail to me via some sort of expedited delivery, and all of that takes time.

Mind you, I plan very, very carefully when it comes to travelling and making sure I have enough of my meds in case there are travel delays, but I had never thought of what would happen if for whatever reason I lost ALL of my meds!  I do NOT anticipate that happening, but that doesn't mean it would not.  Bags get stolen all the time, even carry on bags.  Imagine the disappointment a thief would feel if he stole my pills and found out they were not "fun" but, rather, they were immunosuppressants!  What's the street value of tacrolimus?  ha.

Perhaps I'm overthinking this.  Still, I'm curious.

Hello MooseMom, there are quite a few good kidney-transplant-clinics in London, i.e. The Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead springs to mind, where doctors are well known for their excellence and there is also the Cambridge University Hospital, where Sir Roy Calne performed in 1966 the first kidney transplant in Cambridge, which is now one of the largest of all kidney-transplant-hospitals in the UK.
Of course, it would necessitate some time in travelling, but if you are in urgent need of medication etc. you surely could ask there for help.
About receiving medical services from a NHS GP, I am not sure whether or not you would need to be a resident in the UK to register with a NHS-GP? But there are also many private GP's in and around London and they are not overly expensive  ... and you could see a private doctor the same day and there are also some private clinics, again you could see there a private doctor the same day and just in case, better bring copies of some of your most important medical papers with you to prove your medical situation, especially in case some of your medications are by accident "flown to Bombay" instead of arriving with you in London. That reminds me, my husband and I flew once to the Continent - in the years when I was still pre-dialysis -  and for some unexplained reason our luggage was by accident flown somewhere else and all we had to do was to give our Continental Hotel-address and our luggage arrived the same day late in the evening and it was sorted out very quickly and we were very relieved. We were quite surprised, how quickly it was all sorted, but nevertheless I am quite sure that if and when my call comes along and one year after my transplant we could perhaps travel, I surely would keep all my medication in my handbag at all times and I would not leave that handbag out of my sight ...
Best of luck wishes from Kristina.

[Paul]

Hello MooseMom, there are quite a few good kidney-transplant-clinics in London, i.e. The Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead springs to mind, where doctors are well known for their excellence and there is also the Cambridge University Hospital, where Sir Roy Calne performed in 1966 the first kidney transplant in Cambridge, which is now one of the largest of all kidney-transplant-hospitals in the UK.

Yes, but neither is near to Croydon. Hampstead is about one and a half hours away by train, longer by car. Cambridge is at least twice as far away.

[Charlie B53]

I would think that with the number of people that travel daily that this has happened a number of times already.

I would give a call or drop in to my Embassy.  They should have a listing of medical resources in country that could handle any issue.

No idea if or what costs may be assessed.

[kristina]

Hello MooseMom, there are quite a few good kidney-transplant-clinics in London, i.e. The Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead springs to mind, where doctors are well known for their excellence and there is also the Cambridge University Hospital, where Sir Roy Calne performed in 1966 the first kidney transplant in Cambridge, which is now one of the largest of all kidney-transplant-hospitals in the UK.

Yes, but neither is near to Croydon. Hampstead is about one and a half hours away by train, longer by car. Cambridge is at least twice as far away.

You are quite right, Paul, but I mentioned these two hospitals because they are well known for their medical excellence and if there is distress about having lost transplant-medication etc., I guess some good medical heads are needed to assist  ...
... Charlie makes a very good point when he mentions the American Embassy in London, 33 Nine Elms Ln, London SW11 7US ...
Best wishes from Kristina.

[MooseMom]

Paul, I agree that Croydon is just how you describe it.  However, I lived in Sanderstead for almost 20 years, and I still have friends and family there.  My son still lives there, so I go to visit him each year.  No one knows where Sanderstead is, so I just say "Croydon".

I had my son at Mayday; I spent six weeks there.  I don't know if it has gone downhill since then, but at the time, it was "adequate".  I had good care from kind people, but I hope I never have to go there again.

If I were on a real holiday in some exotic locale, I'd probably check in with the US Embassy for advice, but since I'm just going to a place that I know quite well, and since I have my "travel assistance service" via the travel insurance I always buy, and also since I will just be able to phone Madison, I'm not sure I want the US Embassy involved, at least not initially.  It seems that would just take up more time.

[Paul]

If you are in Sanderstead, St Helier may be nearer than Mayday. And St Helier has a dedicated renal department, Mayday does not.

However a better solution would be: Before you leave home check really, really, carefully that you have all your meds.

[MooseMom]

If you are in Sanderstead, St Helier may be nearer than Mayday. And St Helier has a dedicated renal department, Mayday does not.

However a better solution would be: Before you leave home check really, really, carefully that you have all your meds.

I received my original fsgs diagnosis from St. Helier.  Ah, nostalgia!

Believe me, I AM very very very careful about bringing ALL of my meds.  It is SO much on my mind that, as you see, I am having nightmares about it.  I was thinking more about what would happen if, say, my bag was stolen or somehow got lost at Heathrow.  I've been carting my meds to and from Heathrow for 6 years now, and nothing bad has happened so far, but you never know.  And I'll be taking a month's worth of meds with me, and that's a LOT of expensive pills to have to replace on an emergency basis!