| Having MS changes your life forever. Joyous | | | | but there are considerations. |
| occasions can be hindered by inconvenient injections | | | | Copaxone is the injectable I use. When I was traveling |
| or flare ups. Although inconvenient, they should not | | | | through Spain and Portugal there was no problem |
| stop you from doing the things you love. | | | | finding ice. I used an insulated lunch bag and I had |
| Traveling post 9/11 has added stress to many | | | | baggies that I brought from home. The 'zipper' type |
| travelers, the MS traveler has some unique challenges | | | | baggies work the best, no leaks. When I was in |
| but with a little preplanning you can have a very | | | | Morocco it was a little bit more difficult to find ice. |
| enjoyable time barely thinking about your MS. | | | | According to the Copaxone website, you can now |
| How to Pack your Pills | | | | leave the medication out of refrigeration for up to one |
| Do not pack any pills in your checked luggage. Pills | | | | month. That is new. When I went out of the country in |
| have been known to disappear from checked luggage. | | | | March of 2009, the longest you could leave it at room |
| Every piece is x-rayed before being placed on the | | | | temperature was 5 days. Unless you are going on a |
| plane. I don't like being suspicious of airport workers but | | | | trip longer than one month, you no longer need to keep |
| I would rather be suspicious than be without my pain | | | | this refrigerated. |
| medication. Make sure you have your pills in their | | | | Avonex is a once a week injection and needs to be |
| original bottle with the prescription label clearly visible. | | | | refrigerated. The prefilled syringe must be used within |
| Unfortunately a lot of these pills come in large bottles, | | | | 12 hours of taking it out of the refrigerator. It also |
| yes it is cumbersome to pack, but better again to be | | | | comes in powder form that can go 30 days without |
| inconvenienced than without your meds. Remember, | | | | refrigeration. Ask your doctor. Powder form may be |
| the TSA can take anything they see as illegal or a | | | | the best way to travel light. You will not need to |
| threat. An unmarked bottle filled with many different | | | | refrigerate the powder so you will not need ice |
| types of pills can look suspicious. You can carry your | | | | wherever you go. |
| meds on the plane with you for safe keeping. The | | | | Rebif is a 3x week injectable. Once again you will |
| airlines allow those with medical needs to have an | | | | need to refrigerate it. (I recently read in an MS blog |
| extra carry on at NO additional charge. I use an extra | | | | that you do not need to refrigerate it. Since this is not |
| bag that holds all of my meds and my iPod and | | | | the medicine I use, I looked it up on the Rebif website. It |
| chargers. If you have extra room, use it! | | | | MUST be refrigerated according to the makers of |
| How to pack your injectables | | | | Rebif.) |
| **Word of Caution: The company websites for the | | | | Again, all injectables are safe to pass through airport |
| injectables will tell you to bring a doctor's note indicating | | | | security. Make sure you have the proper paper work, |
| that you are a patient of theirs and need this | | | | prescription label, doctor's note before you go. A once |
| medication. The TSA site however, says you need the | | | | in a lifetime trip can quickly turn ugly if all of your |
| prescription label with your name clearly visible. I have | | | | medications are taken from you. |
| never been asked for either a letter or a prescription | | | | Remember, if you are going to a foreign country there |
| label. BUT, be prepared! Carry both.** All injectables | | | | is no such thing as the ADA (Americans with |
| can go through the airport security X-ray. All | | | | Disabilities Act.) Be sure to ask your travel agent if |
| injectables must be carried on. Do not put them in your | | | | their are any special requirements for airport security |
| checked luggage. The cargo hold in the plane is below | | | | abroad. If you are booking a trip without an agent, you |
| freezing. If your meds freeze, they are useless. | | | | can look up any special information at the embassy of |
| Chances are if you have been diagnosed with MS, | | | | the country you will be visiting. You can look up any |
| you give yourself daily or weekly injections. If you are | | | | embassy information at state.gov. |
| only going to be out of town for a few days or if you | | | | Traveling with MS can be a challenge, but if you are a |
| are traveling in the US, then finding ice or refrigeration | | | | person with MS, you are used to rising to the challenge |
| will probably not be an issue. If you are traveling | | | | aren't you? Happy Trails! |
| overseas, your injections should still not be a problem, | | | | |