Re: International travel with meds

[Guest guest]

Whenever traveling across international borders, be sure to take your

medications in their original prescription bottles. That is usually enough

to keep you from being hassled. Customs officials have no sense of humour

when it comes to unmarked bottles of pills. A copy of the prescription with

the doctor's letterhead couldn't hurt if you can get your pharmacist to make

you a photocopy. If you have a MedicAlert bracelet, make sure the

information is consistent with the medication you are taking.

An extra hint: When I travel on long-distance flights to Europe or the West

coast of North America, I also bandage my legs with tensor bandages. This

really cuts down on the edema (swelling) in the ankles and lower legs that I

think we soft-tissued people suffer from more frequently than others. I

learned this trick from a friend of mine who is a doctor. She does it all

the time. You really do arrive refreshed, and it feels good to take the

bandages off after 6 or so hours. A good supportive lace-up shoe helps the

foot to keep from swelling.

Ruth in Sudbury, who envies your trip to Paris. Take me in your suitcase

[Guest guest]

I have only travelled to Mexico, Bahamas, Cayman Islands and places like that

since starting the massive amounts of medicines and had no problems. I know

it is highly recommended to carry medicines in their original containers and

also to be sure and have plenty on hand , obviously. I tend to use one of

those daily medicine boxes so carrying things in their orginial containers

when there is so much is a bit of a bother but better safe than sorry. Mexico

is supposed to be rather strict but I had no problems at all.

Sounds like a real dream come true!!

[Guest guest]

> I know it is highly recommended to carry medicines in their original

containers

Actually, that's the law. You must have all your prescription medications

in their original container all the time. This way you have proof that your

meds are in fact yours.

-Barb

[Guest guest]

Barb is correct. Also, it would not hurt to carry a note from your doctor

explaining the reason for the medications. All you have to do is write the

note and take it in for your doctor to sign, this will make it easy on both

of you and this way you are certain to have it in time.

Have a great trip, and Happy Valentine's Day to all? To me it is a day to

show yourself how much you care about you also.....so doing something

meaningful and special for yourself today may be a great idea.... Hotbath,

listen to Louise's CD at full volume, quit your job (ha ha), enjoy your loved

ones to the fullest. Hugs to all...in chilly AZ

[Guest guest]

Avoiding fancy pill containers is the good advice as well, as mentioned

earlier. My dad went through customs in Russia 25 years ago carrying his

thyroid pills in a neat little bullet shaped pill container that my mom

found for him as an interesting novelty. it wasn't so interesting when it

passed through the x-ray machine as he tried to board his return flight

home! He was detained for hours and seriously grilled until he was allowed

to open the bullet to reveal the pills.

So, stick to the original package - despite how much room it may take up in

yoru bag.

Jill

[Guest guest]

> All you have to do is write the note and

> take it in for your doctor to sign, this

> will make it easy on both of you and this

> way you are certain to have it in time.

Actually, I have found that it is better if the note is on the doctor's

letterhead.

-Barb

[Guest guest]

Jill,

That's too funny! I'm sure it wasn't then, but it is now.

Reminds me of another airplane story. One day dad was going through airport

security. He had carefully removed everything from his pockets, but he still

beeped. He removed his belt buckle and went through again. He still beeped.

Finally, they ran over his body with a hand-held metal detector. In frustration

he said, " This is insane! I don't have anything else on me except for my gum. "

The security guards didn't hear him correctly and thought he said, " gun. "

Before he could say another word, they backed off and someone was calling for

backup on the hand-held radio. They asked him to repeat himself and he suddenly

realized what they must have thought they heard. He said, " my chewing gum " and

pulled it out of his pocket. Then they noticed the tin wrapper on the stick of

gum and ran the hand-held metal detector over his pocket and the gum. " BEEP. "

He put the chewing gum down on the table and went back through the metal

detector. Silence. That little piece of gum had caused the metal detector to

go off just like a gun would have, delaying everyone behind him for several

minutes. Dad was highly annoyed. He'd never been through a more sensitive

metal detector.

-Barb

[Guest guest]

Good lord, that IS sensitive! Wow, I am sure he was incredibly embarrassed

and annoyed!!!

Jill

[Guest guest]

I have a similar problem getting through airline security with surgical hardware

in my bones. I have a plate and screws in one leg, a rod in the other, and misc

pins and staples in my feet and elsewhere. I also use a wheelchair. When the

security people run the metal detector over me they always set off the alarm and

I end up getting searched. Kind of embarrassing for all concerned...

Ciao.

--le

Re: International travel with meds

> Good lord, that IS sensitive! Wow, I am sure he was incredibly embarrassed

> and annoyed!!!

>

> Jill

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I imagine it would be difficult and embarrassing. I've been through the

wheelchair pat down and it isn't any fun.

-Barb