General Medical issues thread

[tgh]

How do people keep medication cold when travelling internationally. Qantas said they are not allowed to put things in refrigerated storage for me but offered ice

Diabetics carry insulin in small bags that, when soaked in water for a period become ,and stay, quite cold.

 

[drron]

Over the years I have come across many patients that think outside the box.One delightful lady would freeze a small bottle of water,put it with her medications in a small cooler bag making sure the ice couldn't come into contact with the meds.At security throw out the bottle and when on board ask for a glass of ice that was then put into a plastic bag then into the cooler bag.

 

[VPS]

Over the years I have come across many patients that think outside the box.One delightful lady would freeze a small bottle of water,put it with her medications in a small cooler bag making sure the ice couldn't come into contact with the meds.At security throw out the bottle and when on board ask for a glass of ice that was then put into a plastic bag then into the cooler bag.

That's what I did but it's just a hassle and wondered what others did

 

[VPS]

Other than most thyroid replacements, what other medications require this? It would certainly be a difficult thing to manage.

It wasn’t known that thyroid meds needed refrigeration until a few years ago. I’d already been taking them for a long time. They can be left out of the fridge but cool for around a month but I wonder why the requirements changed and what was the issue with those taking it prior.

Mine is thyroid and they say now no more than 2 weeks out of the fridge. I was thinking about diabetics that need to keep the insulin cold

 

[Pushka]

Mine is thyroid and they say now no more than 2 weeks out of the fridge. I was thinking about diabetics that need to keep the insulin cold

Oh. I have two different dosages on different days and the 3 foils are out until they are gone. But when away for a month they’ll be out for a month then. Given I took it for years without refrigeration then I’m not really sure of the issues.

 

[VPS]

Oh. I have two different dosages on different days and the 3 foils are out until they are gone. But when away for a month they’ll be out for a month then. Given I took it for years without refrigeration then I’m not really sure of the issues.

I might have to investigate that further then. I gather they modified the tablets but it's really annoying

 

[Pushka]

I might have to investigate that further then. I gather they modified the tablets but it's really annoying

I don’t think so. They were the same tablets but suddenly ‘must be refrigerated’. I wondered what had gone wrong (for me ) in the 20 years I hadn’t refrigerated. There wasn’t a reason given to patients it was ‘just do it’. So while I refrigerate new ones I guess I don’t take it too seriously.

 

[JohnK]

How do people keep medication cold when travelling internationally. Qantas said they are not allowed to put things in refrigerated storage for me but offered ice

There are containers available that have insulation inside but one can also put ice in the there as well.

I was given a couple for my medication but I usually plan my trips around the time I need to medicate.

 

[VPS]

I don’t think so. They were the same tablets but suddenly ‘must be refrigerated’. I wondered what had gone wrong (for me ) in the 20 years I hadn’t refrigerated. There wasn’t a reason given to patients it was ‘just do it’. So while I refrigerate new ones I guess I don’t take it too seriously.

I'll investigate and let you know

 

[Renato1]

The box of thyroid pills we have says to keep it between 2 and 8 degrees C.

My plan is to wrap insulin and thyroid pills in bubble wrap, put them in a small picnic cooler bag, together with frozen freezer/Esky blocks. and put the cooler bag into checked-in luggage and hope for the best.

If we get to Italy and find the bag was frizzled in the Middle East somewhere, just show the medicine boxes at an Italian pharmac_, and they happily give one replacements (though it may cost more than here, though sometimes the reverse is the case, and antibiotics are cheaper than here).

I guess the interesting question is whether the sealed frozen Esky blocks would be allowed on the plane in hand held luggage? I guess several 100ml ones would be okay.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Pushka]

The frozen boxes are generally more than 100 mls. I really am not going to that length for a condition like hypothyroid for a month. Although for several months it’s a different story. I did feel rubbish last year when the GP messed around with dosage because TSH was low but T4 and T3 were just around mid range. TSH went to 43 and specialist wrote the GP a letter advising she would manage the dosage from now on.

 

[JohnK]

Can too much Coke Zero, Coke No Sugar, Pepsi Max cause you harm?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Can too much Coke Zero, Coke No Sugar, Pepsi Max cause you harm?

Of course! It goes in black but doesn’t come out that way! Where’s it all go?
Stick to water and wine.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Can too much Coke Zero, Coke No Sugar, Pepsi Max cause you harm?

Put an old penny in a glass of coke overnight and see what it does to it

 

[Deleted member]

Can too much Coke Zero, Coke No Sugar, Pepsi Max cause you harm?

You need to ask this question???
Just read the label (contents)
Beer is much better for you.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Put an old penny in a glass of coke overnight and see what it does to it

Is that what the Brisbane LNP MP as doing on his iPhone and sending the images to his ‘friend’? Didn’t work out very well for him!

 

[JohnK]

Put an old penny in a glass of coke overnight and see what it does to it

I don't have an old penny. What should I look out for? Ulcer? Early death?

Must be hooked on the caffeine. Hard to kick the habit.

 

[Pushka]

I think I have coke once or twice a year. Sometimes it just hits the spot. The only other soft drink I have is tonic - with gin. And ginger beer/ale a few times a year. Just too many calories in soft drink.

 

[RooFlyer]

Can too much Coke Zero, Coke No Sugar, Pepsi Max cause you harm?

Depends how you take it - orally, intravenously, other ways ... But there's no substitute for finding out for yourself. Let us know what happens after 5, 10, 15, 20 and then 25 cans of sugar free cola drunk 'on the trot'.

 

[Renato1]

The frozen boxes are generally more than 100 mls. I really am not going to that length for a condition like hypothyroid for a month. Although for several months it’s a different story. I did feel rubbish last year when the GP messed around with dosage because TSH was low but T4 and T3 were just around mid range. TSH went to 43 and specialist wrote the GP a letter advising she would manage the dosage from now on.

Thyroids are problematic, that's for sure.
Regards,
Renato