Tag Archives: travel

Adventures with Human Growth Hormone: Travelling (Flying and Cruising)

Posted on by MaryO

This is from a post on my travel blog.

Just after 2:00 pm Thursday, September 12, 2019 we took an Uber to Dulles Airport.  The plane left 2 hours late, which is never fun.

I had bought yet another container to help transport my Omnitrope.

I ordered a new travel container for my growth hormone.  The last “system” was kind of clunky.  It worked fine but required too many components.  This one looks like it will fit in the water bottle compartment of my backpack.  I definitely don’t want another failure.

I’ll be posting a review of the Dison Care Insulin Cooler Travel Case Medication Cooling Bag when we get back  I find it amazing that I ordered the black for $59.00 with a 10% coupon.  The same thing in white is $65.00 with no coupon.

 

 

This “bottle” fit perfectly in the water bottle compartment of my backpack.

Going through TSA, I told the woman outside the scanner that I was carrying this and had paperwork.  She handed me the paperwork back and put the Dison in a separate container to scan.

I went through and a TSA agent told me very rudely that I should know that I wasn’t supposed to carry liquids.  I explained again that it was refrigerated, prescription medicine and I had paperwork.  He had me get over to the side while he called in another agent and they started inspecting everything.  The new agent said that they had never seen anything like this.  There was a little thermometer on a longish strand (I wasn’t using it) but apparently, it looked like a way to detonate the whole case.  After a lot of swabbing, discussion and annoyance on my part I was allowed to leave.

I decided that I will never fly with growth hormone again.  It is not worth the time and hassle to me.

This case will be fantastic for train/car/walking/anything but flying.

I had previously found a smallish sharps disposal container, although this was still kind of big for my needs, it was better than taking the whole huge one that’s in my bathroom.

As it turned out, I only needed it in the ho(s)tel in Copenhagen.  The cruise had a sharps container in the bathroom.  I had noticed that on a previous cruise and was so glad to see that they are providing this service.

I carried the actual sharps separately in my checked baggage.

After 12 hours at 8:15am Copenhagen time (2:15 pm at home) I finally removed the growth hormone from the bottle.  The ice pack was still pretty hard and the GH was still cool.  Next time, I’ll try the little thermometer thing (I need to charge the batteries first) and see how accurate that is.

A good solution except for airport issues.  Did I mention that I will never fly with GH again?

 

Adventures with Human Growth Hormone: Travelling (Flying)

Posted on by MaryO

This is from a post on my travel blog.

Just after 3:00 pm Friday August 25, 2017 we took an Uber to Dulles Airport

Going through TSA there was no issue with my refrigerated growth hormone injections.

The Omnitrope was in its own case from the manufacturer.

I put that in that new iCool weekender case I’d bought for this trip.  I chose this one for these reasons:

  • For vials or pens (insulin, growth hormones, L-Thyroxin, polyarthritis medication)
  • Keeps your medication between 36°F – 46°F (2°C – 8°C) for 12 hours (I knew this trip would be about 20 hours, start to finish)
  • The iCool bag uses a new generation of chemical gel pack that generates very little condensation and have a slower thawing period than traditional ice packs. This allows patients with diabetes or those using temperature sensitive medications to transport their medications for a longer cooling period. The iCool Weekender keeps insulin or other temperature sensitive medications cool for up to 12 hours at 36°F – 46°F (2 to 8°C). This bag can carry either pens or vials. There is enough space inside to store needles.

 

Then I had put the gel pack from the iCool frozen solid and put that in a small Rubbermaid lunch bag with 2 thin ice packs,  1 on top and 1 on the bottom.  If you don’t want to read all the way to the end, this system kept the growth hormone cold for the 20 hours going and returning but the 2 thin blocks had completely thawed.  The inner iCool was mostly frozen and the growth hormone was still cool.

Hooray!

I had the sharps separately in a little square container with just enough for the week.  I used the side pocket of the lunch bag to store my doctor’s note and clipped the whole thing with a carabiner to my backpack.

I also found a smallish sharps disposal container, although this was still kind of big for my needs, it was better than taking the whole huge one that’s in my bathroom.  This worked well and I have enough for 5 more trips 🙂

And that’s about it for medical information, at least until we get to Heathrow 🙂

…

Then, since we were coming from outside the UK we had to leave security area and go through TSA again.

I told the agent I was carrying refrigerated medications and she read the doctor’s letter.  Everything seemed like it was going well until I was flagged for more screening 😦  I had to take all the stuff out of my carefully packed Growth Hormone bag and everything else was taken out of my backpack to be swabbed down.

…

After 20 hours at 4:15pm  (11:15 am at home) I finally removed the growth hormone from the cases.  The 2 ice packs had melted but the GH in its weekender case was still cool and that gel pack mostly frozen.  A good solution except for issues at Heathrow.

9 Tips For Safe Travel With Diabetes

Posted on by MaryO

Many of these tips work for Cushing’s patients on Growth Hormone, as well.

 

Traveling, whether it be for business or pleasure can easily take you out of your diabetes care routine. Before hightailing it out of town, make sure you are prepared. A little extra homework will help keep your diabetes from putting any kinks in your long-awaited travel plans.

How you prepare greatly depends on where you’re going and for how long. Ask yourself, how will your lifestyle change while traveling? Will you be able to prepare your own food, or will you be eating out? Will you be able to maintain adequate exercise or will you have more down time?

These helpful tips can help you stay on track with your diabetes treatment plan during your summer vacation getaways.

Read more here: 9 Tips For Safe Travel With Diabetes | MedicAlert Foundation

Monday – Eight Weeks Post-Op

Posted on by MaryO

Monday

I’m happy to report that life continues to return to normal.

I was out walking the dog this morning, and it was snowy again.  The sidewalk was very slippery and it reminded me of that Monday two months ago when I was out with her and slipped and fell.  My shin still hurts a bit from that day.

DH has been out to several meetings and has won a court case – all without driving himself.  He’s still having to “pay” for a lot of activity by napping later.

He’s able to easily put on sweaters now that go over his head.

Tomorrow is our first rehab appointment.  We’re both looking forward to that for different reasons.  I’m eager to get my life back on a schedule.  He’s looking forward to being able to drive and become stronger.

We’re still mostly vegetarian.  I hope to get some food/cooking advice at the rehab meeting tomorrow.

DH went to church again yesterday for Palm Sunday, then we went out for breakfast again.  He’s found a healthy meal at a local restaurant without too much prodding.

He’s busy trying to find a timeshare in Japan that we could trade for although it will be a while before we could consider that kind of travel.

On the 20th, I had to make a very difficult decision.  There’s a Cushing’s Conference in Las Vegas next month.  I already had plane tickets but hadn’t registered for the conference or a hotel room.  I decided that I didn’t feel comfortable leaving DH alone for 5 days with a dog he couldn’t walk or a car he might not be able to drive.  I’m also just afraid to be away that long, just in case…

Hopefully, next week’s update will have more good news to report.

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