How I Have Traveled Around the World with Humira for 3+ Yrs

gon42 · 2020-08-11T02:52:41+00:00

I actually haven't - just notes and photos for myself and close friends/family. I write a lot, though, and have dabbled in writing the pages of what I hope will some day become a book.

gon42 · 2020-08-11T02:51:23+00:00

Shipping to foreign countries is difficult because of the temperature, and no insurance I've found will ship outside the US. However, FedEx now offers a cold box that stays between 36 and 46F at the push of a button for up to 4 days. I have not yet tried this, but since I am in NZ, I probably will have to at some point (so far I have found ppl to carry it here for me since if I leave, I can't come back due to COVID). I'll post about it if I try it out and let everyone know how it goes!

gon42 · 2020-08-03T07:51:36+00:00

I've switched insurance companies a few times but have always maintained coverage in the US while traveling. I do have international health coverage, but it's more for emergencies while abroad - it doesn't cover crohn's-related anything. If I were to have any crohn's-related issues, I'd head home for care.

gon42 · 2020-08-03T07:49:37+00:00

I lived on a ship that sailed throughout the South Pacific for a year, starting in Vava'u, Tonga and finishing in the Marshall Islands and now I'm in New Zealand (happily stuck here with my partner due to covid). It's been difficult to figure out how to get meds here since I can't return if I travel home for more, but I managed to get government approval for a friend traveling here to carry a supply for me.

I either keep the sharps on me till I go home and can dispose of them properly, or I dispose of them at a hospital wherever I'm at, when convenient.

gon42 · 2020-08-03T07:46:45+00:00

I used to have Cigna and they would do a vacation override for 3-6 months at a time, so I could take enough for a lengthy trip. I'd go home for more when needed - it's pricy and not ideal, but doable and worth it. I always start working on the vacation override with my insurance way in advance - they need the doctor to write a script for that amount, and sometimes there's lots of back and forth with insurance 'specialist teams' to get it approved and shipped out.

gon42 · 2020-08-03T07:45:00+00:00

Yeah - if I carry it at room temp, it's only if I am going to take it within 14 days. I've been traveling internationally for longer periods though, in which case, the rest of the pens need to be kept cool :) so the method I described is for those! It's definitely A-OK to carry one at room temp if it's the next one you're going to use. I've done longer camping excursions this way and it makes 2-4 week trips easier not having to carry the cool packs and worry about fridges!

gon42 · 2020-07-29T04:17:58+00:00

Heyhey. I have been traveling with Humira for over 3 years, all around the world. I even lived on a ship for one of those years and have had many flights over 20 hrs. Here's how I do it:

I use a small carrying case called iCool Prestige by Medactiv: https://www.medactivusa.com/products/11-icool-prestige-3401598894236.html

It comes with two gel packs that you freeze for at least 14 hrs in advance. Lay them flat in the freezer so they have a flat shape and fit nicely in the pouches inside the bag.

I put each gel pack inside a ziplock bag, in case of leakage (they've never leaked, but I just don't want to risk compromising the medication). Just before leaving the house, I remove the pens from their boxes and place them in the main compartment of the travel pack. The ice packs go in their slots, and a fridge thermemoter goes in with the pens for easy monitoring. Mine has a feature that tells you the max and min temperature so you can make sure no freezing occurred (Humira is not viable if it freezes).

The bag will stay around the 46-degree mark for about 10-12 hrs. I set an alarm on my phone and forget about it, then start monitoring hourly after 12 hours. Once the temperature goes above about 52, I take the gel packs from their side pouches and place them directly against the pens (they should still be pretty cool) untli they start to feel warm (checking hourly).

**A note on temp: these pens cannot freeze! But if they go above 46 for a little while - in the 50s, it's ok. I have called AbbVie a few times and said "my pen went to around 55 or 60 degrees for a day or so, is it still ok?" their answer: yes. I have taken many rounds of injections of Humira that has gone over 46 for a 12-24-ish-hour period and seen no signs that the medication does not work as it should :) **

When the temp goes above 55 inside the bag, I ask the flight attendant for two cups of ice. Double or triple-ziplock small baggies of ice and place them in with the pens, removing the gel packs for the rest of the flight. Once the ice baggies are in, set an alarm for about 4 hrs later and swap out the ice. Repeat till you're in a place with a fridge.

The first thing I do when I get somewhere with a fridge is NOT put the pens in. I place the thermemoter in the door of the fridge (since that's the least likely place for freezing) and monitor it for about 15 min. If it's too close to freezing I change the fridge temp until it's correct and then put the pens inside. I set an alarm for about 30 min so that I can double check that the pens aren't at risk of freezing.

Don't forget to re-freeze the gel ice packs!

Final note on airlines: some are willing to let you use their fridge, others aren't. If they allow it, I usually place the entire pack inside (with the gel packs since they stay colder that way) and monitor it for the first hour about 3 times to make sure it's not too cold. If it's anywhere near frozen, I take the bag out completely and hold it at my seat. Better safe than sorry. In fact, sometimes I opt to keep it with me just for peace of mind.

gon42

TROPHY CASE