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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/6/2010
Posts: 31
Location: Cumbria
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Advice needed - I am on sulphasalazine and methotrexate and planning a three month holiday from december to march 2011. I visitied my GP in the summer to make sure that I could do this with the medication I am on. Problems getting the blood tests/drug supply in Portugal and spain were not then seen to be an issue. My GP said I would need a letter from her to take with me so that I could get blood tests and drugs while I was there. Now that I have approached the GP for that letter they are now saying they are concerned that I may not get the drugs I need. Their suggestion was that I could only take 4 weeks drug supply with me and that I would have to fax the blood test results to them, they would then issue a prescription which could be picked up, dispensed and then posted to me in Portugal (by whom?). I have said that posting drugs of this nature to a foreign country could be very risky and it would be far safer to take the drugs I need and lock them away in a safe. Problem is they have never encountered anyone doing this before. Has anyone on these drugs (or similar) been to these countries for long spells, had the blood monitoring and obtained their necessary drugs?
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi, sorry I have had no experience of this but hopefully someone will know.
Do you think your rheumy nurse could be a bit more knowledgeable about taking drugs abroad and getting blood tests etc. Might be worth asking her.
I hope you get it sorted out and can go on your holiday.
Love, Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Hello Pat,
Lucky for your going on a long break but sorry that your GP now being awkward.
As Doreen suggests I agree you contact RA nurse she must have had dealings with
this type of thing before.
Good luck and enjoy your trip
Rose
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Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/27/2009
Posts: 15
Location: Reading
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Longest that I have been away was 5 weeks. GP provided enough MTX tablets to last (I usually self inject, but find tablets easier for travel). They were happy for me to miss one blood test.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/6/2010
Posts: 31
Location: Cumbria
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I have contacted RA nurse she cannot interfere as I am being monitored by the GP. She has no experience of people travelling for long periods as I am doing so cannot say if the blood tests/drugs will be available in Portugal. She is only prepared to speak to GP and tell them that I could manage the drugs and take the necessary supply with me as long as I get the blood tests done. I think this is what the GP is concerned about - that I would not pursue the blood tests once away. Does anyone have any suggestions about where I could find info about getting the blood tests done in Portugal or Spain?
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 838 Location: Nottinghamshire
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I asked the same question on the old forum some time ago. If you find the link to the old forum, it is in the drop down box at the bottom of the page, follow the link to the old forum, find the search option and search for motorhome and my name you will find the post and answers. Sorry it's a long winded job to find it, I've tried to paste it on here but it just doesn't work. I had a few answers about it and Monty who herself toured France, Spain and Portugal for three months gave me some advice. If Monty doesn't see this post you could ring up the NRAS helpline and ask for her to call you, she is a volunteer who rings people up for the NRAS.
I did ask my specialist nurse about it though. My husbands dream on retirement was to explore Europe in our motorhome and I thought that because of me having RA this wouldn't happen. She said that there wasn't a problem with me going away. I asked at the pharmacy that is next to my GP's if they did dispense months supplies of drugs for people and they did. They had a few people who winter in Spain and they took the appropriate amount of meds with them.
However, that was when I was only taking SLZ. Since I have had MTX added I have asked my nurse again about this and she said that I would have to arrange my blood tests while I was away. I think that we know enough about MTX and what it can do to our bodies that we would not take it we hadn't had our blood tests done, well I wouldn't.
My daughter now lives in Gibraltar and she has asked her GP over there if he could do my blood test for MTX and he said that he would. There must be some sort of arranagement at hospitals or clinics abroad for people to have blood test done whilst on holiday.
I did go over to spend last Christmas with her and took the appropriate amount of drugs with me. Because of all the snow that we were having here I was worried about running out of tablets if the flight got cancelled. I did find a chemist in Gibraltar that would of sold me some SLZ if need be, didn't have to though because the flight was OK.
Paula x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/6/2010
Posts: 31
Location: Cumbria
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Thank you Paula, I will have a look for the old post. Glad your own holiday experiences have been positive. I have done a great deal of detective work in the last two days regarding this. Ringing the NRAS helpline was in my plan, however, I was amazed at the amount of help received from the clinic in Albufeira, Portugal which I will be attending. Firstly, my hubby rang the insurance helpline and they provided the details for the clinic - it is also found by Googling 'international health centres'. I called that clinic and spoke to a very helpful person called 'Sarah'. She took details of the blood tests and medications I am on, checked it all out with the Doctors there in Albufeira, then rang me to verify that all could be achieved. She also faxed the details to my GP here at home the same day. My request for the full 3 months medications was taken to the PCT who were unhappy about my taking the that amount of methotrexate with me. The contact from the clinic helped me in the end and I was given the option of one months supply and get further meds in Portugal or taking 3 months supply. I chose the 3 months supply but I have to fax the blood test results and then call the GP here in England to verify they are happy for me to continue on the methotrexate. It all goes to prove that one should not give up. Hopefully this would give people the confidence to go on the holidays they want to.
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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So glad you've got it all sorted out.
Hope you have a wonderful holiday!
Love, Doreen xx
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/6/2010
Posts: 3
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...or try coming to S.France instead - I have 8x Methotrexate weekly injections plus enough Salazopyrin for 2 months with me, but didn't have to cross a non-Schengen border to get here. Local GP sends me to v.efficient lab in neighboouring village for the blood tests, results of which he then monitors; helps if you have a common language of course! Diane
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 838 Location: Nottinghamshire
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Sp pleased for you that it's been sorted and you can go and enjoy some sunshine!!!!!
Just want to add, forgive me if I am telling you something that you are already aware of.
Make sure that you let your insurance company know that your house is going to be unoccupied whilst you are away. We enquired about this with our insurance when a friend of mine (I know it is slightly different circumstances) had problems. She had a bungalow that she rented out, the tennants left and then she put it on the market to sell. It was broken into and all of the copper piping was ripped out and they made a terrible mess. She said that she had informed the insurance company that the property was empty, they said they had no record (so always make a note of time, date who spoke to etc.). They wouldn't pay up.
Also..........check your holiday insurance. I had one with a bank account and earlier this year I went to help my daughter settle into her new home in Gibraltar. I went not knowing if I would fly home before a planned week with them that I had already booked flights for, or stop there and return on the already booked return flight. I had to think the latter so I spoke to the insurance company and my policy didn't cover me for that length of holiday. They quoted me a top up fee what I thought was alot. I ended up taking out a new super duper policy for both my husband and myself with another insurer. One that included extended stays. Wasn't too expensive either, my RA at the time didn't cost any extra, but when I had another drug added I had to pay an extra £20. Still very reasonable.
Sorry if you are aware of all that already.
Just to add that I love the Algarve, especially around where you are going. Had many a lovely holiday there. If you do get the chance go to Zoo Marine. We went there in 2005 and had a lovely time, I got to swim with the dolphins.
Paula x x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/6/2010
Posts: 31
Location: Cumbria
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Thank you All, Paula - good advice is never wasted. I have spoken at length to the insurance company and they have it all down, what I am taking etc. It has cost an extra £9 - this is with Europ Assistance. We have instructions from our home insurance (Churchill) to ring before we leave to inform them of our trip and its duration. I have taken note of what you advise, Paula, and my hubby is on the phone as I type and doing exactly as you have suggested. Take care.
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