5 tips for traveling with medication

I spent 1 year doing long haul flights between China and the UK. One of my biggest concerns was travelling with my meds. Travelling with Crohn's is not as simple as "pack a bag and go". Planning how to transport medication can be stressful and time consuming. If you remember these 5 tips you'll find it easier and easier to pack a bag and go on your travels. 

1. Read the label for how to store your meds - I am prescribed adalimumab which can be stored at room temperature for 14 days. If I plan to travel somewhere for longer than 14 days I carry my medication in a cooler bag to prevent it from reaching room temperature. I like ice packs and snap ice packs to keep things cool.

2. Request a letter or prescription from doctor - I have travelled around a bit. It was oddly an airport transfer in Norway that I had to provide documentation for my medication. And I had travelled to Japan and China who are allegedly quite strict about medicine. Having either a recent letter from your doctor that describes the medication you are on or having a prescription will provide you with some peace of mind if you are asked for evidence.

3. Pack enough and one - I like to plan my outfits for every day of my vacation. When it come to meds I am the same. I pack according to the number of days I will be away and if it's more than 2 weeks I take an one. I have found this also helps me keep track of my meds and having a spare in case my plans change. 

4. Test your storage - There is nothing worse than purchasing a cooler bag to carry your meds and realising they won't all fit whilst packing. Make sure you spend a little time prior to your trip test running your storage. You need a cooler bag with space for ice packs and your meds that also remains cold for long periods of time. Upside: Once you work out the maximum you can store, you can simply grab and go, on your next trip. Test run how long your ice stays cold for in your bag that way you know whether you'll need to add more ice during your flight.  Remember customs and immigration also take time so add 2 to 4hrs to account for the next place you'll see a fridge.

5. Ask for help - My first ever flight I called the airline company to find out whether I'd be able to store my medication during the flight. Customer service did not know. I was extremely nervous to fly because I was going to be away for a few months. First thing I did while boarding is ask the flight attendant nearest to me if they could help me with my medication as it needs to be temperature controlled. They were more than willing to help and took my cooler bag and stored it for me. Another time I asked and they didn't have storage so they gave me ice and kept offering me additional ice throughout the flight. It's alway worth asking and if the first person you ask does not know you can ask to speak to someone who does.