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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that if you have a life threatening condition, you should take more medication abroad than the days you are going away for

38 replies

Witchofzog · 21/09/2019 23:26

I am watching the news avidly due to having a Thomas Cook holiday booked, and have so far seen one mother and daughter interviewed and a few others in the press, all who are abroad and say they only have enough medication to last the duration of the holiday. The mother who was interviewed said she was going to run out of lifesaving meds the day before she is due to return home. With the Thomas Cook situation these people are facing running our of meds and potentially becoming very unwell.

I have a heart condition myself and always take more meds than I need when I go away as even the most solvent of airlines can experience adverse weather, mechanical failure etc leading to delays. Aibu to think that you must be very short sighted not to consider this? My job involves working closely with GP's and most will prescribe earlier than normal if people are going to be away and may potentially run out. I just don't understand it.

OP posts:

Ihatesundays · 21/09/2019 23:28

Totally. DH takes a lot of medication. We will probably take about 3 weeks worth away on holiday, plus we have extensive insurance to cover issues otherwise.

RedSheep73 · 21/09/2019 23:32

Well yes. But as they only give you 28 days worth at a time it's a bit hard to stockpile, isn't it?

Lockheart · 21/09/2019 23:32

Yep. It's very silly. You should also take enough plus spares in both hand luggage and hold luggage (if applicable) - dont risk leaving it all in hold luggage which may go missing or be damaged. And ensure you have a copy of your prescription in case you need to source some whilst overseas.

It's an absolute faff of course, but if the condition you have is life threatening then it's a small price to pay for your health and peace of mind.

Lockheart · 21/09/2019 23:33

@RedSheep73 you can tell your doctor you're going abroad and they'll give you extra.

FrangipaniBlue · 21/09/2019 23:36

I thought the exact same thing, and also, if you were delayed and ran out of meds wouldn't you be covered by your insurance???

I'm guessing those daft enough to go abroad with only the EXACT amount of meds are also those daft enough not to buy insurance.....

BanKittenHeels · 21/09/2019 23:36

you can tell your doctor you're going abroad and they'll give you extra

Not necessarily and some people are only prescribed 2/52 (or even less) if deemed a risk.

thenightsky · 21/09/2019 23:37

God yes. The volcano eruption delays a few years ago were 3 weeks approx. So my friend who went away for 2 weeks ended up being away for 5 weeks.

Allywill · 21/09/2019 23:42

Hmm that only works with certain medication. My daughter takes something that is a controlled drug. To take it into another country I.e on holiday, you are specifically told you can only bring in the amount you need, so if your holiday is 2 weeks you can only take in enough for 2 weeks to ensue you are not intending to sell any. To be fair her condition such as it is, it is not life threatening, but there are severe withdrawal effects from stopping medication so would have great implications if stopped cold turkey. In point of fact she is due to travel to the states in a week and this is something that has caused us some concern. It is very difficult to plan for contingency in this respect.

Original poster

Witchofzog · 21/09/2019 23:45

But to take the EXACT amount? Not even a couple of days extra? It's unlikely a GP would refuse to prescribe early if you were due to come home the day before your meds were due to run out

OP posts:

GreenTulips · 21/09/2019 23:45

They are usually ok of the medication is labelled and you have a split supply, and carry a prescription.

I agree we do medication in different bags for different children. Never been a problem.

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 21/09/2019 23:50

I take a couple of days extra, plus my repeat prescription form, but I don’t think I’d be able to take much more as some are controlled substances, and I wouldn’t want to be accused of smuggling. (Also make sure I have 24 hours worth in my handbag in case a bag is lost or stolen.) I read that someone has paid to fly the lady with the heart meds home early.

Allywill · 21/09/2019 23:53

Some countries won’t even allow it in even with a prescription - as it is a banned drug. UAE for example - which can cause issues if you are diverted - best case it will be taken off you. Worst case you could be locked up (apparently)

Andysbestadventure · 21/09/2019 23:54

Yeah that news article is some weird piece I'd expect to see in the S*n or the Dailyfail... Not on Sky etc.

God help them in the comments section of any website.

Cryalot2 · 21/09/2019 23:58

It depends on your drs.
We are all on permanent medications which enables to live normal lives . We usually take a couple of days extra supplies. Its harder now but if you explain in good time your drs should help.

LizzieSiddal · 22/09/2019 00:03

I was wondering why she can’t get medication from a local dr in an emergency like dr. Surely she won’t be just left to die?!

housemdwaswrong · 22/09/2019 00:21

It is short sighted, but not as easy for everyone just to get a few extra. I have prescriptions posted out from the hospital every two months as GPs can't prescribe it. I also have monthly blood tests to monitor any side effects. I have to ring 2 weeks before I run out, and leave a message to order more. They won't send the prescription until they have had the test results, and of course meds come in 28 day packs or in my case, 56 days, and my pharmacist can't issue them early.

If I go away in the first month it's fine. I wouldn't go at the start of the second because i need the bloods done, but then I only have 3 weeks of meds, that's if I can get my bloods done bang on time. I can't just nip and get another prescription.

Its not always possible to have extra... this is the first med I've not managed to stock even a few extra days for.

PancakeAndKeith · 22/09/2019 00:27

I guess it’s hard if you don’t have enough extra medicine.
I always take twice as many contact lenses as I need and at least 2 spare pair of knickers. If I had life saving medication I would do everything I could take make sure I had spare.

heeebeee · 22/09/2019 00:35

Depends on your doctor, pharmacist, access to doctor etc.

My OH ran out medication the day after we got back from holiday, he couldn’t get anymore as he couldn’t get an appointment and chemist swore blind he had a months worth so wouldn’t issue more. Life threatening illness, daily medication for life. Go figure!

I would imagine some people are dramatising, and some it’s factual because access to healthcare and medications in the UK is controlled and limited due to costs.

JingsMahBucket · 22/09/2019 00:41

Link?

AllModra · 22/09/2019 00:48

I've been denied extra medicine because of breaks away, before.

Which has made it very difficult. I was also given the run around about getting some early when my break was going to end past when I'd be picking my repeat up.

Mine isn't life threatening in the sense of heart failure, but I get discontinuation syndrome without one medicine, and the effects of not taking another is that I will rapidly decline into a state where I need physical support to move around, take care of myself etc. And there's also the risk of my experiencing psychosis and harming myself that way.

So where possible, even when travelling for a few days, within the UK, I always take screw extra days worth with me. And a copy of my repeat.

I hope no one gets ill because of this situation

Pikapikachooo · 22/09/2019 08:20

They don’t appear to be people from a highly privileged background really . So yes , we all should and most do . But they didn’t and are in a pickle

So not very fair to disparage them really

OtraCosaMariposa · 22/09/2019 08:23

I take thyroid medication - not livesaving, but something I have to take every day for the rest of my life.

I always take my whole supply when I go away, always have a couple of weeks' extra. And an extra ventolin inhaler. Last thing I want is to be scrabbling round foreign pharmacies trying to get medication.

Span1elsRock · 22/09/2019 08:30

I always have a days worth in my purse in case I ever forget to take that morning, and I would take 2-3 days extra supply just in case.

Our GP pharmacy (rural) will always prescribe extra for holidays if you get a changeover during your time away.

Tilltheendoftheline · 22/09/2019 08:42

They don’t appear to be people from a highly privileged background really . So yes , we all should and most do . But they didn’t and are in a pickle

Really? Amazing how people think they are being so kind and PC when actually they are just being patronising.

Pikapikachooo · 22/09/2019 08:58

In the article it states
The £600 trip, the first time they've been on holiday together, was meant to be the holiday of a lifetime

It hardly speaks of a hLife of double fronted mansions and range rovers does it ? They are not wealthy , rich , minted . They are poor if you prefer that

Anyway someone has stepped in and is flying them home

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