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Dream trip; but what about pharmacies in Middle Earth?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/13/2013 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
New Zealand is at the top of my life list. I decided to up the time there from a couple of weeks to several. After a few moments of celebration and excitement the worry set in. I have been functional for a year, but what if, what if?

I know hand wringing is pointless but I want to be prepared. How much rowasa do people take with them on travels? I use it every day and could pack it all and leave other things at home.

Or here is my question: If I bring a prescription from the US would it be easy to get it filled? What about insurance issues? What other meds should I consider in case a flare starts? Right now I'm using just generic Rowasa and Lialda. Maybe I should bring a prescription for Uceris, pred or pred enemas...

I know, slap me around for ruining the anticipation by thinking about all the potential disasters. On the other hand, if in a flare I will not be able to start or continue my journey. Been there.

Posted 8/13/2013 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
IMO you should pack all of your meds. That's bulky for Rowasa but not impossible. Be careful not to squish them! Ithink it is always possible to get a prescription filled overseas, but it will probably require that you get a local DR to write it. In NZ that will mean finding a DR - not sure how easy that is to do in a NHS country. At least there is a common language.
Posted 8/13/2013 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
I agree you need to pack all your meds. You can use any doctor in NZ and they will just charge private rates, but getting a prescription fulfilled could be expensive and not covered by insurance. Personally I'd talk to your doc at home about taking a box of pred out just in case.

How long are you thinking of going? I did 2 months there with undiagnosed UC in a campervan with little access to toilets and showers! My UC was better there than at home, although I realise now that was probably because I smoked cigarettes most days. You'll often be a long way from a proper hospital if you want to see the good parts. I'd recommend getting yourself down to South Island as soon as possible. It's one of the few places in the world where kitch-hiking is safe and done by everyone.
Posted 8/14/2013 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Kazbern and Bettylou: you make sense, I will bring the meds, only about 5 weeks worth, so not impossible.
Yes! The South Island (looking forward to it again).
Don't know much about the medical system but I do trust it, the airlines, the people, everything.
Posted 8/15/2013 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Cool that you're coming to NZ. When? And where will you go?

I'm pretty sure it's difficult to get pred enemas here in NZ so I'd bring those with you. Likewise I'm not sure if Uceris has been released yet. I think it's best to bring your own meds and make sure you bring the prescription as proof at the border control when you arrive (probably not an issue but you never know)

Getting an appointment with a Doctor while you're here is straight forward and simple if you do need to see one. If you need pred, asacol, pentasa, cortifoam I know they're all stocked here. Not sure on lialda, rowasa, or Uceris.

Happy traveling :-)
Posted 8/15/2013 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
Wait, was I the only one genuinely expecting to hear about pharmacies in LOTR? I leave disappointed and none the wiser as to what dispensaries in The Shire, Rohan, Mordor, etc. would have prescribed for UC.

:p
Posted 8/15/2013 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
That's what I thought, LOTR! And I'm not even into LOTR, but I'm not that clueless as to what Middle Earth is taken from.

Back to the discussion at hand, have a great trip naturalcurl.
Posted 8/15/2013 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
I misread the question as "Middle East" and then wondered what that had to do with New Zealand... sigh.
Posted 8/15/2013 9:40 PM (GMT 0)
I highly recommend calling your insurance company to see what options are available for reimbursing you for expenses incurred abroad (that you have approval to get reimbursed for at home). Also, call New Zealand's health and tourism ministries (or just call a major pharmacy chain) to ask them about filling a prescription from abroad.
Posted 8/15/2013 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
With the wonderful international flavor we have here, I’m amazed that I haven’t thought to ask sooner. My wife is wheelchair bound, and that has caused me to avoid thinking about international travel. She has a power chair, and we even have a travel power chair that easily disassembles to manageable sized pieces that will fit in the trunk (boot) of a car. But I wonder about access in other nations.

Here is the US we have the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which dictates accommodations for disabled persons in all public facilities. Things like curb cuts (ramps) at street crossings, elevators and access ramps in all public buildings, disabled parking places, extra wide stalls in public restrooms, etc. You would be amazed how most people don’t notice a step or two until they have to try to get over them in a wheelchair.

I am aware that the EU has a law similar to the ADA, and I believe Australia, NZ and Japan may also have one, but I’m not sure. What I don’t know is about other places on the Pacific Rim, places like Mexico or Thailand or Korea or Hong Kong or Singapore or India.

I traveled a bit in my younger days with the US Navy, but that was years ago and much has changed since. And things like curb cuts didn’t impress me much then, so admittedly I really don’t remember who had what.

What say you? Is your country disabled persons friendly?
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