I'm planning a trip to Italy in October. I take a rheumatoid arthritis medication that needs to be kept between 36 and 46 degrees. I'm a little overwhelmed by the logistics of this. I have traveled with it in the U.S. (by car and plane), and to the Caribbean, but I haven't been to Europe since I started taking it. On previous trips, I took it in a little cooler and either put it in a in room refrigerator when I arrived (if possible), or left it in the cooler and added ice twice a day. (The little wallets people use for insulin won't keep it cold enough.) We will be staying in mid priced hotels and moving from Rome to Florence to the Cinque Terre, probably using the train. Dealing with it sounds an awful nuisance, and I'm half tempted to say, "Forget it." and just go without it. But we'll be gone 15 days and the effects of each injection only last a week, so I'm afraid I'll get stiff and achey without it. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Leigh,, have you already booked hotels?? If so, I assume you just made sure to book hotels that had mini bars in rooms,, problem solved. In some small hotels they will also keep in it the breakfast room frig. Regardless, I would send emails to each hotel and explain you need a medication refrigerated, and bring ice packs for them to stick in freezer for you for your travel days( and small collaspable cooler)
Posted by
OP
Amarillo, TX, USA
2 posts
Thank you for your reply! I have not booked hotels yet (I know I need to do that soon). Thank you for your suggestions. I wasn't sure how much difficulty I would have regarding an in room fridge and I'm a little paranoid about letting it out of my sight (in case it gets too hot or accidentally frozen). But you have given me good advice, thanks.
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
1003 posts
I think every hotel and B&B I have stayed in in Italy has had a mini fridge, sometimes I knew it beforehand and sometimes not. Even the room we rented in Vernazza had a fridge that stayed very cold. If you are staying in mid-priced hotels & B&Bs, you should have no trouble finding places that have mini-fridges. If you can't tell from the places' websites, just ask.
while I don't have a medical need, I always like buying a few local things in the cities I stay and keep them in the fridge and I also like keeping cold water in my room so i like having little fridges and prefer to stay in places that have them. Like I said I haven't had problem finding places that have fridges. Good luck!!
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
small packages of blue ice for when you cannot get a fridge.
Posted by
London, Ontario
3 posts
Leigh,
I travel with my mother on many occasions who is a insulin dependent diabetic and this little trick works like magic for us...invest about 20 dollars in a small(500ml)sized wide mouth stainless steel vacum flask! thermos makes the best ones! make sure it is a double walled one and stainless inside and out! fill it with crushed ice and insert your med vial into it all, shut and ..it is safe for 3-4 days! giving you enought time to locate about 1/2 cup ice to repeat this on day 3!..tried tested and true! but make darn sure you have a doctors note on official stationery explaining the need for this flask and medicine! and make sure you inform your security before passing throught xray! they will hand inspect it instead and you can take it in carry on then! We also asked the pharmacist to glue the prescription label on the flask for us as well...makes life so much easier with international security!Every hotel,pension and b&b we ever stayed in was more than happy to provide us some ice...and so did most eating places! Hope this helps
Rose
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
Take several extra ziplock bags. We have never had a problem getting several cups of ice (usually free) from McDonald's or similar places. Put the ice in a baggie then that in another baggie and place in your cooler. Should help when on the move.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
Another thought- does heat help your pain? If so, go to an "outdoor" type store and get the instant heat packs that hunters use in their gloves (at this time of year you may have to ask for them beacuse they might not be on display). Use them at night to help ease your pain. Also- you can get instant "ice" packs to use as an emergency back up if you can't find ice on a travel day. You should be able to find them in the first aid section of the outdoor store or at a pharmacy. They don't get really icy, just cool, but they could supplement your cooler until you found more ice.
Posted by
Springfield, VA, USA
283 posts
You could also look into a Frio. It is a case (comes in various sizes) that includes a gel pack. You soak it in water, place the meds inside. Air circulation keeps it cool. I keep insulin in mine and it works great. I am not sure of the temperature range, but in an 85 degree home, my insulin comes out of the Frio quite cool.
You can google them , as there are several sites that sell them.
Posted by
Granite Bay, CA
1923 posts
If there isn't a fridge in the room, ask the hotel or B & B to keep it for you in their fridge. I've never had a problem.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Rose that is a great idea!!!
Posted by
Dallas, United States
707 posts
My wife has RA and is insulin dependent. She uses the Frio Cold Pack, described above by Sue, which works well. In fact, she uses two cold packs.
If she has felt that the meds should be in a refrigerator she has simply put them in a marked (name, room number) baggie and asked the hotel folks to store them in a refrigerator overnight or for a couple of days. She's never been turned down.
Be careful with packing vials in ice--you take the chance of the med freezing and, consequently, being ruined.
From my wife: don't travel without your meds. It could ruin your trip.
You'll do fine. Good luck.
Posted by
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
425 posts
I took a small soft sided cooler and ice pack with me to Germany, Austria, and France this spring. Of course mine was for picnics. Every afternoon I would ask the hotel front desk if I could put the ice pack in the hotel freezer. Every morning they would retrieve it and give it back to me. In 14 days I never had a problem. I don't think you will have a problem.