various enbrel q's
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| Fri, 04-29-2005 - 6:24pm |
OK ladies, I've been self injecting enbrel for almost 7 months now...and the funny thing is no one showed me how or that there was even a help line for us canuks regarding Enbrel, so I thought I was doing fine. I read the darn pamphlet in the box about 700 times before i injected..and I have injection experience, I used to do IM metx.
Anyways I phoned the american enbrel helpline to find out more about travelling with enbrel and they gave me the canadian help line number. Well after getting my intro package in the mail with the instructions on how to inject, the welcome package and my cooler for travel, I watched the instruction video. I've been doing mostly everything right except one thing. I haven't been pulling up the plunger on the syringe upon injecting to see if I've hit a blood vessel..i just point, jab and shoot!! So I'm becoming paranoid about what if I did..and really that freaks me out too. What could go wrong if you nick a blood vessel and inject besides a bruise?
That being said, I'm also becoming paranoid about travelling with enbrel "the sharps", and being held up in security. Any one else with experience please lay my fears to rest!! LOL. I would hate to hold up my whole family. (I got the letter from my rhuemy stating the necessity of my travelling with enbrel so that is taken care of). Yikes, I just don't know.
oh I just thought of this, has anyone had trouble loosing weight since being on enbrel...I ususally put on a few "winter" pound and excersise them off in spring...well its 6 weeks into the program and still no change. ARGH!! Anyone notice a gain or unable to loose on enbrel. thanks.
One week and 4 days till lift off...
holly
Edited 4/29/2005 8:50 pm ET ET by calliope28
Edited 4/29/2005 8:52 pm ET ET by calliope28

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Holly-
I work for an airline and have traveled many times with my syringes- both for MTX and Enbrel. It is fine. They probably won't even say anything about it at all. Just make sure you don't have any scissors or any other sharp thing. The screeners are used to people who need needles for medication. I just always make sure I have the original prescription label along with my meds so if I do get asked, I have it. That is all they will ever ask for. To be honest, I don't think I have even been asked at all in over 2 yrs. So don't worry, you will be fine! Have a great trip!
Heidi
Oh Heidi
Thanks so much, I really appreciate your reply. I'm sure things will be fine, my pharmasist no longer puts the labels on my boxes, so i'll just get him to print one out for the box I am taking.
10 days till lift off!!
holly
When I spent my month overseas at each stop I refroze my ice packs had a little problem with language in italy when I needed to get across that I needed a freezer. (and I was just a little franctic in egypt when we were sailing & my meds had been left behind at the hotel) I also packed my fridge temp guage & kept with the enbrel so I could keep a check on the temp. During my 30hr leg the temp was getting up so the flight crew put my meds in the cabin fridge (told me it was against policy..but she was nice & did it)
The chemist can give you a "small" sharps container for the needle. I only dispose of the actual needle in the sharps & throw the syringe & container as these can go in general waste. At each desintaion I informed management there would be syringes in the room garbage but no needles or sharps the cleaning staff could injure themself with. But please yourself if you want to carry the used syringes.
As I was in & out of airports I was a little worried about being hazzled over my bag but I had no problems I carried my little enebrel blue esky in the enebrel bag seperate so I could keep and eye on it going through the xray ( I was a bit paranoid about loosing it. )
I photocopied my drug scripts as we dont get the actual script here, took docs letter and kepts my enebrel in the original packaging with insert information as well. MY drugs were never tampered with in the hotel room fridges(which had worried me) only by 1 rude B&B owner when our room had no fridge & I had to intrust them to look after in there fridge, he opened my boxes. The only thing I wished I had done was put my ice packs (I got proper I ice packs from the chemist the ones there drugs are delivered in--they keep longer)was extra plastic bags. The kind porter in egypt put my ice packs to refreeze before my next leg in with the fish.....the smell was horrendous...but I only had one left so I ditched the worst offenders.
In regards to drawing back it is only subcutaneous & if you hit anything it will just be a capillary & you will get a bruise only. I dont bother I just find the spot for the day & jab away.
Enjoy your holiday.lell
Lell,
Thank you so very much. I had to smile about the smelly fish ice pack...that would be my luck too!! I'm sure things will be fine. I'm just getting nervous as I do before any big adventure. It just complicates things a little bit being on Enbrel. Take care of you.
Holly
Molly
Hi Molly,
(every time I read your name I think...Holly - Molly, we rhyme, soooo silly but true!!)
Anyways, yes it will be an exciting trip, and I'm no longer so stressed about travelling with the enbrel. I just hope my energy levels stay up so I can enjoy all our stops and keep up to every one!! thanks for the reply.
Take care,
Holly
I travel a great deal and have done so while using MTX, Enbrel, Humira and Kineret. I have been questioned several times, but a note from my doctor and examination of the medication to be injected usually satisfied them. I should say it always satisfied them with the MTX, Enbrel, and Humira. I ran into problems with the Kineret as I took it as part of a drug study, and the little vials I received had no labels. The drug study contacted the Kineret people, and they provided me with a box in which to put my little bottles (one for each day) that had a "label." That along with my doctor's and the drug study's explanation satisfied them. I swear that whether or not I am questioned is strictly a matter of chance. It seems that the smaller airports are more likely to check than the big ones. Every single time I go to the NW Regional Airport in Arkansas I feel as if I am smuggling drugs. But, I can "sail" through Miami or Chicago with no trouble. I'd just be prepared, and you should have no difficulty.
Rosemary
Rosemary,
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences. My husband keeps joking with me that I'm going to hold the whole plane up, lol. I'm sure things will go smoothly as we are departing and leaving from larger airports.
Take care.
Holly
Molly
Molly
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