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Planning my first Camino here, and I have somewhat of a problem with my Rx drug.
I have ankylosing spondylitis and every two weeks I administer myself with a self-injection pen of Humira, much the same way a diabetic does but with a pen that's only used once and then disposed of.
Thing is, it has got to be kept refrigerated. I do understand that's impossible on the Camino, but as I see it I have two options:
- When taken out of the fridge it can be kept in room temperature for two weeks, but no warmer than 25°C. I'm ready to bet heavy on the fact that it will probably be hotter than that inside my backpack, especially since I'm planning for august-september, so that doesn't really feel like an option.
- Finding it in Spain. Now, Humira is hugely expensive, even in (when it comes to drugs) moderately cheap Sweden, but a double pack costs just shy of €1000 around here (yeah, you read that right) and isn't available everywhere. Sweden's high cost protection system means I pay far from full price, but I seriously doubt that system will work in Spain...
There is one more option and that is to shrug and keep walking.
I have given this a lot of thought, but my condition sits in my lower back and I feel that area will take enough of a beating anyway and giving up on the meds that literally keeps me walking without limping, and also lets me sleep properly? Well...
Any ideas..? It sure would be appreciated!
As I understand it, Humira isn't manufactured in a factory, it's grown in laboratories - part of the big prizetag I assume. But that also implies that it's filled with friendly little germs and these fellas die if the temperature gets too high.I haven't had to do this, but I think you could keep it cool (under 25C) if you came prepared and were diligent.
An important question to understand would be: What happens if the cooling requirements are not fully met? Does it just become gradually/suddenly less effective? or does it spoil and become a direct hazard?
Haha, noooo way I'm gonna leave it unattended! I look over my shoulder just walking home from the pharmacy...Some suggestions I would not try are placing in the refrigerator where you stay overnight. While most pilgrims are honest, the temptation of unattended syringes containing anything might be too great to resist.
Planning my first Camino here, and I have somewhat of a problem with my Rx drug.
I have ankylosing spondylitis and every two weeks I administer myself with a self-injection pen of Humira, much the same way a diabetic does but with a pen that's only used once and then disposed of.
Thing is, it has got to be kept refrigerated. I do understand that's impossible on the Camino, but as I see it I have two options:
- When taken out of the fridge it can be kept in room temperature for two weeks, but no warmer than 25°C. I'm ready to bet heavy on the fact that it will probably be hotter than that inside my backpack, especially since I'm planning for august-september, so that doesn't really feel like an option.
- Finding it in Spain. Now, Humira is hugely expensive, even in (when it comes to drugs) moderately cheap Sweden, but a double pack costs just shy of €1000 around here (yeah, you read that right) and isn't available everywhere. Sweden's high cost protection system means I pay far from full price, but I seriously doubt that system will work in Spain...
There is one more option and that is to shrug and keep walking.
I have given this a lot of thought, but my condition sits in my lower back and I feel that area will take enough of a beating anyway and giving up on the meds that literally keeps me walking without limping, and also lets me sleep properly? Well...
Any ideas..? It sure would be appreciated!
Or ask about taking it a bit early instead of late. If you can have a small period of time without after a scheduled shot or take a shot a few days earlier then you may be able to do a more convenient schedule such as went you are in a larger town where the drug is available or shippable to you. Check anyway just in case something bad happens along the way like losing the drug. It will ease any stress you may have in trying to recover from a potential disaster.Have you discussed this with your doctor? Perhaps he would suggest a substitute for your injection(s) while on Camino, or even skipping.
My husband and i did a walk in August and he is Diabetic. He bought 2 Frio bags from the internet which use water for cooling and they worked amazing even in 30 degrees. He never had a problem with his insulin. Check them out they work.Planning my first Camino here, and I have somewhat of a problem with my Rx drug.
I have ankylosing spondylitis and every two weeks I administer myself with a self-injection pen of Humira, much the same way a diabetic does but with a pen that's only used once and then disposed of.
Thing is, it has got to be kept refrigerated. I do understand that's impossible on the Camino, but as I see it I have two options:
- When taken out of the fridge it can be kept in room temperature for two weeks, but no warmer than 25°C. I'm ready to bet heavy on the fact that it will probably be hotter than that inside my backpack, especially since I'm planning for august-september, so that doesn't really feel like an option.
- Finding it in Spain. Now, Humira is hugely expensive, even in (when it comes to drugs) moderately cheap Sweden, but a double pack costs just shy of €1000 around here (yeah, you read that right) and isn't available everywhere. Sweden's high cost protection system means I pay far from full price, but I seriously doubt that system will work in Spain...
There is one more option and that is to shrug and keep walking.
I have given this a lot of thought, but my condition sits in my lower back and I feel that area will take enough of a beating anyway and giving up on the meds that literally keeps me walking without limping, and also lets me sleep properly? Well...
Any ideas..? It sure would be appreciated!
I don't think posting it would do the trick, it's all too easy to go wrong. Because it's live biologics it can't be frozen (I don't trust cargo holds in airplanes) and once warm it can't be re-refridgerated - you simply don't know what happens to it during transit.
Since AS is an inflammatory disease Humira keeps the inflammation in my back at bay for two weeks. I take the shot every second monday and sometimes my back starts to ache the weekend before "shot monday", that's when Humira wears off.
I haven't seen my doc for a while and I'm going to bring up the question next time, especially if there's a pill of some sort that can be used during that period.
But for now, Frio wins the day.
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