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Going away for weeks/months, how much medication can i get?

K

Klang180

Well-Known Member
Messages
130
Hello

I am new to the board and i hope you lovely people will be able to help me with a question.

I want to go abroad and volunteer and travel a bit early next year. I have type 1 diabetes and i am concerned that i will not be able to get enough glucose testing strips for my time abroad. I am fairly well controlled but i must admit an over reliance on Glucose strips and feel a little insecure without the knowledge that i have tests available.

Does anyone know how many test strips i will be able to get on the NHS at any one time? I use about 70 strips a week (I know i know, i am trying to reduce) and therefore would need to get my hands on at least 12-16 boxes of strips (600-800 strips) in one go. To make matters worse it would be a hot environment and one i am not familiar with so would need more to start with as i adapt.

Does anyone have experience with this and know how many strips i can get from my doctor at any one time?

Thanks so much in advance, this is really worrying me and putting the halt on my travel planning!
 
Re: Going away for weeks/months, how much medication can i g

Hi Klang180!

I think it's pretty much up to your individual doctor or PCT as to the amount they will prescribe at any one time. However, you are unlikely to be able to get more than three months' supply in one go - and often a lot less. My surgery will only prescribe one month's supply at a time.

Smidge
 
Re: Going away for weeks/months, how much medication can i g

Hello Klang180...
How long are you intending on going away for?
You could try going to see your own GP/DSN discuss this in depth with them...
Maybe they will provide you with enough and letter(s) to cover you via the health/travel insurance.
Its too easy to wonder and worry about all of this - better to be proactive and ask the relevant professionals.
You have chance to prepare well and adequately with supplies you will need - as you say you wish to
do this early next year... This will give you time to get prepped.
Another option if not able to get enough test strips off the doc is to try ebay ...
They sell these far cheaper than the chemists - just an extra thought for you to consider!
Also consider the frio keep cool wallets a must for warmer climates. Whilst travelling!
Hope this helps.
Anna.
 
Re: Going away for weeks/months, how much medication can i g

A word of warning, doctors can and do, consider going abroad for more than 3 months as "living abroad" they can and do, remove patients from their list.

So, just get someone to request a repeat prescription as required. Then they can post it on to you. Enclose a photocopy of the prescription and fill in a customs declaration form.

Don't tell the doctor!

H
 
Re: Going away for weeks/months, how much medication can i g

Thanks to all three of you for your very helpfu replies, appreciated.

I would be going for a maximum of 3 months and probably more like 1.5 months in each instance. As a result it does look like they shouldn't have a problem filling out my script. I will however want to do 6-7 months away later next year so i think for that i would need to get my parents to help by sending my stuff to me.

I have been away before for about 4 months and when my doctor asked he said "ok bear in mind that i cannot proscribe you anymore than 3 months worth of supplies before you answer this question *wink*, so how long are you going for?" me "3 months" him "ok so what do you need?" This was over 4 years ago though and i wanted to get the update on it.

Thanks to all of you.
 
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