Travel with PID

[john]

Hi,
Syd brought up the question of travel and holidays for people like us who have PIDs.
I have done my fair share of travel, long haul, European and domestic, always ensuring that I leave for the trip having just had my infusion, using IVIg to give me three weeks supply, and arranging an appointment as soon as I get back for my next dose.
Vaccinations are a disputed subject, and if my trip would normally need vacs then I ask my immo for her advice.
I'm usually under the impression that my infusions provide me with the protection I need thanks to the fact that the donors have had vaccinations "on my behalf"!
So what is your advice for Syd, all aspects of travel, all destinations? I know some of us have had great adventurous trips to exotic places, and I don't remember anyone telling me they had found themselves in trouble whilst away (fingers crossed)!

[john]

Today my fellow volunteer at the clinic told me she has planned a "super trip" of three months travelling the world, starting in January 2014.
She has CVID and treats herself weekly at home with sub-cut infusions, and she was at the clinic today to get her consultant's "approval"!
She got that and so the trip of a lifetime will happen!!
She has promised to write a diary of the places she visits and the places she infuses at, for me to post here, so it will make interesting reading!!
Watch this space!!!

[s162216]

Whilst it is a great thing to go travelling and again a reminder that CVID should not stop you from doing anything, people with PID should remember though that they are unable to have several vaccinations which are key for going to some countries as they are live vaccines. Yellow fever is probably the most important of these vaccines and in some cases you may be tuned away at the border if you can't provide a letter detailing a wavier on medical grounds from a doctor. Whilst IVIG/SCIG infusions do provide all the antibodies against all routinely vaccinated conditions, it does not include antibodies against conditions such as yellow fever or Japanese encephalitis as these are not included in the normal vaccination schedule.

Sorry if that sounds really depressing for anyone who wants to go to a country where conditions such as Yellow Fever are common, but its probably better to be safe than sorry especially if you've already got much lower immunity than most others.

Sam

[mali42]

Hi all
I would rather know if there was a strong possibility of getting something I had no defence against than not but that being said there are so many wonderful places to visit missing a few places isn't so bad,

Just get the right advice and go for it.
I will look forward to the hearing all about it.
Malcolm

[elained]

So we can travel with our sub-cut stuff? I haven't started yet, but was wondering about that. AND do we have to keep the 'stuff'" cold? I have so much to learn.

At 71, and with severe Peripheral Neuropathy, I doubt if we go anywhere now that would require lots of walking, lots of heat, or vaccinations.

We've already travelled quite a bit but never anyplace requiring vaccinations that I recall.

But to be able to go for more than a week, to visit our son living in Paris for 28 years already, is a MUST. And I'd like to see more of Spain and Italy, and some of Germany, Austria and other European countries. One of those Viking River Cruises would be ideal if we won the lottery.

And perhaps the infusions will restore a bit of my energy for travel to a few other countries I've wanted to experience.

I always wanted to go to Machu Picchu, the sky high Inca ruins in Peru, but that is out at this point. The CDC recommends perhaps Yellow Fever and Malaria vaccinations, which might be a problem. But mostly, since I can't walk well, I would miss the point of the entire trip, I imagine.

But to be able to pack up the infusion stuff and head out, now that seems amazing to me!

Hugs

Elaine

[s162216]

There was a lady on the old PIA forum that quite literally took her SCIG stuff with her as she travelled around the world (She might be a member on here as well but can't quite remember) through India and surrounding countries and produced a travel diary of her experiences infusing during her time abroad (sadly thats now lost along with all the other useful threads in the old forum).

With regards to keeping it cool, if I remember it depends on the IgG brand, but most can be safely kept out of the fridge until their expiary date unless their in high temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius. You can get special cool bags that you immerse in cold water and they then keep cold for 24 hours or so, that way you would probably be o.k taking it with you (although I wouldn't like to be the person taking it through customs!)

Sam