The doctor weighs in.What should I do if I have an exacerbation while traveling?. The first thing to remember is what an exacerbation is. It's a worsening of old symptoms or the appearance of new ones that lasts at least 24 hours. This is important because stress, heat, and/or fatigue (all of which easily happen while traveling) could cause a temporary symptom flare, which should clear by the next day. If symptoms persist, do you have signs of infection? new bladder symptoms? a fever? symptoms of flu or a cold? If there is an infection, have it treated. Your flare may be a pseudoexacerbation. In the event of a true exacerbation, seek medical evaluation, preferably by a neurologist Neurologist A doctor who specializes in disorders of the brain and central nervous system. Mentioned in: Cervical Disk Disease neurologist a specialist in neurology. . However, if you have a predictable response to steroids and you'll be traveling in an area where medical help might not be available, your physician may give you a prescription for a brief (1-2 weeks) supply of oral prednisone prednisone (prĕd`nĭsōn): see corticosteroid drug. to take with you just in case. I'm pecking my injectables in an insulated carry-on bag, but suppose I can't freeze my Blue Ice? Avonex, Betaseron, and Copaxone (before they are reconstituted) can stay at temperatures that don't exceed 86 [degrees] for a total of 7 days. Ice can usually be obtained on airplanes, trains, and in hotels. Remember to pack clean plastic bags for ice holders. Do I need a note from my neurologist to get through airport security with my needles? Some airports, particularly overseas, may have more stringent security standards. So, yes, it's safest to have a doctor's note certifying that you are on injectable in·ject·a·ble adj. Capable of being injected. Used of a drug. n. A drug or medicine that can be injected. prescription medication. Additionally, tours or cruise lines
Name Headquarters A'rosa Europe NCL America America AIDA Cruises Europe American Cruise Lines America may require a "fitness to travel" letter from your doctor. What do you recommend for diarrhea? motion sickness motion sickness, waves of nausea and vomiting experienced by some people, resulting from the sudden changes in movement of a vehicle. The ailment is also known as seasickness, car sickness, train sickness, airsickness, and swing sickness. ? or Third World travel? Over-the-counter anti-diarrheals, such as Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol, or Imodium, work well. The biggest problem from diarrhea is dehydration dehydration Method of food preservation in which moisture (primarily water) is removed. Dehydration inhibits the growth of microorganisms and often reduces the bulk of food. . If you are traveling in less-developed areas, it's wise to pack some electrolyte-rich "sports" liquids. Persistent diarrhea, or diarrhea accompanied by fever or abdominal pain Abdominal pain can be one of the symptoms associated with transient disorders or serious disease. Making a definitive diagnosis of the cause of abdominal pain can be difficult, because many diseases can result in this symptom. Abdominal pain is a common problem. that lasts more than a day, needs medical evaluation. Over-the-counter Dramamine works for motion sickness, or your doctor may give you a prescription for Antivert (meclizine meclizine /mec·li·zine/ (mek´li-zen) an antihistamine used as the hydrochloride salt as an antinauseant in motion sickness and to manage vertigo associated with disease affecting the vestibular system. ). The Centers for Disease Control posts vaccination recommendations for everywhere in the world. Ask your doctor to check their valuable Web site: <www.cdc.gov>. Barbara Giesser, MD, is a clinical neurologist who has specialized in MS care for more than 20 years; she is chair of the editorial board of this magazine. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion