Page 8 - Scleroderma Support Group NZ Newsletter Autumn 2017 - Issue 31

Holiday Happiness cntd.

But slowly slowly gets you there and back again. I spent a once more. That was so good. The holiday wasn’t without its
week there and went for a day trip to Monaco. This is a lovely problems.
place, densely populated and wealth exuded everywhere you
I had sore joints from all the walking, and the problems that
looked. I enjoyed looking at the super yachts all 3 stories of
go with eating a different diet, but nothing that caused me
them, expensive cars and all the well-known brand shops. Oh
deep concern. I was never questioned about all the medicine
how the other half live.
I carried, customs' sniffer dogs bypassed me, but I did carry
I was sad to leave Europe, but went back to Vietnam for copies of the prescriptions just in case. Also I had had an
a week with our daughter's family in Da Nang, where she infusion of Rituximab about 3-months previously so that
lives. Da Nang is not as hot as Ho Chi Minh, but still warm at kicked in at the perfect time. I was as good as I could have
about 25˚, again with high humidity. My bones could thaw been. Don’t think you can’t do it?. Try it, go for it and the
out and I ditched the warm clothes and got back into t-shirts worst that can happen is you come home sooner.

A little mother-daughter bonding over a glass of New Zealand's Oyster Bay wine in Hoi An, a very old and picturesque village just
south of Da Nang.
Tips for travelling

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention has an advice section for people with

chronic conditions who plan to travel: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov
Seek a pre-travel consultation with your doctor or specialist 4 - Insure against illness, health care abroad and medical
6 week before you go. evacuation

Take a doctor's letter on office letterhead, outlining medical Seek a health plan from your doctor to manage anything from
conditions, medications prescribed - include generic names, minor to serious events.
and any equipment required to manage the condition.
Wear a medical alert bracelet or keep medical information with
Pack medications and medical supplies in original containers in you
carry-on luggage and carry a copy of your prescriptions.
Stay well-hydrated, wear loose-fitting clothing, and walk and
Ensure sufficient quantities of medications for the entire trip, stretch at regular intervals during long-distance aeroplane
plus extra in case of delays. travel

www.scleroderma.org.nz