@donnanoonan89 

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donnanoonan89

Travelling

Hi everybody, I have recently been diagnosed with MS. I was originally supposed to be travelling to Australia with my friends in January but I was unfortunately advised not to travel at the time. I'm hoping to now go in August for 6 months as I still have my visa. I'm currently living in Ireland and I'm wondering if anybody else has travelled for this length or would have any advice about bringing medication, travel insurance etc. Thanks in Advance. Donna.
@Stumbler

Hi @donnanoonan89 , I would suggest getting hold of the MS Society and seeking their advice. They should be used to dealing with this sort of enquiry. Sound like a wonderful trip.

@cameron

I've been to Australia but only for a short holiday. My MS is worsened by any air journey over about 8 hours unless I can get a flat bed, which means going business class.... which in turn means I rarely do it!! The alternative is to split the journey, but I need more than one day and night to recover from each sector. Hopefully, you won't be affected in this way but it would be worth taking the time to really plan your journey carefully. Travel insurance is a bugbear and may be very expensive but (IMO) this is not an area you should economise on. Read the policies carefully - my most likely hazard is injury due to trips and falls. If you're the same i.e. if you have any motor weakness in your leg/s, make sure that the insurance would cover (e.g.) physio. Take a few photocopies of the ID section of your passport, leave the passport itself secure in a hotel safe but carry a photocopy with you at all times. You'd need it immediately if you had to go to an A and E department or (probably) to a police station. Obviously take all meds with you. Carry them in their original boxes so that customs etc can see your name on the packet. If you're going anywhere third-worldish and/or Muslim (e.g. Dubai, even as a transit passenger), also carry a copy of your prescription. I've never been challenged on this, but I know people who have been. Certain drugs such as codeine compounds are banned in these places and without a scrip saying they're yours and what they've been prescribed for, they could be confiscated. Also goes without saying, check with your GP what jabs you need - my practice has a travel nurse who has all the info to hand. With MS you can't have any live vaccines, e.g. yellow fever but I wouldn't have thought you would need anything much for Oz, except perhaps tetanus. Perhaps Northern Territories if you're going there? And if you go further afield, e.g. Papua New Guinea, you'll definitely need malaria meds. Good sun and mosquito protection ESSENTIAL! xx