Travelling with penile injections is commonplace, and no different to someone with diabetes travelling with insulin. There are a few considerations for safety and equipment.
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
Consider the health care system where you are travelling, if something were to go wrong, can you access a hospital with ease? Are you a seasoned injector and confident with your technique and solution?
MEDICATION STORAGE
Most medication needs to be transported at a specific temperature. Consider if where you are going will have a fridge on arrival. Travel cooler packs are small, can be carried in your hand luggage or check in luggage and maintain temperature for long periods of time. Access to a freezer to maintain the cooler pack for travel home may be required to maintain the efficacy of your medication.
EQUIPMENT
Travel cooler pack – I have small cooler packs in the office for purchase which keep the medication at temperature for 24 hours. The travel pack has isothermic gel packs which are frozen prior to departure. Don’t forget your alcohol swabs, syringes, and somewhere to store your sharps to dispose of when you get home. We can provide a letter stating you are travelling with medication and equipment if needed.
PRIAPISM ACTION PLAN
A priapism is a prolonged erection which is a medical emergency as it can result in permanent erectile dysfunction if it is untreated. A priapism should not occur if you have followed all provided instructions for dose titration, technique and safety considerations. A priapism is defined as a rock-solid erection which remains for 4 hours or longer.
Step 1: after 1.5 hours – apply cold compress to the penis and perineum, take a cold shower, exercise to your ability (walking, running) any form of exertion to help the blood to move from the penis to other vital organs.
Step 2: after 2+ hours – take pseudoephedrine 60mg (if no previously discussed contraindication) this is often referred to as ‘sudafed’ and is a vasoconstrictor which is a common drug in cold and flu tablets, repeat dose after 30 minutes.
Step 3: after 4 hours – attend an EMERGENCY department to have the blood drained from the penis to prevent irreversible long-term damage to the penis.
