Medical issues

[Leedspete]

I've checked the official Glastonbury website but can't see anything on this, any advice would be appreciated.

The OH and I are about to start IVF treatment, and some of the treatment will need to be administered whilst at the festival.

It consists of a syringe and some white powder (yeah, not great so far!) and some clear liquid.

The injection part of the thing is fine, as is storing of the hormones, it just needs to be kept within a certain temperature range which we should be able to manage easily.

The issue is how we'd handle getting this into the festival. Getting stopped at the gate with a syringe is not going to end well I wouldn't have thought so does anyone know of anyone who's diabetic etc who has to take things like this in and how they go about it.

Would the best bet be to just contact the festival direct to see if there is some way of getting a pass through for it? And as it isn't a medical necessity I just worry they might not let it in at all, but we can't move the dates.

Cheers.

[James Bolivar]

I'll be turning up with a big bag of pills - none of which will be the party kind. I'm hoping that a prescription will be sufficient to persuade security to let me in. You might want to add a letter, on headed paper, from your consultant. After that they should have to prove that what you are carrying is contraband; though doormen are rarely the most reasonable people in the world.

[MamaJojo]

+1, would have thought a letter from your consultant/a prescription should suffice. might also be worth dropping by wagonshed welfare/medical centre o. your arrival- they can probably store the meds for you at optimal conditions, and safely dispose of the sharps.

following an accident had to take enough drugs/pain meds etc into USA to keep a small country going for a month a few years back, they were more than happy with a docs letter and prescription, can't imagine that security at Glasto would be tougher than us immigration/customs!!!

[Guest musiclove123]

I don't think anyone could refuse if you have a letter from your doctor/consultant. I imagine if anyone sees you injecting they will turn a blind eye at Glastonbury

[Leedspete]

I don't think anyone could refuse if you have a letter from your doctor/consultant. I imagine if anyone sees you injecting they will turn a blind eye at Glastonbury

[MamaJojo]

would definitely advise getting in touch with/using one of these centres:

http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/information/advice/medical

to store it, and also to dispose of the sharp, you don't want to be carting around a used syringe and you can't put it in standard waste (used to be a nurse-accidents happen- not being rude!!) also is any of it in a glass vial? they might insist it's kept there if so as no glass onsite?

[DeadAmos]

No advice to give you

But I wish you good luck and all the best

[amfy]

I remember that when I had my IVF most of my injectables came in breakable glass phials. If it's the same for you then this is a bigger problem that the meds themselves as no glass is allowed on site, and the way that these are used will mean that they do contravene the exact reasons why it is banned,- i.e. - risk of broken glass. I remember those little blighters being lethally sharp if you caught them wrong.

They may want you to keep your meds in the first aid tent and go there each day to self administer. This could well be more hygenic & confortable for you too. I'm trying to remember whether any of it needed refrigerated - if it does theres another plus. There is a First Aid tent on the edge of Dairy/Park Home so that could be a good place to camp.

I imagine it'll be a fairly quiet Glastonbury for you as I remember the total health kick I was on during treatment. No alcohol, not even any chocolate, and 2 litres of water a day every day! Still - it'll all be worth it if it works out. Sending you lots of love and luck! xxx

[ukmountie]

As amfy said, the saline that you mix with the pills will be in glass ampoules, that would be a problem. Also the bottles with the hormone were glass when me and the Ms. went through it a few years back.

I think by far the best way forward would be to use the facilities offered by the first aid tent. They'll handle your sharps, and also quite important make sure that the injections are carried out in a sterile fashion.

We're having another go this month, and my wife doesn't do festivals so fortunately no worries there. My bigger concern was that I wouldn't be there for the two week on pregnancy test, but if things stay to schedule that will happen in early June.

Best of luck to your. Really hope it works out.

[MamaJojo]

Good luck to all of you trying with IVF, fingers crossed for you all

[MamaJojo]

As amfy said, the saline that you mix with the pills will be in glass ampoules, that would be a problem.

[Leedspete]

Once again many thanks for the advice.

Have contacted the festival office to ask for clarification, the link on the Glastonbury Festivals website for the FMS doesn't direct anywhere.

Yes my OH will be having a very healthy Glastonbury this year! It's going to do us both good I suppose, might see a bit more than the Brothers Bar during the day.

The solutions are in glass vials so the official medical route is definitely the way to go, and our tent definitely isn't always the cleanest of places, due to our burglar off putting mess.

Good luck to you guys who are trying as well, it's exciting and luckily we get one free go in Leeds on the NHS.

[hazey_jane]

Hope they can help you out and good luck!

[Superscally]

Can you take my smack in for me?

[Cooter]

can't imagine that security at Glasto would be tougher than us immigration/customs!!!