Leaving for vacation - Security of Meds????? - Pain Management Message Board

Fly_Girl01 · 08-20-2004, 09:30 PM

My husband and I are leaving Monday for vacation for two weeks and will be staying in a hotel that does not have safes in the room. I take OxyContin 20 mgs twice a day and Hydro as needed for BT pain.

Ive heard horror stories of housekeeping staff stealing meds, and Im scared that he/she will find my Oxy and steal it, with me going through withdrawl on vacation! So I guess my question is, where/what is a foolproof hiding location for my meds without worrying about theft? Weve tossed a couple of ideas around but still dont know.The last thing I thought of was getting a cheap bottle of laxative tablets and putting the Oxy's in there. Im still not sure though.

Any suggestions/hiding places would be greatly appreciated!

TIA,
-Amy

Kissa · 08-20-2004, 09:52 PM

You can do a few things

You can look for a concealing container, they sell them on the web or at smoke shops. They look like a can of aeresol hairspray or deodorant. You open the bottom and slide your item inside. Look around for something called a "safe can" you might should be able to find it. Or look specifically for a product called "Aquanet Hairspray Diversion Can Safe" that would probably be your best bet because a maid might throw out a can of pop!

You could do the laxative thing, buy a bottle, empty it out, put your meds in it and cotton balls on top so they don't jiggle around but carry then with you at all times. If you carry a purse and your purse has a zipper pocket inside put your pill bottle in there. I would not leave the bottle in your room. You could also put them in a pill holder but I like the bottle idea better, it's not likely to pop open.

Overkill would be buying a very small safety deposit box with keys. You could store it in your luggage but that just might be too much for the amount you nee to store.

Good luck and enjoy the trip

vamp36 · 08-20-2004, 10:08 PM

I agree with Kissa on the empty pill bottle. I always put mine in a small Nexium sample bottle I got and carry it with me. I use to work in a hotel and yes- some staff do go through things in hotels. Very sad but true.

Flycatcher · 08-21-2004, 07:26 AM

Same here, I have a small Tylenol bottle (50 ct.?) that I carry in my pocket at all times. I keep a minimum of one week's meds on me, even when I'm NOT travelling. It's probably overkill but I know I can make it through at least a full week without running out of anything, including: BT and migraine meds, Sudafed, Ibuprofen, etc. If I go anywhere on the weekend I recount to make sure I'm okay if something happens and I'm stranded overnight. My wife does the same with her meds but since she carries a purse, she uses two bottles: One for meds and one for herbal supplements. Funny thing is I thought we were oddballs for doing that, it didn't occur to me that other CPers would be doing the exact same thing. LOL

Since I carry all my meds in my pocket I KNOW they're safe from coworkers, certain family members and other less than honest people.
Jack

Fly_Girl01 · 08-21-2004, 11:06 AM

Thanks for all of the good ideas. I will be around the pool alot so I guess when I leave the room unattended I will take my "Nexium" (I actually have a litle one from a sample the Dr. gave me one time) bottle with the pain meds in it in my beach bag or something. It is sad the measures we have to go through because of those less than honest people.

Hope everyone is enjoying a pain free weekend,
Amy