How many "what-if" medications to pack?

[PrincessShmoo]

All of this makes me wonder, if you go to the medical center needing something for seasickness, how do you get just meclizine without someone there wondering if the nausea could be from a stomach virus? I’m sure they must be able to distinguish one from the other.

With sea sickness you don't typically also have diarrhea. Or a fever, muscle aches, stomach cramping.

 

[ColoradoMom12]

With sea sickness you don't typically also have diarrhea. Or a fever, muscle aches, stomach cramping.

Thanks for the explanation. That makes sense. I hadn’t thought about the other symptoms that go along with a stomach virus!

 

[mousefan73]

Thanks for the explanation. That makes sense. I hadn’t thought about the other symptoms that go along with a stomach virus!

With sea sickness you just know. Very different nauseous feeling IMO

 

[mousefan73]

I pack usually Ibuprofen, Aspirin, and nasal sray.
Only thing I NEED if sick is something for nasal decongestion. Rest cold symptoms Hot tea will do for me. Flu etc. cough I just let it run it’s course no additional stuff. Only thing I‘ll give myself and kids is fever reducer when it gets real bad. I‘m old school a light fever I let it do it’s job.

 

[diznymom]

It is only the two of us now, so the list is a bit different. I'll just list in general terms
Pain relievers
Allergy meds - antihistamines and decongestants
Alka-Seltzer
Antacids
Band-aids
Neosporin

 

[monarchsfan16]

We don't have kids so our list is probably shorter, but I pack non drowsy Dramamine (have not needed it yet), Benedryl, sinus meds, and Advil. And LOTS of bandaids and aloe.

 

[Geomom]

All of this makes me wonder, if you go to the medical center needing something for seasickness, how do you get just meclizine without someone there wondering if the nausea could be from a stomach virus? I’m sure they must be able to distinguish one from the other.

I'm assuming it hasn't changed, but when I went down to the health center on the Wonder in 2016 to look for the free seasickness meds for DD16, the Meclizine packets were just outside health services along with info on seasickness--no need to see anyone. I'm guessing it's partly due to the health center having limited hours.

 

[monkeydawn]

I try to bring a couple of days worth of common meds we might need for a variety of ailments. This way I have something to treat right away and can get out to get more if needed but Im not packing an entire carry on of meds. This fits into a ziplock sandwich baggie for us. I do take more Tylenol as that's all I can take (no aspirin or advil here). Unless something is in a blister pack I transfer the pills into one of those little Vitamin ziplock baggies.

For those that arent used to taking Immodium, that tends to make me gassy. So I usually grab a small bottle of the generic gas x and pop one of those along with the Immodium. Sorry if that's TMI but its a very cheap solution to being miserable.

 

[lorimay]

I pack a lot of in case things.... if something starts on the ship (especially a longer cruise) my husband will get it.
On the PC cruise last February, the majority of the ship was coughing by week two.
I didn't bring cough syrup, we got a bottle the first week in case, yup hubby needed it.
When we were in the store again, someone asked for it and they were sold out.
You can the smaller size meds in Target way cheaper than the ship.

 

[lwilliam]

I pretty much do the whole medicine cabinet:
advil
tylonol pm
sleep aid
benadryl
day/night colds meds
dramamine/sea bands/patch/meclazine
tums
pepto tabs
cough drops
pink eye drops
swimmers ear drops
nose spray
ear plugs (for sleeping)
allergy meds (zyrtec)

I prefer to just have everything on hand and not have to find what I need and I don't want to spend a ton.

Me too!

 

[pezgirlroy]

I always pack a bunch of stuff. Mainly because of the adage that if I bring it we won't need it but if I don't bring it we will.

 

[ChasingDreams]

Why would you bring all of this what if medication? Do you all pack this for every vacation..just curious? I just pack adult and childrens motrin/tylenol/dramamine.... and I have never used any of it. I have a 7 year old I have been traveling with since he was 3 mo

 

[deliela999]

You guys make me feel less crazy. I'm the overpacker and my husband makes fun of me...until he needs some of it. He's also made fun of me for printing a list of in network immediate cares and ER's where we're staying, and guess who's needed it the last 2 vacations? Who's allergic to sand?!? We have to figure out what to take for that one before our Christmas cruise. Hopefully our doctor will give him steroids to take with us in case. I agree with whatever I don't take is what we'll need and on a cruise I can't just run to Target or Walgreens for it. I have a bag of tiny bottles of everything that I just refill from our regular bottles before a trip.

 

[Tasmen]

Like others, I pack tylenol, advil, and tummy medicine. I also pack cold medicine, bandaids, and neosporin. I'd rather be prepared just in case.

 

[Disneyfamforsure]

I always pack a bunch of stuff. Mainly because of the adage that if I bring it we won't need it but if I don't bring it we will.

We pack everything for the kids, even tooth fairy goodies. The tooth fairy started getting these specific little mini stuffed animals when they lost their first tooth. Kind of a pain, but the kids love them so we buy in bulk. Once we were at the Grand Canyon and my youngest unexpectedly lost 2 teeth on the same night and we had no stuffies and only large bills. She still talks about the time she got a $20 and no stuffies. They are still trying to puzzle out why the tooth fairy got weird at the Grand Canyon.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

With two kids, I often have to make a CVS run at some point during vacations. How deep into the "what if" scenarios do you go when packing OTC meds? What is available on ship? It doesn't seem practical to pack the whole medicine cabinet!

I pack an insane amount of meds and supplements because that's what I regularly take due to a chronic health issue. I prep a plastic baggie of what I'll need for each day- it wouldn't fit in one of those hard plastic organizers. Beyond that, I pack Dramamine just in case someone needs it for seasickness (none of us has needed it yet), Sudafed, expectorant & zinc lozenges in case someone catches a cold, and so forth. I'd rather overpack in that department than underpack. I don't want to be uncomfortable while on vacation.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Why would you bring all of this what if medication? Do you all pack this for every vacation..just curious? I just pack adult and childrens motrin/tylenol/dramamine.... and I have never used any of it. I have a 7 year old I have been traveling with since he was 3 mo

Why? Um, duh, to take in case it's needed...Lucky you that you've never needed medicine while on a trip. Many of us posting here have. Being sick or in pain without that medication that works just right for you (I'm middle aged, so I know what works for me at this point, and some of it is prescription-only) is an easy way to spoil a vacation. So I always make sure we have what we might need.

Yes, I pack the same stuff routinely. You never know when you're going to come down with a cold or the flu. Once in a blue moon I get a canker sore: big ones really hurt & can easily kill a good time and make it unpleasant to eat, so I bring preventative medication to take in case I feel one coming on. Tmi but some in our party are prone to constipation, so I always bring some Miralax, too, in case it's needed.

Pills and powders are small and light, so even with everything I bring, it easily fits into my shoulder bag and adds no significant weight.

 

[T & R]

This stuff. We've never needed it but it would only take once.

https://www.amazon.com/Safe-Anti-je...r_1_4?keywords=sea+lice&qid=1580833986&sr=8-4
.

 

[Disneyfamforsure]

lol umm thanks for the rude response... jeez I was just asking. This is what is wrong with us today. People are so quick to criticize. I am sure you are also the person complaining, pushing children out of the way and being rude to staff... sorry but I am so over rude and bad behavior at disney

You may feel like you were "just asking" but your initial response made it sound like people who packed these medications were somehow over doing it. You have been lucky to avoid a bad situation, but for many parents out there that have had to deal with a crazy, middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere situation involving your family, it is always better to be prepared. I believe the OP was reaching out to get a feel for what they may need and people were responding. You could have simply provided insight as to what you pack without the negative commentary. Have a Disney day!

 

[wilafur]

This is the standard med kit we always bring along when travelling:

- Bandages (assorted)
- Neosporin
- Ibuprofen (kids)
- Tylenol (kids)
- Ibuprofen (adult)
- Benadryl (kids)
- Benadryl (adult)
- Zyrtec (kids)
- Zyrtec (adult)
- Omeprazole
- Pepto
- Z-Pak
- Sawyer mini water filter
- N95 masks
- Clorox Healthcare wipes (hydrogen peroxide)
- Nitrile gloves (2-4 pairs)

The above all packs into a med kit that is roughly the size of a standard bible. Very easy to toss into our luggage, and it is better to be somewhat prepared than to have to scramble during a trip.