Todd Friedman was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at the age of five. Even though home parenteral nutrition, or home PN, was becoming more widely available, the equipment required for it was bulky and unwieldy—not exactly travel-friendly for Todd.
Like so many other people with chronic conditions such as Crohn’s disease, dysmotility disorders, and adult short bowel syndrome who depend on tube feeding, IV nutrition therapy, and other forms of clinical nutrition, Todd’s treatment made for a confined and constrained lifestyle. At first his life was ruled by one-liter glass bottles and pumps the size of pay phones. Though home PN became much more compact over the years, it was still difficult to do much more than stay home.
After sixteen years on HPN, Todd switched to Nutrishare; since then, he and his wife have become frequent travelers and have visited all fifty states!
How was this possible?
Through Nutrishare’s mission: to provide home TPN patients and their families with everything they need to live their best life – generous supplies, personalized services, and expert clinical care. We empower our patients to live their lives to the fullest and truly thrive with 1-on-1 support and expert clinical care. We’re licensed and offer convenient shipping in 48 states, so you can travel with confidence and know that your nutrition will be there wherever you go.
Home TPN Support Wherever You Travel
When we talk about your HPN journey, we don’t just mean it as a figure of speech—our specialized, highly personalized care is designed to make travel easy and fun. Whether by planes, trains, automobiles, or boats, we’re here to support you on any kind of travel, from a short weekend trip to a cross-country journey.
Tips for Travel with Home TPN
For home TPN consumers, there are many logistical issues involving travel that can feel insurmountable. But with advanced planning and outreach, your journey can be accessible and straightforward. Here are some tips to make travel with home TPN easy:
Plan Your Travel in Advance
Nutrishare is focused on helping you plan out every leg of your journey. Wherever you’re headed, however you’re headed there, we will work with you to make sure that your TPN treatment will be accessible on your journey and at your destination! Your Nutrishare clinician will always be available to make sure that your trip goes smoothly.
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- Start planning early – Each type of travel requires different timelines. The earlier you reach out for help, the more comprehensive a travel plan we can help you develop. Talk with your doctor to make sure you can travel safely.
- Be prepared – Before starting out on your trip, make sure you know which area hospitals in your destination or in stops along the way have experience with fixing broken central venous catheters (CVCs). Make sure you know who to contact and how to reach them if you have an emergency.
- Know your resources – Always know how to get a hold of your current doctor in charge of your TPN care, just in case you need to call on them for special assistance.
Airplane Travel and TSA
Airplane travel with home TPN can be challenging, but Nutrishare is here to ensure that your travel plans go as smoothly as possible. Keeping your equipment secure through the pre-boarding security process can feel especially daunting, but it is far from impossible. In dealing with airport security, keep these tips in mind to make the pre-boarding process as smooth and hassle-free as possible:
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- Make sure to notify the TSA ahead of time that you are traveling, and that you will be coming through the security checkpoint with a central line and medical liquids. Airport security can assist you with early boarding and flight delays and provide you with a wheelchair to help you transport your supplies if needed.
- Note that the TSA agents can ask to see your CVC, but should not touch it.
- Bring only frozen ice packs, not warm ones, through security. Speak with your PC regarding what to bring with you and what supplies you will need.
- You can print and fill out a TSA disability notification card to make the TSA screening process go by more smoothly.
To get in touch with the TSA about your travel plans and medical needs, you can contact them by phone at +1 (855) 787-2272. Visit TSA.gov/travel to learn more.
Need help with an upcoming flight? Feel free to contact us for support!
Order Online
Through our online ordering platform, our pharmacy can quickly ship products and supplies to any of the 48 states of the continental United States, with availability in Louisiana and Mississippi coming soon. We’ve been shipping home TPN supplies and infusion formulas across the US for over 30 years! If you are staying long at your destination, you can rest assured that your preferred TPN treatment can be shipped directly to you for the duration of your stay, and we offer expedited shipping should you ever need it.
Keeping Your Home TPN Treatments Safe
Keeping your supplies safe and well-cared-for in transit, especially your CVC, is critically important for ensuring that your trip will be smooth and comfortable.
Traveling by car
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- Make sure to pad your seatbelts with a soft material. Doing so will prevent your central line from being accidentally pulled or otherwise damaged if you come to a sudden stop for any reason.
- On long trips, get out of the car and walk around at least every two hours to prevent blood clots from forming in your legs.
Traveling by plane
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- Pack a small metal tray to carry on your flight to hold your supplies. You will want to avoid using the airline tray in front of your seat, as these are often very dirty.
- Label any boxes and bags containing your supplies as “FRAGILE: Medical Supplies” to reduce the risk of rough handling.
Traveling on a cruise ship
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- Depending on the cruise line, there may be cruise ship personnel who are familiar with central lines. Different cruises have different levels of medical care available, so make sure to ask ahead of time if there are medical professionals on the ship who have experience with TPN treatment and CVCs and can provide assistance, should you need it.
General travel safety tips
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- Wherever and however you are traveling, be sure to bring a CVC repair kit along with you.
- Make sure to keep your “go bag” well-stocked with an information sheet listing your emergency contacts, a first-aid kit, and a flashlight, along with dressing change supplies, TPN supplies, oral/tube feeding supplies, etc…
- TPN must be kept cool in transit.
- Make sure to carry a CVE clamp.
- Secure your CVC, secure your CVC, and most importantly, secure your CVC!
- Wherever and however you travel, be sure to stay hydrated.
Learn more about stocking your “go bag” with the supplies you might need in case of an emergency
Where will you go?
We’re proud to have helped so many of our patients create such wonderful and lasting memories of their journeys, from Todd Friedman’s aforementioned travels across the US to Mary Probus’ camping trips and beach vacations.
So many people, especially the recently diagnosed, find themselves worrying that TPN treatment means an end to their quality of life, or feel as though they and their family might be trapped or imprisoned by their treatment. We understand those feelings, and we are here to put those fears to rest At Nutrishare, we’re here to help you live your best life on home TPN—at home and beyond, wherever your journey takes you.
“People, when I mention my chronic need for home TPN, always comment ‘oh my gosh, that sounds so difficult’. But HPN is a part of my life, and one I’ve managed to keep in a minimally compact bag. Honestly, modern medicine has made home TPN extremely manageable and life is pretty darn good.” – Rommel DeGracia
“I have now been a home TPN consumer for 42 years and if I live to be 99 (which I’m planning on), I’ll be on it for another 42 years! For fun, my wife Susan and I enjoy traveling (I have been to all 50 states), dining out, and taking scenic walks with our golden retriever Molly.” – Todd Friedman
“I don’t let home TPN put me in a negative space. I adjust life according to infusion days. TPN deliveries can be set up to be delivered wherever I’m traveling. My advice when traveling is not to forget your pump!” – Mary Probus
“My son requires HPN to stay alive. We travel often to other states and have Nutrishare ship to our differing locations.” – Steve H.
Do you have a travel story of your own you’d like to share? We’d love to hear it! Reach out to us on our Instagram to share it with our growing community of HPN customers and care providers!
About Nutrishare: The only nationwide home infusion pharmacy specializing exclusively in HPN care
Home TPN shouldn’t limit the way you live your life. We’re here so you can thrive—to help you get organized with your TPN at home and on the road, handle your dietary needs, and assist you in living your best life.
New to Nutrishare?
We are the only company that specializes exclusively in long-term care for total parenteral nutrition patients—that means we have a single therapy focus, rather than being a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. And we believe in walking with you on every step of your HPN journey to nourish your most fulfilling life through superior personalized team care, flexible and reliable treatment, and unparalleled convenience.
Our patients have real relationships with our clinicians—we aim for your personalized team care to feel like “part of the neighborhood.” Our team works with you to set and develop your health and lifestyle goals and deliver superior clinical outcomes. Our service and products are designed to empower your choices and put your preferences first for how you want your treatments to look like. With a convenient online ordering platform and national coverage and real pharmacists available 24/7/365, we’re there for you to give you peace of mind and security wherever you go.
When you become one of our patients, you and your family become a part of the Nutrishare Neighborhood – a network of support and education for consumers and caregivers alike, featuring virtual Zoom meetings, consumer education seminars with TPN experts, and comprehensive support for living on home TPN. When you’re a part of the Nutrishare Neighborhood, you’ll never be alone.
If you’re interested in switching from your current provider or have any questions about Nutrishare, contact us and sign up for our SHARING newsletter!