Prepare for the Worst So You Can Feel Your Best
Transition comes with its own unique set of stressors: Should I disclose to my employer? How do I ask people to use my chosen name? Uncertain times, such as a pandemic, climate disasters, and other global events can add stress. Although it may feel overwhelming, making sure that you can access gender-affirming care will help you navigate the unknown with more confidence.
Plan Ahead When Possible
Although some events are unforeseeable, it’s usually possible to plan ahead. You should keep a minimum of 3-4 days of medication on hand. Try to think one week ahead when you’re prepping your emergency kit. Do you have enough syringes for gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT)? Do you have extra alcohol swabs and band-aids? To avoid missing a dose, it’s important to make sure you have enough medication and care supplies. “Enough” means that if you dropped one of your medications or lost it, you would still have a sufficient supply that you would be able to administer the meds on time.
Some pharmacies will give you an extended supply if you ask. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some pharmacies were willing to dispense up to 90 days of medication. Most will give you a refill 5-7 days before the end of your prescription. You can work with your Plume team to learn more about your options, and talk to the pharmacist about your needs. Some supplies, like cotton swabs and syringes, can be purchased separately without a prescription and are easier to stockpile. Needles, however, are bought from pharmacies. For people who administer an intramuscular testosterone shot, be aware that COVID-19 vaccines use some of the same needle sizes as GAHT. The pharmacist may be limited in what they can give you, or you may need to try switching sizes if you have no other options. Luckily, planning ahead should give you a buffer so that you’re not put in the position of having to improvise.
Storing Your Medications Safely
Your emergency kit of medications should include your extra supplies. All your medications should be stored in childproof, labeled containers inside a waterproof, sealed bag. Get a printed copy of your prescriptions and keep it in the bag too. You should also have a list of every medication you take that includes each drug’s name, strength, dosage form, and how often you take it. You can also include a photocopy of your prescription and medical cards, so you have that information if you lose the originals.
In addition to GAHT, make sure to include any medications that help you maintain your health. The goal of an emergency medication kit is to stay healthy and stable so that you don’t need to be hospitalized during a disaster. If you take medications for asthma, seizures, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, mental health conditions, HIV, thyroid disorders, put those in your kit, too. The expense or inconvenience of saving 3-5 days’ worth of these medications is much less than having to seek medical care in extreme conditions.
Be mindful of how your medications need to be stored. For example, if you take a medication that needs to be chilled, include cold packs that you can use in case the power goes out and you have no access to refrigeration. Keep your kit where children or animals can’t get to it. Also, in extreme weather, your medications might be affected and become less effective as they break down. Don’t store your kit in the car or bathroom. Those places won’t protect your medication from intense heat, cold, or humidity.
Remember that the emergency kit is for actual emergencies, which are unpredictable and unscheduled. The medications in your kit will need to be rotated or used by their expiration date, so refresh your extra supply every time you refill your prescriptions. (If you use a mail-order pharmacy, you might have to plan as much as a month ahead, since disasters can disrupt mail deliveries and delay your medications.) Any time you are prescribed a new medication, change your dose, or change how often you use the medication, update your kit to reflect that. Also, remove medications from your supply and list when you no longer need to take them. You don’t want to get stuck trying to improvise in a crisis—which is stressful enough already!
The world can feel huge and out of control. The smartest thing you can do in uncertain or disruptive times is take care of yourself. Thinking ahead about what you need to stay healthy, safe, and thriving is an investment in your future, so you never have to worry about a disruption in your care.
