Suggestions on Hot Compress while away from home.

[JJ75]

I have MGD and will be travelling to Europe for a week in May on business. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions/experiences on the best way to do effective hot compresses while travelling.

[Peggy]

I often wondered if those packets you break to warm your hands or feet for skiing or the cold would work when travelling? Peggy

[kitty]

You might try taking a heating pad with you, and some plastic bags. Soak a washcloth or hand towel in hot tap water and wring it out. Put it over your eyes followed by a piece of plastic then the heating pad which has been pre-heated. The heating pad will help keep the compress warmer longer. Some heating pads come with a water resistant cover.

[neil0502]

This might be a bit of a stretch, but ... many hotels now offer rooms with a microwave. If you can, inquire about that. If there's a microwave, just bring a small version of one of the rice/corn bags (less than a pound) with you and use it.

I've been pretty successful with getting m/w-equipped rooms, but that was primarily on domestic travel.

Good luck ... and TAKE ME WITH YOU!

[dianat]

You might email Rebecca and she if she can direct you on the disposable heat pads made for the eye...

[JJ75]

Thanks guys for the tips..

Neil as you said domestic travel that's much easier for.. Unfortunately European business hotels tend to be pretty bare bones.. I'm also thinking about maybe buying a small coffeee pot and heating my gel mask in that.. not sure what else I can do..

[Rebecca Petris]

There's a self-heating disposable warm compress made by a Japanese company but unfortunately it's not on the market yet. Dr. Tseng (The Ocular Surface Center) may still have some, might be worth contacting them. I had some samples but used them all up.

I'm also thinking about maybe buying a small coffeee pot and heating my gel mask in that.. not sure what else I can do..

Not a bad idea really. I used to travel with a small electric kettle to warm bottles for my daughter after I stopped nursing. In fact I think I still have the teeny little one that fit in my 1-suiter carryon. Maybe heat some water and pour it over the mask in a coffee cup or something?

[neil0502]

I'm also thinking about maybe buying a small coffeee pot and heating my gel mask in that.. not sure what else I can do..

Would a heating pad, or a "moist heating pad," be better/easier?

example: http://www.goodmans.net/item.asp?n=C...-HPO1R&sc=FRGL

voltage and receptacle adapters are cheap ... and you likely already have them.

[JJ75]

Would a heating pad, or a "moist heating pad," be better/easier?

example: http://www.goodmans.net/item.asp?n=C...-HPO1R&sc=FRGL

voltage and receptacle adapters are cheap ... and you likely already have them.

Would something like that work for your eyes..

[kitty]

JJ75, see my previous post regarding one way to use a heating pad. The principle would be the same for a moist heating pad, as you would need a wet washcloth or something to contour the shape of the moist pack to your eyes.

[neil0502]

Would something like that work for your eyes..

Sure. A heating pad ... perhaps atop a wet washcloth ... should work fine.

Might you have to push down on it so that it appropriately contacts your closed eyes? Sure, you might.

I'm not being facetious or argumentative here (tone is so totally absent online), but what is it about the notion of a heating pad that you view as impractical?

Best,
Neil

[JJ75]

Sure. A heating pad ... perhaps atop a wet washcloth ... should work fine.

Might you have to push down on it so that it appropriately contacts your closed eyes? Sure, you might.

I'm not being facetious or argumentative here (tone is so totally absent online), but what is it about the notion of a heating pad that you view as impractical?

Best,
Neil

I actually just wasn't sure.. Thinking about it last night it may just be the easiest solution...

Has anyone tried this?

[Rebecca Petris]

I know people who use this method and are satisfied with it.

As with anything warm applied to the lids you need to be cautious about temperature and test it out carefully.

[jcorbett]

JJ75 - where'd you get the gel mask? What brand is it? I use a gel pack, which I love, but have never seen a gel mask that I could heat. I found one that I could freeze and that is nice for those times.

[Lucy]

Ah, yes. I love my freezer gel-packs. BUT, I have attempted to heat one or two in the microwave and they did not withstand the heat, even 30 seconds. I'm sure it's possible, but I've ruined a couple of things trying to heat in the microwave. I know, I know. Start with a few seconds, add a few more. But, I won't try using the micro for anything I've paid much $$ for anymore.

I've taken a heating pad and used on my eyes while traveling. In fact, I usually throw in a heating pad just for the heck of it. Living in Michigan, well, you know.......... My heating pad has a solid plastic cover, then a cloth removable cover which may be washed. Try saran wrap and a wet washcloth under your heating pad and see if that works. Necessity is the mother of invention. Let us know after you've finished your trip what worked and what didn't.