tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post8134637290223658877..comments2024-01-22T00:46:35.341-08:00Comments on Our Diabetic Life: Have diabetes, will travelMerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752883120541646427noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-78891186879789138942012-07-17T20:09:26.114-07:002012-07-17T20:09:26.114-07:00Personally I choose the full body scanner because ...Personally I choose the full body scanner because a TSA agent told me once it was the easiest way to avoid the full pat down. I felt comfortable doing that after the "fight" I got in with a TSA agent over whether or not the body scanner used X-ray technology (they do but it is somehow "different").<br /><br />That doesn't take away from the fact that it is a personal decision that every person with or without diabetes is encouraged to make - and shouldn't be punished for it!!<br /><br />I am flying home from visiting family right now and it has been my worst d-travel experience. I have not done anything different than I normally do and I got a FULL putdown and a FULL bag search on the way there and another FULL putdown on the way home. UGH!Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10834565473474357037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-12245313722059961092012-07-13T16:42:20.617-07:002012-07-13T16:42:20.617-07:00We have not flown since diagnosis, but back before...We have not flown since diagnosis, but back before D, my husband and I both worked for airlines and flew A LOT. TSA, they are all crazy, they don't have consistant training with all of their agents and that makes it hard. You had it right by doing the research and the printing out. Being informed is the best way, seems like it all went over okay besides the extreme pat down for J. I'm glad I saw Wendy's comment about the Ping remote not being able to go thru xray, I probably would send it through...well maybe not because if I ever get to fly again, I'll probably be reading websites for a month or two beforehand.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06785514225376460577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-49177334469541209692012-07-13T13:01:19.719-07:002012-07-13T13:01:19.719-07:00ugh, sorry J's patdown was so EXTREME. our pla...ugh, sorry J's patdown was so EXTREME. our plan was identical to yours, even though L wasn't too jazzed about getting the full-on pat down. luckily they didn't go that route and just swabbed her hands. i am glad you stood your ground, i know those dudes can be intimidating. thanks for sharing your experience to help others.shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08895190983814591749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-64898758705242476022012-07-12T20:52:13.399-07:002012-07-12T20:52:13.399-07:00With my husband wearing a pump, we understand the ...With my husband wearing a pump, we understand the pat down for the airport. He'll ask to be patted down- show them his pump and hand them his letter from the dr. I'll take the rest of the carry-on's and go on through security and wait for him on the other side-Jannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07425123925480089479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-66713885341621669092012-07-12T19:55:37.229-07:002012-07-12T19:55:37.229-07:00Meri, that is so funny! I just finished writing a ...Meri, that is so funny! I just finished writing a post about how Rocco's pump broke due to going into the lake and was checking in to see how your world was and you mentioned the pool at Disney! How funny! I hate to say misery loves company but thank you for making me feel a little dumb about my current D mom blunder... Those little boys move quickly don't they? Just wish I would have read Our Diabetic Life last year! Glad you and your family got a little time to have fun. Praying for you guys! ShariSharihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12372460591516521734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-76345709572610704752012-07-12T13:40:27.882-07:002012-07-12T13:40:27.882-07:00I am glad I happened across your blog. Our family...I am glad I happened across your blog. Our family will be traveling for the first time by air next month since my daughters diagnosis. She doesn't have the pump yet, but I think your experience will be helpful to me. I think I would've pushed for the pat down as well. Thanks for sharing!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05157449245094736362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-43841625905545401502012-07-12T05:49:00.497-07:002012-07-12T05:49:00.497-07:00Hey,
I just went through your writing and found it...Hey,<br />I just went through your writing and found it very interesting. You have listed here some tips which should be taken care by the diabetic person. Diabetes is a hereditary problem and generally found in most of the people. So, all should take care of it. Would you provide some information about the skin problems caused by diabetes?<br />Keep on posting some more interesting topics.Kanungohttp://www.kanungodiabetes.com/kids-overview.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-67251565095039126012012-07-11T16:59:49.442-07:002012-07-11T16:59:49.442-07:00I'm with you Meri and would push for the pat d...I'm with you Meri and would push for the pat down, too...actually we did when Isaac was just dx and had his pump for just a few days, I wasn't risking it at all. We had an easy peasy time our way out and not so much on the way back, just like you - it is weird to me the variable of how they implement their jobs based on the airport. Glad you all got there and back okay though:) Now time to mend! <br />HAve a lovely week.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03210820513382353417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-80423046668340141052012-07-11T16:37:53.324-07:002012-07-11T16:37:53.324-07:00We didn't have any issues on either end with t...We didn't have any issues on either end with the pump. I also read everything I could find on the TSA website and contacted Animas to make sure I understood their "official" instructions. <br /><br />She did walk through the metal detector wearing her pump...when you say "scanner" I'm assuming you're referring to the newer "full body scanner" which is an xray machine that insulin pumps should not pass through. The problem I ran into was getting her Ping remote through security, because it also must avoid xray exposure. For whatever reason, they refused to allow her to carry it through the metal detector. They didn't seem at all concerned about her pump, but that remote really caused some scrutiny! After supervisors and other TSA agents and a few other people showed up, they had her do the touch test/finger swab thing and we went on our merry (MERI!!!) little way :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16704298016041843194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-18275152036569923672012-07-11T14:31:20.745-07:002012-07-11T14:31:20.745-07:00Crazy, Meri. Bless you!Crazy, Meri. Bless you!Holly Michaelhttp://www.writingstraight.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-1331104759109895522012-07-11T14:05:40.282-07:002012-07-11T14:05:40.282-07:00They should know NOT to mess with a mom of 3 boys ...They should know NOT to mess with a mom of 3 boys with diabetes!!!!!!!!!! I'm so glad that you stood your ground and everything went fine.Our Diabetic Warriorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16393427566036373398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-33586967010883676522012-07-11T13:49:47.114-07:002012-07-11T13:49:47.114-07:00I think its interesting how people have different ...I think its interesting how people have different experiences. Great to hear your experience, and I'm proud of you for being prepared and standing up for your/the boys' rights!Mistyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17818861980843167968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-73644942031929447982012-07-11T13:49:05.134-07:002012-07-11T13:49:05.134-07:00We have been pumping for 4 years. In that time we...We have been pumping for 4 years. In that time we have flown probably 40 times (and 15 countries), and never had a problem. My son always walks through the scanner, and I just point to the suitcase with the supples and say "That's diabetic supplies". No one has ever even looked at it twice. The pump has never set off the scanner and the pump has never malfunctioned. I do hear that you shouldn't do the full body xray with the pump on, but its easy to disconnect the pump and walk through it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-49407799387025987422012-07-11T12:11:56.258-07:002012-07-11T12:11:56.258-07:00We just went through our first security check and ...We just went through our first security check and admittedly I was nervous. Charlo's not on a pump yet (diagnosed four months ago), but the monumental supplies we carried were crazy. T1D adds many new levels of care and responsibility to pretty much everything our girl does. Wow. TSA folks were all very nice in PDX and OAK as I'd been advised to let every TSA agent know about the contents of our kit. The only hitch we had was the juice boxes I brought in case Ms. C had a low. I'd been told I could bring them if medically necessary with a Dr. note, but apparently TSA has to open the boxes and test the juice to allow you to bring it past security. Are you kidding me? Open the juice? And then what? Carry two open containers, leaking and all onto the plane? I got a little pissy, saying, "This could be her lifeblood and I can't take it with me?" Then took a breath, apologized, and told him to take the juice. At every turn these days I feel I have so much to learn about living with T1D. But then, something makes me laugh and smile, and I know I can get through.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-2915331946258632812012-07-11T12:07:08.908-07:002012-07-11T12:07:08.908-07:00It is my understanding that the metal detectors ar...It is my understanding that the metal detectors are OK. It is the full body scanner that is not OK. Our local regional airport just got the full body scanners, so no more incognito (it has never set off the detector) for this Medtronic pump wearer.NeurosurgeryNPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18341899812208156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-12758143731411129272012-07-11T11:43:57.201-07:002012-07-11T11:43:57.201-07:00Oh, man! We went totally went through the scanner!...Oh, man! We went totally went through the scanner! It went off, but only because of the metal clip, which the TSA agent kindly showed me how to remove. Then B had an elaborate pat-down. Crapadoodle doo. How will I know if our pump is broken? Or maybe it needed to be broken, and now he will have perfect numbers forever on a going forward basis.katyhttp://bigfootchildhavediabetes.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-67512174929834395382012-07-11T10:31:12.994-07:002012-07-11T10:31:12.994-07:00Oh yes... Airport security! We have flown what I ...Oh yes... Airport security! We have flown what I consider to be a lot since dx. And every airport is different. Actually, every time is different because there are different people there! Lol!<br /><br /> We usually tell whoever is at the scanner thing that our bags are full of diabetes supplies. They usually nod or grunt and on we go. Sweets goes thru the metal detector thing. We've done everything- disconected, taken it out, whatever. They usually swab her. And the pat down tickles so that ends in a fit of giggles! They have always been really nice to her- everywhere- and usually give her stickers and stuff. Because she was 3 when we first flew with D, I carried her thru the metal thing prob until she was 5. It scare her. One time they had to pay me down, too. Whatever. The lady told me next time to not touch her and I wouldn't have to do it. Ummm.... She's scared! I'll pick her up if I want to! <br /><br />The most recent experience was in Orlando and other than saying we had d supplies and getting the grunt--- that was it. We send Dex thru with the supplies and with the pod- no o e could see it. I think I just no to the full body scanner - that she was afraid of it (true) and so we walked thru the metal thing and that was that!! :)<br /><br />The more we fly, the easier it is. Great advice- know your rights and stick to your guns. If you don't feel comfortable with the machines, stand up for yourself and don't let some TSA agent bully you. WE are the ones who know D and have to live with the consequences!!Hallie Addingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11331775099035220917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-15988106742026030662012-07-11T10:30:46.711-07:002012-07-11T10:30:46.711-07:00Meri - just curious why you didn't have the bo...Meri - just curious why you didn't have the boys just take their pumps off, go through the metal detector/full body scanner and have the pumps hand checked? I don't know that it would save any time - just that it shouldn't involve anyone needing a pat down (unless possibly metal cannula sites would set off a metal detector, but I'd guess not.)<br /><br />I think you summed it up nicely - you need to be firm and know your rights. Having the TSA website printed was perfect. I had to do that when I traveled with breast milk without my baby. It took more or less time depending on the airport/day but I never had any real issues with TSA since we all kept it polite. The only other thing to add is to just be to the airport in plenty of time so YOU don't feel rushed to get through security.Becky Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10440780887445338114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248101319829846491.post-15779900908564328172012-07-11T10:15:04.158-07:002012-07-11T10:15:04.158-07:00I'm glad you stood your ground.
My understan...I'm glad you stood your ground. <br /><br />My understanding has been scanners are ok. It's the Xray machines they use for bags is what the pumps shouldn't go through. I've always had loaner pumps hand checked.<br /><br />Both my kids have been on pumps 9 and 8 years respectively and have flown through the Orlando airport probably 18 times and they've always gone through the metal detector without issue. Though there is about a 50% chance that the pump (Animas) will set off the metal detector. I've found it sometimes depended on how close to the center of the detector they walked and where the pump was located. <br /><br />I also found that Orlando wasn't to worried and many times took my minor to be searched without me present. Other airports wait and won't start until I'm present. Never figured that one out.<br /><br />I'm glad you all made it home safely. Prayers to all of you.50+ Ironman Goal!https://www.blogger.com/profile/02375287429684315570noreply@blogger.com