Flying with Prune Juice

[Lynne]

I had a call from a woman who drinks alot of prune juice to keep her ileostomy liquidy since she has a Kock Pouch and needs to intubate with a catheter to empty it. The problem is that she is flying overseas and needs to take the juice, in small cans, with her on the plane.

I was thinking that there might be a prescription she could ask her doctor for that might do the same thing.

Has anyone had a similar situation ?
Does anyone take a medication for this purpose ?

Any suggestions, thoughts, would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Lynne
CDN Chair

[mdg]

Prune Juice is permitted on-board a plane for passengers with medical conditions. The 3 oz. rule does not apply to juices and water used by patients with medical conditions. The passenger has to declare the condition and the item at the checkpoint for further inspection. A doctor's note is not required, but may help. Print-out this TSA instructions page and give it to the agents on duty. If they're unfamiliar the exemptions for people with medical conditions, ask to go higher-up the chain.

My experience has been that large airports are very familiar with the disability provisions of the TSA regulations because they deal with them frequently. Smaller airports, however, may be less familiar because they haven't dealt with the situation before.

[lesson]

I just returned from vacation. I went abroad and didn't think I would find juice boxes, so I brought them. When I'm out sightseeing all day, eating food that is not normally in my diet, and knowing there is a possibiliy that I will be using a public restroom, I like to keep a juice box in my purse.
I didn't know I could take them on the plane and sent them through in my luggage.

[LindaAukett UOAA Advocacy]

At the risk of making anyone more anxious about traveling, leaving from an airport within the US is one thing. Returning to the US from another country might be very different.

We were in Hong Kong last fall, and bought some bottled water after we got through security, to take on the lo-o-o-ng flight home. But just before boarding there were tables set up where every passenger's hand luggage was searched by the HK airport authorities, not by US customs or the TSA -- bye-bye, water.

The point is to be as prepared as possible, where liquid, gel or paste is concerned. At the very least a doctor's statement on his letterhead, yes - and if possible a translation into the language of the countries you will be traveling through.

Althought this audience is not too likely to be worried about them, I'll say this anyway for anyone else who might drop by: ostomy pouches and barrier wafers are not a concern to those who might inspect your hand-luggage. I strongly recommend that you pre-cut the wafer opening before getting onto the plane, and pack the scissors in your checked bag. For one thing, you don't want to lose the scissors to someone who thinks they are a fraction too long, and be left with no way to make the essential cuts. For another, you really don't want to be cutting your wafer in the airplane bathroom. If you have to make a change, the goal is to be in and out as soon as possible. Ditto for your entire vacation - why sit in yoru room cutting holes in barriers when you could be spending that time soaking up the sun and scenery

The UOAA has a 'travel card' that might help you feel more secure when traveling.

Linda

[Mickey]

The UOAA has a 'travel card' that might help you feel more secure when traveling.

How can we obtain such a card? Thanks for all the information.

Mickey

[LindaAukett UOAA Advocacy]

Send me your email address via PM or email and I'll send you an MS Word document you can print out on card-stock, then fill in and laminate if you wish.

Linda