From: Diabetes_Doc [#1]
10 Feb 15:16
To: ALL
From: Mark_in_MO [#2]
10 Feb 15:53
To: Diabetes_Doc [#1] 10 Feb 16:26
Prior to the latest "underwear bomb" incident, I had traveled quite a bit for several years using the 1/2 liter stainless thermos. Most of the trips I used regular ice simply because plain ice is easier to replenish and I do not need keep re-freezing and rotating freezer gel packs. You can always get ice from a hotel, airline steward or even from a glass of ice water. However, I have traveled a few times using the 1/2 liter thermos with gel packs, and as long as they were frozen I did not have a problem with TSA allowing me to have the thermos in my carry-on bag, at least not after explaining it was being used to refrigerate medicine.
That being said...at this point in time, with the current level of security concerns, I would avoid using the gel packs. If the TSA cannot see inside the gel packs (and most of them have solid or translucent coverings) they may not allow them to pass; in which case you will suddenly be in line with no cooling material for your thermos (and hopefully not delayed for questioning). I recommend using regular ice (cubes or crushed) in a zip-lock for air travel - at least for the foreseeable future. Side note - carrying the ice in a zip-lock also meets TSA current guidelines for carrying and personal materials.
Hope you have a great trip.
Mark
From: Diabetes_Doc [#3]
10 Feb 16:27
To: Mark_in_MO [#2] 11 Feb 12:26
From: Sue (SUEFIRST50) [#4]
10 Feb 18:55
To: Mark_in_MO [#2] 11 Feb 12:26
From: Teri_in_CO (TERI_IN_VA) [#5]
10 Feb 23:48
To: Diabetes_Doc [#3] 11 Feb 10:38
From: Suzan [#7]
11 Feb 0:52
To: Diabetes_Doc [#1] 11 Feb 10:38
From: Steve in FL (SKEET4ME) [#9]
11 Feb 2:06
To: ALL
I have traveled frequently over the last couple of years and have used the Medicool case for my Byetta needs. Carry needles, the pen, a temp guage, and a copy of the scrip from the Byetta box to show it is prescribed to me. I have always used gel packs from Walmart in my case. On long trips I have even packed an extra gel pack in my camera bag if it is along for the trip or my computer bag if not. I keep my extra with my medicool case so there is never a question why I have it.
I always have to open the bag where my pen is, and learned after awhile just to take my medicool case out and put it in the bin seperate. They look in side and see I am a diabetic and that is the end of it. I have made no less than 20 trips over the last 2 years all over the country and have never had an issue with gel packs.
Just make sure you have your scrip with you and the TSA people understand that our medicine has to stay cool.
Hope this helps.
From: Mark_in_MO [#11]
11 Feb 12:28
To: Diabetes_Doc [#3] 11 Feb 12:29
I have never had the TSA refuse to allow the stainless thermos on a flight, and have only been delayed a couple of times early in the establishment of the Homeland Security rules. I was delayed a couple of years ago when I was carrying clear gel packs in the thermos (sold under the name "cubies"). I flew a couple of times late last year and again, had no problems with the thermos and ice. However, as I stated before...I have not flown since the 2009 Christmas Day underwear bomber incident - I do not know if that has had any impact on the TSA allowing carry of a thermos with ice cubes. I found that carrying a letter from your doctor stating what medications and equipment (needles, etc.) you have to carry was very useful when flying internationally.
Frio wallets work by evaporation - you soak them, they absorb water, as it evaporates it cools the contents. The Frio must be where it can evaporate moisture - e.g. in a briefcase or carry-on bag will probably not work. Carrying a Frio wallet in a pocket may or may not work depending on access to air circulation. The Frio was developed for insulin, and thus will not keep an opened Byetta pen under the max temp for as long a period of time as for insulin. The Frio wallet will easily keep an opened (in use) Byetta pen cool enough for air travel assuming no extended delays. I recommend the double pen Frio wallet for two reasons - sooner or later everyone who uses a Frio wallet will over-soak the wallet, such that you cannot get the pen into the wallet, or worse, cannot get your pen out of the wallet to take a shot (this has been reported by several people). The double wallet gives more space for the pen, and it also provide space so you can stick an armored stream thermometer into the Frio and monitor the exact temperature of the Byetta pen. I carry a Frio as an emergency backup to the stainless thermos.
From: Mark_in_MO [#13]
11 Feb 12:29
To: ALL
By the way, I recommend sticking an armored stream thermometer into whatever container you choose for Byetta travel; thermos, Frio wallet or Micro-Cooler - you need to be able to monitor the Byetta pen temp to make sure you are not approaching the point where temp will become an issue (and for the Frio to make sure it is cooling properly).
You can get armored stream thermometers from either Bass Pro or Cabela's. Bass Pro thermometers are Fahrenheit, while Cabela's thermometers are Centigrade - your choice. I do not recommend the use of a digital thermometer, since most of them are "spike" thermometers and will not be allowed on a plane under TSA rules.
From: Mark_in_MO [#15]
11 Feb 12:32
To: Sue (SUEFIRST50) [#4] 11 Feb 15:00
Sue,
The TSA should not take away your ice used to cool medication. However, if you should happen to run into an over-zealous TSA agent who would take away your ice, just carry a couple of empty zip-lock bags with you and when you get on the plane ask the steward for some ice to cool your meds. I know from personal experience that they will NOT allow you to put your meds into their refridgerators, but when I was stuck on a runway for hours one time, they were more than happy to provide ice for my thermos.
From: Mark_in_MO [#17]
11 Feb 12:51
To: Steve in FL (SKEET4ME) [#9] unread
Steve,
I agree, once the TSA got used to people carrying cooled meds they have not had any issues for quite some time regarding ice or gel packs. That being said, I have not flown since the Christmas Day underwear bomber incident, and when I talked to a couple of folks who have been flying recently, they said that the TSA agents have really tightened down on what they will allow through. e.g you get one quart size zip-lock for your personal lotions/shampoo/etc. and they will not allow multiple zip-locks for personal lotions.
Since most gel packs have opaque coverings, my only concern would be if the TSA would have an issue with gel packs versus ice cubes? Ice cubes are normally frozen solid, while gel packs are frequently not frozen solid. The key rule regarding material to cool meds is:
"Frozen items are allowed as long as they are frozen solid when presented for screening. If frozen items are partially melted, slushy, or have any liquid at the bottom of the container, they must meet 3-1-1 requirements." (3-1-1 rule means placed in a quart zip-lock bag). Keep in mind it only takes one by-the-rules TSA agent regarding a gel pack that is not totally frozen and you get delayed and miss a flight.
Best thing is to read the TSA rules at the following link:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/index.shtm
With additional information at the Diabetes specific link:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1374.shtm#3
Hope everyone has a great time traveling.
From: Mark_in_MO [#19]
12 Feb 1:45
To: ALL
I have not done any flying since before Christmas 2009. Has anyone done any flying in 2010 - e.g. since the Christmas Day "underwear bomber" incident? If so, what was your personal experience flying with Byetta or insulin using some type of cooling material (ice or gel packs)?
Have the TSA agents tightened down on the rules and caused any issues traveling with Byetta or insulin?
Thanks,
From: Geri in Co:Byetta(3-06) (GERI) [#21]
15 Feb 10:58
To: ALL
From: Mark_in_MO [#23]
15 Feb 14:40
To: Geri in Co:Byetta(3-06) (GERI) [#21] 15 Feb 17:09
Geri,
So the TSA paid no attention to a thermos with medication in it, but questioned a Frio wallet? Interesting to say the least.
When you say you added an ice cube after clearing security - two questions: 1) was there any ice in the thermos before/while you went through security? and 2) where did you get the ice after clearing the security check?
Finally (just out of curiosity) why insulin in the thermos and Byetta in the Frio, and not vice versa?
I think what you experienced with the CGM and knee replacement is true for anyone who uses any type of prosthetic device or internal surgical appliance - simply allow a lot of extra time for security checks.
Sounds like you had a good trip.
From: Geri in Co:Byetta(3-06) (GERI) [#25]
15 Feb 17:21
To: Mark_in_MO [#23] 15 Feb 21:23
Not really a good trip because of the circumstances but a necessary one.
I did the meds that way because I had run out of bubble wrap and didn't have enough to cover a pen but enough for the insulin so thats what I did. I got the ice from the restraurant and they were very willing to give me one cube. Before that I just had the thermos in the fridge overnight and since it was early am and chilly the thermos stayed cooler. The gel packs probably threw them when it went through the scanner so I think that was why the question. Since I was in the body scan I didn't see if he had opened it or not but when I turned he asked if the backpack was mine and if it was meds in the blue pack.
From: Mark_in_MO [#27]
16 Feb 16:33
To: Geri in Co:Byetta(3-06) (GERI) [#25] 16 Feb 20:35
I think you were lucky that you got a decent TSA agent who asked clear and logical questions and took reasonable answers in return.
My comments about the TSA clamping down on security excessively following the Christmas Day Underwear Bomber were based on several friends who have flown since the end of the year. Thus my recomendation that you might want to use plain ice and avoid using gel packs until things settle down a bit, like they have done in the past.
An example of the TSA over-reacting hit the news just yesterday:
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/84368492.html
When the TSA forced a family to remove the leg braces off a 4 year old who needed the braces to walk; and the kid's dad was a police officer!
Oh well, I think where possible I will simply avoid flying for a while until the TSA either returns to reasonable policies, or improves their policies and stops targeting children and the elderly (and hopefully starts profiling passenger examinations based on past bombing attempts).
From: Geri in Co:Byetta(3-06) (GERI) [#29]
16 Feb 20:43
To: Mark_in_MO [#27] 17 Feb 0:20
Well if you think about it, they probably saw all my syringes and needles when my back pack was scanned. No one in their right mind would want to carry that stuff ola if they didn't need to.( disregard the fact that bombers are not in their right mind). Plus I was already going through a body scan because of my knee.
I've used plain ice all along, just one or two cubes and not gel packs. I think it's just easier to get a cube or two than to refreeze gel packs. JMO. All in all travelling on the plane was not a big deal and I have to go back to Mich in another few weeks. Hope it will be easy the next time too.
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