Hello, Flying into MI, first flight since I won my ileostomy. Where can I find that card to show Bag check? Can it just be printed out? Is there anything else I need to know? Thanks in advance.
~ Hope
| xnine wrote: goggle should help. I posted one awhile back, maybe one can still find it. it did help in Cuba. |
Thanks so much! I appreciate you responding 👍🏻
| AlexT wrote: I just googled….ostomy card for travel |
Thank you! 😂 Lol I guess I should have done that first.
I've flown quite a bit since surgery. Your bag will show up, pretty detailed, when going through the security checkpoint. Expect to be stopped. When I am I say "my ostomy bag right?" You'll then be asked to rub your hands over the area and they wipe your hand with a towelette. They put it in a chemical detector and give you the go ahead when the results come back clear. It's very discreet and fairly quick. My only problem was in the Netherlands when there was a language barrier. After answering "Ostomy bag" numerous times I gave the answer "S*#$ bag". Needless to say I was pulled into a room for a quick visual check. Even there they were very accomodating and apologetic. Don't worry. Enjoy your trip.
| SharkFan wrote: I've flown quite a bit since surgery. Your bag will show up, pretty detailed, when going through the security checkpoint. Expect to be stopped. When I am I say "my ostomy bag right?" You'll... |
I got pulled in at Frankfurt after the pat-down. Guy didn't ask me what the bump and the obvious light support band I had on was - he escorted me to a tented affair nearby. I noticed there was a policewoman (or some kind of armed security person) "casually" standing at the entrance, with her holster unclipped and her hand not far from the gun! But it was all done quietly and discreetly, to be fair. After I took my T-shirt etc. off and he had had a quick sight of the stoma-bag, he indicated (and probably said, in English) it was OK to put them back on. He was obviously a little embarrassed at having ask me to do it, as he held out his hand and said something like "I'm sorry. Thank you". And I was pleased to shake his hand and say "Kein Problem. Danke schoen" (this was pre-Covid!). I did 3 or 4 trips after that and never got quizzed about it. So, yeah, despite my initial fears, Winnie the Pooh has not caused any hassle at airports.
U can print out the card in the TSA website. They sill made me do a self pat down then swabbed mt hands. It was not much of an issue. U r allowed to carry medical sissors less than 4” . Check the UOAA website or TSAsite for more info. 😊
I’ve always just told them what it was when I inevitably get flagged at security. Like ‘Sharkfan’ said, they have you pat the area yourself after they do their more detailed pat down and run it through the fancy machine that will tell them that it is, in fact, not an exploding bag of crap. I even had a lady get really excited in some city (I think Nashville?) because she was training a new person and she was glad I came through so she could show how to handle an ostomy situation. I also took my ostomy to Ireland, Italy and Spain and didn’t have too much trouble but they did pull me into a private room for an inspection at one of those places. And I always expected security was going to take extra time, ESPECIALLY for overseas trips, customs, etc. Once they see what it is they are always very considerate and kind about it in my experiences. I do use the kind of wafers that are moldable so I don’t carry any sort of scissors, I’m not sure if you need to take extra precautions for that. Also if you use lubricating deodorant bring the single use packets for carry-on or put some in a small bottle to avoid confiscation.
I survived! Just the run your hand over the bag and check hands for explosive residue. I did hand them the blue card in advance. Thank you for all you helpful responses
Hi, My name is Marsha, and I've had my ileostomy for almost 60 years , since I was a kid of 15.. After my divorce, in my 40's I started to do a lot of traveling....all around the country, canada, Mexico, cruised the Carrib.....hav e been to ALaska, toured parts of Europe, went to China, South Africa, Israel & Australlia 7 x.. I've never needed a card, and even in recent years, when technology got more advanced,, I've n ever been questioned, or examined...... specifically abaout my ileostomy.. I basically have " no waist line" ( lost it with the surgery, and then two pregnancies...so the elastic on m y pants sit very " low".. I tend t o wear my shirts out, rather than tucked in. Only once, did the person at the " scanner" ask me if I could pull up my pants... I very nicely told her " no".. I'm not sure if t hey can actually see the o utlin of the wafer, or t he pouch... but it's never caused a prob lem.. However, I do travel with a lot of medications....syringes ( I'm diabetic) Ostom y supplies for 3 - 4 weeks, as well as a sleep apnea machine.. I've learned to put all those supplies, in individual bags, and put t hem in a carry on/ that I can store above the my seat... I also put enough supplies in a small tote/ pocketbook, if for some reson I'd need to chan ge on the plane.. Sitting up for t he 19 hour flights to Australia, can cause a problem.. But I've never needed to use it.. My best emergency supply, for going anywhere....is Tape... Makes me feel very secure... Best of luck to you.. Marsh.... ps....I read yo ur post about dating...and when t o tell. Like you,, I prefer telling sooner, rather than later... But be aware, that telling before someone get's to know you.....can scare them off, prematurely.. i guage when I tell....by how much I like them....after one date.....or three? If I think I want to pursue t he possibility... I want to control how and when I tell... One of the ways, that's worked well for me.....is telling the guy, I had been sick as a kid...needed surgery, and had he ever heard of an " Ostomy" . Depending on the answer... I take his hand, put it on my belly, over the pouch.... ,, That's gotten a very good reaction. One guy, was facinated, an d asked ." Can he see".....I said sure, and we went on from there... Others just asked some questions..... and the " reveal" happen ed at another time... I had been on a third date, with a muscician I had met......and had gone to he ar him perform... We had spent a few eveniings together, and I liked him well enough.. WE were having lunch together one day.....and I thought it was time....so I told him.. He didn't say a word....just stood up, and walked out of the resttaurant....an d I never heard from him again... No big loss..... Marsha
