[Sage Hen]

Hi Friends,

I haven't had to fly since getting my diagnosis. I am wondering..If taking my narcotics in my carry on bag, along with all my meds, will present a problem for me, when checking in?

I am planning on a two week visit to see my dear dad, living in C.A.
I am not sure how much meds I should take either...I know, I need to take a surplus of them all, in case of an emergency.

If you have any tib bits of info, about how best for us lupies to travel..give me some pointers, please?

I am going the end of May. I will have to raise my pred dose up to 20mgs a day until, I return home, and then begin a slow taper..down, to at least 10 mgs.

I get to stay a couple of days with a dear cousin of mine also. I am very happy about going..but, haven't gone anywhere alone, in years! I hope, I am not a brain case the days I travel! :lol:

Love,
Sandy

 

[Lily]

:woohoo: a holiday :bigsmile: :thumbs:

I'm not sure if things are the same there as they are here for domestic travel? I only take what I need on the flight, and that's not much in my carry on luggage, the rest is in my checked baggage and I've not had a problem. Mind you if they looked at all my meds in the checked baggage they would be flabbergasted :lol:

I hope you have a fantastic time. I had some minor brain problems on the way back (wasn't well had infection setting in) and I still managed to get the plane and then get two trains home. I just rang a friend and she kept me on the straight and narrow reassured me I was not going to end up on the wrong trains etc :wink2: It helped me an d somehow I managed.

love
Lily

 

[Sage Hen]

Hi Lily,

Thank you, for your insights.

I am sorry to know, your trip home was difficult, with your coming down with an infection. It must have been scary.

I am glad your home and safe now. I hope the infection has cleared up, also.

I haven't been on a holiday in years, so this should be a real treat for me.

My biggest fear, is having a brain attack, and getting lost in the airport, or missing the right plane! :lol:

If my mind will work travel days..I think it should go well..:rotfl:

I am hoping for the best case scenario, and looking forward to it.

I want to see my dad, and help him as much a possible for the time, I will be there with him.

I will stay a couple of day with my dear cousin, and I have two friends from grade school, that I have dates planned with..for luncheon's, and so forth.

I will take lots of pics..and share when I return. :wink2:

Take Care Lily..
love ya,
Sandy

 

[Joandublin]

Hi Sandy

I hope you have a lovely holiday Give the airline a ring to see if they have a particular policy about medications. I have taken my meds on board with me on European flights but of course it might be different where you are. Also make sure to take a copy of your prescription so that anyone can see these drugs are meant for you.

I always carried a spare lot of drugs in my suitcase as well in the event one of the bags went missing! Also bring along relevant phone numbers, e.g. family members, doctors, pharmacy, etc. I remember years ago I was travelling to the UK and I was on blood pressure medication. I forgot to take the medication with me and realised when I landed in Heathrow, London. I went to a pharmacy in the Airport and they were able to ring my doctor, verify my meds and prescribe me a weeks supply there and then.

All of these little things will give you an extra bit of security. Personally I would also wear one of those disposable surgical masks while flying. Everytime I fly I seem to pick up some bug or other and I think those masks would make a bit of a difference.

Also one last tip... I dont know how badly you could be affected by brain issues but if it means serious memory loss then write the phone number of your nearest and dearest on your forearm so you can have immediate access in a panic. Its also a great tip for bringing little ones away on holidays. I always wrote my cell phone number on my little fellas arm in case he got lost. He could always ask someone to ring me if the worst happened and it made him feel less panicky in crowds.

Best of luck!
Joan:rose:

 

[elisabethm]

Hi Sandy i go on holiday every year and i take all my meds on as hand luggage and have never had a problem.I take Tramadol.Amatryptalyn.Morphin.And all the rest If you put them in your luggage and it gets lost then you have nothing i have never had a letter from the doctor or anybody else Even when we went to India hope this help have a great time Elisabeth

 

[Lily]

Forgot to say ............I pack the bulk of them in my check-in luggage and carry spare prescriptions in my handbag in case my suitcase gets lost.

love
Lily

 

[Sage Hen]

Thank You,


Lily, Joan, and Elisabeth. You have all been very helpful. You gave me lots of good info, to try to avoid any problems.

Love and Hugs,
Sandy

 

[macfamily53]

HI Sandy

I am sure you will be okay but i don't blame you for being worried.I sure hope you make sure you don"t over due it while you are there.I have not ever traveled since i was diagnosed and besides i jusy plain do not want to travel alone.Always been anxiety for me but thats just me lol.Sure will miss you and let us know how things go when you get back.

Tammy

 

[keebler]

Hi Sandy,

Have a great time with your father and friends.

The only thing I can think of is maybe a note from your doctor explaining your meds? Joan's idea about calling the airlines is a good one.

Oh and another :lol: idea. When you get off the plane go to the desk and ask if you could have someone escort you to your next place. I think that can be set up before you even leave on your trip.

Have a great time,
Love.
Lyn

 

[Pink Pearl]

Having lost my luggage on a flight from Seattle to London, I trust NOTHING in my checked baggage that I can't afford to lose. I never did get my luggage either, so all the meds I had in there were a LOST issue.

So, I pack my meds in their prescription bottles and take them on in my carry-on. I include a copy of my med list with all my doctors names, phone #'s, and the meds each doctor has prescribed. That way, any questions they can contact each doctor.

I also would wear the mask. I no longer fly as every time I did so, I ended up with a lung infection that lasted at least a month. Not worth it.

Sally

 

[lazylegs]

Hi Sandy,

The following site has the latest TSA rules for the US about what you can and can't take on the plane. I found some airports are stricter than others.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1059.shtm

When I fly I put my medications in multiple clear quart ziploc bags that I carry in my carry on bag. The medications must be in the original packaging with the prescription label on it. When I get to the TSA check point I put them in the plastic crate for them to be checked, then toss them back in the case. I have never had a problem.

I use ziploc bags for my undergarments too. One of the screeners recommended it to me. They don't enjoy touching someone's things especially once they have been used and I don't want their hands on them before I wear them.

The easiest way to get around the airport is in a wheelchair or in one of the carts they drive around. If you set it up ahead of time with the airline they will have a wheelchair to take you to your gate of departure. When you land someone will be waiting with a wheelchair to take you to your next flight. That will save you walking those long distances between terminals and you will be fresher when you arrive.

Take care,
Lazyleg

 

[rwb200]

Hello
I recently took a trip in the US.
I did not have any medication that i had to take but did see alot of people who did.
They had a special Security line that these people had to go through for special hand check of all carry on bags and medications.

Because of the restrictions we have on the size and amount of any carry on items they have to do this for the special case who can not do as they ask and keep number and size down.

Check it FFA flight regulations online on what you can and can not take and instructions on how to do medication as well.
I'm pretty sure all has to be in original bottle or container and has to have a clear label showing it is prescribed to you and not someone else.

Give yourself a couple of hours before your flight to get through security. They recommend this for everyone any way and at some air ports it takes the better part of it just for regular security because of teh number of people going through.

If you have trouble walking or standing for prolonged priods of time ask the ticket agent to have a wheel chair available for transport.
This also gets you through security a little faster from what i seen because they have a air port employee wheel you through and you get faster responce at some security areas then haviong to wait in line to show boarding pass and ID.

You will still have to show it so make sure you have what is needed.
Normal items like shampoo, deoderant, tooth paste all has to be a certain size and has to be in a plastic zip-lock bag and removed so they can check size, what it is and number of containers you have.

Anyone with out proper ID is taken aside and has to show other form of ID and has to feel out some special security paperwork as well.
The elderly lady i seen have to do this was given a clip board full of papers that she had to feel out.
She was still setting at the side and working on it all 2 hours after I first seen her take it to the area where they directed her.

I had to go through security myself after that so do not know just how long it took her or what was done after that.

If you have any electronics you take with you take them out when they item is put through the x-ray and make sure they are clearly visible to the people.
Other then cell phones they will want to check most items.

Don't be like a the wife of a guy I was traveling with and have an electronics store in your purse.
She has cell phones, GPS, Head phones, flash lights and lord only knows what all else shoved in her purse.
It took for ever for them to scan it and then they had questions when they did bring it though.
They stopped the x-ray and backed it up four times for another look at the purse because of all she had in it.

She was in front of me so her warehouse purse not only almost made them late for the flight but me as well.
And made everyone in line very happy because it was taking so long.

They get a little nervous when they see wires and batteries and tubes of diferent sizes shoved in something.

Security is high and it is not like flying ten years ago.
make sure you have no knifes, box cutters or anything else that may be of question on a key ring or in a purse.
If you do have something they question just give it to them and say you did not know it was wrong.
It will get you through alot faster then if you question it or try to argue it.
If your not sure and want to keep it leave it at home to get when you come back or put it in checked bagage and make sure teh checked bags are all unlocked. They tell you this when you check it but if you don't do it they will open it how ever they have to do it.
Even if that means cutting the bag open.

I had one opened on one trip. I found out when I got to where I was going and found a sheet inside that said that it had been opened and some items may have been removed.
It is just a form sheet taht is put in any they open so it does not mean they did remove anything just that they may have and they have the right to do it.
You give them this right when you fly.

 

[Clare.T]

I hope you have a wonderful time Sandy
I've only flown once within the USA although I've done many transatlantic flights. Funnily enough the most thorough security going over I have ever had was at Fargo ND airport, of all places, especially considering it was also the smallest airport I have ever been in.

Mainly I want to endorse what has already been said about getting assistance if you are at all mobility impaired. I felt awful about requesting a wheel chair but it made so much difference when I finally bit the bullet that I wished I had done it years before. I was never asked for any reason but when they usually asked if I could walk at all I would say yes I could but not the awful long distances often involved. I had to change from one end of Chicago O' Hare to the other in quite a short time and would never have made it without help. Also I think they would have held the plane for me if we had been late.

Many Hugs
Clare

 

[Marika]

Hi,

I worked for dif. airlines for over 20 yrs. and we always told passengers to take medication in their handbaggage, Checked baggage does have a habit of arriving in a different destination, Going on holiday to remote places this can cause havoc,Perscription drugs in their pkts, as far as I know have never caused a problem (you could always get a certificate from yr DR.) the problems arise with liquids/creams/gels ect...I would check with the airline over this ...and ask how you should deal with it,

Have a lovely holiday.

Marika