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Can you carry a tube of ostomy paste on a plane???

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Posted 3/30/2009 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Guys,

I'm flying to Chicago this week for a 3 day conference and I wanted to travel light. Being that the attire is business casual and I won't need to pack any suits, I think a carry on bag will suffice. However, I just realized that could be a problem if I can't put my ostomy paste in my carry on.  Has anyone here run across this???

Posted 3/30/2009 9:31 PM (GMT 0)

here you go:

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

I've travelled with my Eakin Seals without a problem...but it looks like as long as it fits in the one quart bag you'll be okay and not have to 'declare' it!!

Happy flying smilewinkgrin

Posted 3/30/2009 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
Is the 4 oz. rule still in effect? Or as long as it fits in a quart baggie?
Posted 3/30/2009 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
The answer is yes.

I travel a great deal and I have a small soft bag about 4" x 4" that I carry with me. In it is 2 ostemy bags, 2 tubes of paste, some barrier rings, and the green wipes, along with 3 or 4 white washcloths. I call it my emergency bag. I've never had to change a bag in a washroom in the plane, but I did have to change it once at Toronto Airport, and it all worked without a problem. Several times i've been asked by TSA what's in the bag, and I simply tell them that I'm an Ostimate and it's my medical gear to attach my prosthetic.

Usually one flash of the bag to them will say it all :)
Posted 3/31/2009 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
I would just put it in a ziplock bag
Posted 3/31/2009 4:21 AM (GMT 0)

Wade457 said...
The answer is yes.

I travel a great deal and I have a small soft bag about 4" x 4" that I carry with me. In it is 2 ostemy bags, 2 tubes of paste, some barrier rings, and the green wipes, along with 3 or 4 white washcloths. I call it my emergency bag. I've never had to change a bag in a washroom in the plane, but I did have to change it once at Toronto Airport, and it all worked without a problem. Several times i've been asked by TSA what's in the bag, and I simply tell them that I'm an Ostimate and it's my medical gear to attach my prosthetic.

Usually one flash of the bag to them will say it all :)

You see, THAT is the problem I think.  I don't want to be "outed" by the TSA as I'll be going through security with a few of my colleagues.

Posted 3/31/2009 7:44 PM (GMT 0)

Wade457 said...
The answer is yes.

I travel a great deal and I have a small soft bag about 4" x 4" that I carry with me. In it is 2 ostemy bags, 2 tubes of paste, some barrier rings, and the green wipes, along with 3 or 4 white washcloths. I call it my emergency bag. I've never had to change a bag in a washroom in the plane, but I did have to change it once at Toronto Airport, and it all worked without a problem. Several times i've been asked by TSA what's in the bag, and I simply tell them that I'm an Ostimate and it's my medical gear to attach my prosthetic.

Usually one flash of the bag to them will say it all :)

Did they make a big deal about it???

Posted 4/1/2009 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
The only thing is that do NOT carry any scissors. I usually pre-cut several bags and have them in the pouch. The TSA guy will open it and look around and then close it. I have the paste, stoma powder and a few green wipes in a plastic bag inside the pouch. Nothing sinister, no big deal, never been a problem.
Posted 4/1/2009 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
vetteguy--I don't even take my "emergency pack" out of my bag...never had a problem. Like the TSA link said, if it fits in the quart bag, you don't have to do anything. I figured if they want to go through my bags/ask questions, they can take me behind the curtain for privacy, but it's never happened.

Definitely, leave the scissors at home, but that's it!!
Posted 4/9/2009 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
Well I solved my problem by accident. Getting ready to leave my house the zipper broke on my carry on, so I ended up throwing everything in a piece of luggage and had the airline check it. All that anxiety over nothing.......sound familiar, lol???
Posted 4/9/2009 3:47 PM (GMT 0)

This is from the TSA website.  Scissors are okay too.  Here is what they say:

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  - August 30, 2005
TSA Press Office: (571) 227-2829

WASHINGTON, D.C. – TSA is modifying the interpretive rule to exempt ostomy scissors from the prohibited items list.  Ostomy scissors with pointed tips with an overall length of four inches or less are permitted when they are accompanied by an ostomate supply kit containing related supplies, such as collection pouches, wafers, positioning plates, tubing, or adhesives.

There are an estimated 750,000 ostomates in the United States.  While specific data on the number of ostomates who use air transportation is not available, TSA has heard from individuals with ostomies who say they avoid air travel in part because they cannot carry these particular scissors.

Allowing this limited exception to TSA’s prohibition on metal pointed scissors removes a barrier to ostomates traveling by air without negatively impacting aviation security.

Here is the link http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2005/press_release_0617.shtm

Posted 4/9/2009 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for posting this information -- they do spell it out pretty specifically, don't they?  I had a pair of surgical scissors tossed going thru security before 2005 but they were longer than 4"...  I precut now for my carry on and check my "longer than 4" surgical scissors" in my luggage!

Posted 4/9/2009 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
I actually printed this off the TSA website and took it with me last time I flew, just incase there was any question going through security.
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