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Posted 11/22/2010 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
I am just wondering what people think about the airport screening with an ostomy. Saw an interview on the news this morning of a man with a urostomy and his pat down was so invasive that it spilled his bag.....dreading travel! Has anyone traveled lately? I am assuming we won't pass in the full body scan thing.
Posted 11/23/2010 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
I've been thinking about this, too, and think that we would be better off starting with the full body scan. If they ask if that's a bomb taped to our stomachs, we can tell them, yes, it's a stink bomb! smilewinkgrin
Posted 11/23/2010 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
     churchlady....LOLOLOL!  Good one.  I never did like to fly...now I know I won't!
Posted 11/23/2010 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
im so worried about this, im terrified of flying anyway, im going on my first flight since i was 17 soon, and i think i might hyperventilate! DH says to get drunk, but im afraid i will throw up, i usually throw up when im drunk, then he said get some meds, but i dont know where to get them, and if im on meds and we crash then i wont be able to do anything!
so then i see all this junk about the screenings and that makes it worse! i just figure if they are really awful about it, i can sue and make millions!
Posted 11/23/2010 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
Having only having my urostomy for 2 months now, that story horrified me in every sense of the word. That could have easily have been me. Someone needs to step in a protect all the travelers with special medical conditons, and that doesn't even include that many passenger's HIPPA rights are being blantantly violated. Terrible situation. I would actually be afraid to fly right now because of this.

David in SC
Posted 11/23/2010 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
I fly with Xanax :)

I used to pop a pill or two before I got to the airport. While it is to help prevent a panic attack - it also makes me very drowsy. I have to take 2 mg in order to relax enough (doc OK'd me). ATL to NYC.. sleep the whole flight :)

I wrote a letter to the president, governor, and senator about the travel issues of late. Only the senator responded. I'm appalled for even regular citizens to be groped. Something else definitely needs to be done because I don't want to board with some terrorists 'cause the security wasn't tight enough.
Posted 11/23/2010 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
Well,

For purely health issues, from what I've read, a bag will expand at higher altitudes if it has gas in it.....

For the "security" issues...Israel has the best airport security in the world, and they pat down no one..amazing, eh?
Posted 11/23/2010 6:14 AM (GMT 0)
sparkn. I saw that same segment on the news today. I've also read on other ostomy boards that a lot of people are getting pulled aside and they take some kind of wand across the bag that can tell if it's an explosive chemical.
Posted 11/23/2010 6:48 AM (GMT 0)
I worry about the x-ray exposure too. So many of us who have been ill for a long time have excessive radiation exposure already; do we really need more just so we can board a plane?

Spark, I don't blame you for being worried. When I first heard about these new security protocols, one of my first thoughts was for people with ostomies and how they'd / we'd cope.

Ivy.
Posted 11/23/2010 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
If you opt-out and when they start to rap- er grope you, make sure to yell out real loud to feel up your poop bag real good. Make these ******s real uncomfortable. I want to ask them if they can feel any bits of corn in there, lol.

summerstorm: good. make sure you vomit ON the TSA person. Then when someone asks you what happened, blame it on the TSA procedure.

This is the one of the most sickening things to happen to our country. The other day I saw a video of a 9 year old boy having a TSA agent strip search him.

Remember, TSA = Trained Sexual Assault.
Posted 11/23/2010 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
This is a statement on the TSA website:

"Advise the Security Officer if you have an ostomy or urine bag. You will not be required to expose these devices for inspection."
Posted 11/23/2010 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
The backscatter exposes it :/
Posted 11/23/2010 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
the ostomy pouch doesn't expand with pressurized cabins:)
Posted 11/23/2010 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
I heard about this man on the radio also. It's horrible what happen to him. Well, I heard that you have 2 options at the airport; either a pat down or going through a scan. I think those who wear pouches should select a scan. I know some may think this is invasive but you have to choose one of them so it's safer to select the scan. You don't want your pouch to spil all over the place in public. This man should sue the airport...
Posted 11/24/2010 1:49 AM (GMT 0)

OHIO76 said...
the ostomy pouch doesn't expand with pressurized cabins:)

 

OHIO76 - Thanks for the insight!!!!  I was wondering about that.....what about if you drive up into Rocky Mountain state park and climb the mountain???

 

 

Posted 11/24/2010 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
I flew about 4 months ago and it was FINE! You guys are worrying yourselves over something that is not the end of the world. You've been through worse! I went through the scan, and I'm still alive. Did the guy doing the scan see my ostomy? Who knows. Moreover, WHO CARES?? I don't know that guy and couldn't care less what he thinks.

And the pressurized cabin thing? Are these jokes? It's completely fine!!

ENJOY your trip and love the fact that you don't have to worry about finding every bathroom along the way :) You shouldn't have any trouble with the airport regarding your ostomy.
Posted 11/24/2010 6:17 AM (GMT 0)
I've traveled internationally in the last few months with a colostomy. I had to do the full body scan and there were a few times when my bag was really big with gas and I had no problem at all. The only problem I did has was I had my extra scissors to cut my adhesives with in my purse and I was stopped once but they let me keep them. I hope all goes well.
Posted 11/24/2010 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
I will be travelling internationally next month. I'm not worried. I will ask to avoid the scans and take my groping with a smile. Touch my junk, I've got bigger things to worry about. Also, everyone, ostomy scissors are allowed, just make sure you state what they are!
Posted 11/25/2010 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
I have travelled often through many of the major US airports since my surgery 2 years ago. Must say I have never had a problem-no questions about the bag, the supplies scissors, tubes, creams, bottles etc. I must say I am a bit surprised the dread body scanner have not identified the big bulge behind my shirt and waist line.

My biggest surprise is the big deal my fellow ostomates are making about this whole thing. I can remember standing in a long security line wondering if I could make it through without messing my pants.l Or the time I stood for 20 minutes, ran out of the line to find a bathroom, come back to the line and waited another 30 minutes with another run to the bathroom. I missed my flight.

Colitis turned me into a house bound person-we all went through a great deal more than the slight inconvenience of a body search.

Mike
Posted 11/25/2010 1:33 AM (GMT 0)

80sChick said...
I flew about 4 months ago and it was FINE! You guys are worrying yourselves over something that is not the end of the world. You've been through worse! I went through the scan, and I'm still alive. Did the guy doing the scan see my ostomy? Who knows. Moreover, WHO CARES?? I don't know that guy and couldn't care less what he thinks.

And the pressurized cabin thing? Are these jokes? It's completely fine!!

ENJOY your trip and love the fact that you don't have to worry about finding every bathroom along the way :) You shouldn't have any trouble with the airport regarding your ostomy.

80's chick! uhhhhhhhhhhh....gas does expand when in a lower pressure area..as in, the plane depressurizes and boom! you have a balloon for a bag! Not that I have had this experience, or heard anyone else have it.... turn

Glad your plane trip went well! As far as security issues...well, that's something a chat room, or this thread, won't solve..I will pass on the comment...

Happy Thanksgiving! :-)
Posted 11/25/2010 5:05 AM (GMT 0)
What I am worried about is I dont want to be patted down in fear of my bag falling of and I dont want a scan because I think it is against the constitution. Here is a link of the pictures that it can take. It see's though clothing. I dont want an air port creep looking at my nude photo or worse it ending up on the internet. (let me know if the link does not work.)

http://www.anonymoushints.com/tag/nude-body-scans/
Posted 11/25/2010 5:08 AM (GMT 0)
P.S I am travailing in 6 days and will let you all know how it goes for me. (I wont go down with out a fight) If you hear about some crazy man being arrested at the Sea-Tac airport it might take me a little longer to report back (but that in its self is kinda a report LOL) Wish me luck.
Posted 11/30/2010 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a8jGVXOMsw&hd=1
Posted 4/7/2015 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
Well today I flew back home and I was totally embarrassed. I was at the Lincoln Nebraska Airport and I had a pat down and I told the TSA work that I have an ostomy well she didn't know what to do and asked several employees and they asked me to go in the back. I will admit the TSA workers were very nice and polite but I felt violated and went in the bathroom and cried my son was with me and he didn't see me crying but I feel so bad now and don't want to go through that humiliation again.
Posted 4/11/2015 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
If you haven't already, check out this link : http://www.ostomy.org/Ostomy_Travel_Tips.html

and print out the travel card. I am only a month out from ileostomy surgery, so I have not traveled yet, but on the ostomy forum on inspire.com, where that link was posted by a member, there are tons of tips for air travel and many success stories. Some forum members who have posted seem to have it down to a science! :)

I like this forum, as well as the Inspire forum. I don't know if I'm allowed to recommend another forum, but I belong to both, and there are great members and great information on both!

Edit: Here is a link to the TSA page: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/ostomies

Post Edited (k-del) : 4/11/2015 9:13:19 AM (GMT-6)

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