Ileostomy and flying

I'm flying on Friday and it is my first time post op too - I'm following along to see what others have to say. I read somewhere people have had varying experiences. Do you have one of the TSA cards? I don't know where it came from, maybe one of the suppliers or the UOAA but it explains the ostomy, etc. Not that I think a little card is gonna stop someone from molesting me and the security point :( but hopefully it will help.

Our first flight will be this fall and I am sure he will be a bit anxious too. We have those cards with the passports but I'm thinking they won't do much good. Just a discreet way to make the TSA person aware if he is selected to go thru a scanner. We did download the card from the UOAA website and laminated it.

I have flown a few times since my surgery. The first few times I printed out the card and gave it to the person before going into the scanner. I always got some sort of pat down after the scanner (usually in a private room w/two female TSA agents -- always people were respectful and professional.... not bad compared to all the medical stuff I've done....)

However, this last time, on advice from people here, I didn't say anything, went through a scanner (with the card in my hand) and was fine -- just got waived through. I don't know if they didn't notice or didn't care, but it was great. At the other two airports I got metal detectors (sometimes you can pick which line you go in. Just watch. The people raising their arms are in scanners, the people who aren't are in metal detectors -- the metal detector won't pick up the bag).

You can get the card here -- http://www.ostomy.org/ostomy_info/pubs/Travel_Card_2011b.pdf

I never got a doctor's note -- not sure how that helps you. Yes anyone can print the card out, but if they want to pat you down, and you say you have a bag, they'll see you have a bag .... the card is just a way of saying it w/out having to broadcast it (although, mostly the agents I've seen have no idea what the card is and seem to have never seen it before).... anyone can make a fake dr's note too...

The bag will not balloon out on a plane.

You can bring a bottle of deodorizer as long as it is less than 3 ounces, and you put it in a ziplock bag with all your other liquids and gels (although I often forget and leave a little 1 oz bottle of hydrogen peroxide in my bag, have not had a problem.

I've been pretty scared w/security, but really it hasn't been that bad. Hope something in here reassures.

I just keep remembering how often I was too sick to travel, had to worry about not making it to the bathroom, etc. The TSA is a lot less inconvenient than active IBD was..... I got positively weepy in the airport the last time, as I'd had to cancel and earlier trip for surgery followed by months of bed rest.... I might have been the happiest person in the airport, just aware of what a big deal it was that I got to go....

Have a great vacation!

Hello, I've just came back from Japan (12h flight) and have been to India (10h flight) earlier in April. In the uk we only have metal detectors still, so that wasn't an issue. Avoid carbonated drinks, but the rest should be ok. Regarding decoderizer, I'd say make sure it's a pumps pray, not an aerosol. The bag didn't inflate at all during the trip, I just made sure I emptied just before take-off and landing. Then enjoy the trip!

My twenty year old daughter with an ileostomy recently flew a couple of times. When getting ready to go into the body scanner, she whispered that she had an ostomy. The TSA guy did not understand what she meant, so he pulled her aside to go through the regular metal detector. Then they asked her to touch her pouch and then they wiped her hands with the swab to be tested for chemicals for explosives. She took it all in stride, no big deal! Her pouch did not inflate more than usual BUT she made the mistake of trying to discreetly let air our of her 2 piece bag while in her seat and well....it turned out that it wasn't all air. She ran to the bathroom (even tho' the seatbelt light was on), cleaned herself up, then came back as if nothing happened. Good thing she was wearing black yoga pants so nobody noticed.

I've flown a couple of times and I just motioned the TSA agent over; explained I have a permanent ostomy and they took me to a little screened off kind of office and did a pat down - they were very quick, efficient and professional about it. Just be up front about it - if you go through the scanner they're going to "see" the bag anyway and you're going to get patted down as a result, so I decided to just get patted down immediately and eliminate the scanner.

Cleo, I agree w/dd45 -- it's not true that you will have to have a pat down if you go through the scanner..... I thought that at first, and used to do what you did, telling people.... but it's even better to not tell them and not have to get a pat down. Just empty first....

I am going to take this advice as we fly early next month. I think I'll say nothing, and if anyone asks, I have no problem stating it openly. We are with family only, and as for security, I'll never see any of them again anyway and don't care what they know about me.

Ok here goes first time I have posted since my op on my birthday last year. I have an illeostomy and was back to work approx 3 months after my op. I am a commissioning engineer who is required to travel anywhere in the world, since my op I have face everything full on because until you do how will you know, how you will cope and what to expect the next time. Anyway I have flown to Thailand, Israel Scotland and worked offshore, never had a problem with security, been patted down many times just made sure my bag was empty and fresh on and most of the time they don't detect it and when they have on the 1 occassion the security guard was quite embarrassed, but flying just isn't a problem. Go through the metal detecrors and ensure you have nothing on you like money or your belt ensuring you are clear when you go through. I always where the same shoes jumper etc now at airports as I know they wil not set off the metal detectors.

I flew back in May. I got a note from my doctor saying that I need to be permitted to carry on my supplies on the plane. I pre-cut a few bags and left my scissors at home though. No my bag did not inflate. Security didn't say anything at all about it and I got through the scanners just fine.

Bluegrass, thanks for the information. I'll try that next time - I was going by what the TSA agent told me: that they would see the pouch on the scanner and I'd end up getting patted down anyway. It wasn't a horrible experience, as I said they were very quick and professional. But of course, one never knows the mood of the agent at the security check point!!