Flying with a PICC line and supplies?

[disfan07]

We are flying to Mayo Clinic on Sunday. We are seasoned fliers when it comes to nebulizers, neb meds, epi pens, inhalers, and prescription meds.

This is new for us in more than one way. I've had a PICC line for TPN for 3 weeks. We are having supplies and the TPN shipped from California to Minnesota by our infusion company. So according to my home health nurse, we need to take the essentials (saline, heparin, extensions, extra caps, alcohol wipes, dressing change kit, IV pump)

We have the syringes in one of the boxes with a prescription and we also have a note from my nephrologist about travelling with the supplies.

But is there any practical advice about going through security with the line itself? I have an extension on my line so that I can take care of the line myself and it is a pretty long extension so I have a mesh sleeve covering it from my shoulder down to my mid forearm. Am I just going to be able to go through security like normal or will I get pulled for extra searching because of the line. I just don't want anyone touching my line at all. We've already had a scare because I have a blood clot around the line so I'm like crazy paranoid about my line.

Also, I know that they sometimes swab my nebulizer at security. Are they going to want to do the same for the IV pump? Will I need to take that out of the bag? We really want to bubble wrap it given the fact that it is a $6000 machine! But I'm guessing they are going to want to see it?
I'm assuming we should be prepared for it to take extra time to go through security because of all of this? It's just me and my mom and i cannot lift anything or carry anything using my left arm and we will have 2 medical bags plus a computer and a backpack for carryon.

If anyone has any practical advice that would be great.my head is spinning because I was just discharged from the hospital on Tuesday and we leave Saturday night and I HATE flying....I cannot fly without taking Ativan so all this extra stuff is making me anxious

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

I travel with home dialysis supplies where ever I go .

First get a detailed note from the Dr. stating each item you need to travel with. Do not place the important items in cargo.

I have a tube in the tummy area for solutions exchanges. It always shows up on the screening where you hold hands over head. They want to pat me down -- ummm no --- and press on the area --- umm again no. Now I just lift my sweater or shirt top so they can see the area --LOL . The TSA goes nuts-- tells me no no it will be ok -- and I think yes it will.

A pic line is very delicate as it is actually going to the heart. Do not underany means lets them pat it down. There are a few TSA that have heavey hands. Explain to the super and ask for the Dr. on staff to do the search if they insist on checking.

The note from the Dr. will cover the supplies. Make sure the Dr. signs information letter and includes his phone number.

You should be ok .

Hope this helps a bit.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I travel with home dialysis supplies where ever I go .

First get a detailed note from the Dr. stating each item you need to travel with. Do not place the important items in cargo [checked luggage].

.............

The note from the Dr. will cover the supplies. Make sure the Dr. signs information letter and includes his phone number.

You should be ok .

Hope this helps a bit.

You do not need a note from your doctor.

OP, go here:

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/travelers-disabilities-and-medical-conditions

 

[WheeledTraveler]

I don't know for sure if you'll get pulled out or not. If you can go through the scanners, it's really just going to depend on what type of scanners. It shouldn't show up on a regular metal detector, but can on the others. The rest of my advice is going to be based on if you do get pulled for a pat-down.

Before they even touch you for a pat down, they'll ask two questions: 1) would you like to have a private screening and 2) are there any implants or other issues that would cause a specific area to be sensitive. That's when you mention the PICC. I don't know for a PICC specifically, but I know when I was only a few weeks post-major neck surgery, they didn't even ask me to take my hard cervical collar off. I'm not even sure they swabbed it to check for dust from explosives.

If the mesh sleeve is a wide mesh so that it's easy to see through, you'll have no issues at all. Any place where they can see skin, they don't need to touch (I'm a wheelchair user and I wear short sleeves/tank top and a short skirt through TSA *everywhere* because it allows them to skip arms/legs during the pat down). If it's opaque, they still should avoid it if you tell them it's part of keeping the port sterile. Otherwise, they might ask you to remove the sleeve (which they then would probably either swab or send through the x-ray) so they can see the PICC/line. Do not let them remove anything that breaks a sterile dressing, though. I know several people who've flown with a PICC and I haven't heard bad stories from them (or any stories), so I suspect that TSA has training on screening people with PICC and similar types of intravenous lines.

 

[shoes99]

My sister had a pic line, now she has a permanent feeding tube button. It is very sensitive. She has had better luck when she asks for a wheelchair assist and tells them exactly what she has in her medical supplies bag. She goes nuts when they touch anything without changing their gloves. She takes 6 cans with her along with her pump, syringe, wipes and water solution to flush the line. They usually swab the cans. It really is hit or miss when going thru TSA but she always asks to be treated as a flyer with medically necessary supplies. The wheelchair assist works better for her and she will use it with JetBlue next week when she comes back to NYC to see her doctors.

 

[disfan07]

I don't know for sure if you'll get pulled out or not. If you can go through the scanners, it's really just going to depend on what type of scanners. It shouldn't show up on a regular metal detector, but can on the others. The rest of my advice is going to be based on if you do get pulled for a pat-down.

Before they even touch you for a pat down, they'll ask two questions: 1) would you like to have a private screening and 2) are there any implants or other issues that would cause a specific area to be sensitive. That's when you mention the PICC. I don't know for a PICC specifically, but I know when I was only a few weeks post-major neck surgery, they didn't even ask me to take my hard cervical collar off. I'm not even sure they swabbed it to check for dust from explosives.

If the mesh sleeve is a wide mesh so that it's easy to see through, you'll have no issues at all. Any place where they can see skin, they don't need to touch (I'm a wheelchair user and I wear short sleeves/tank top and a short skirt through TSA *everywhere* because it allows them to skip arms/legs during the pat down). If it's opaque, they still should avoid it if you tell them it's part of keeping the port sterile. Otherwise, they might ask you to remove the sleeve (which they then would probably either swab or send through the x-ray) so they can see the PICC/line. Do not let them remove anything that breaks a sterile dressing, though. I know several people who've flown with a PICC and I haven't heard bad stories from them (or any stories), so I suspect that TSA has training on screening people with PICC and similar types of intravenous linesY.

Thanks. Yeah my nurse told me not to let anyone touch my left arm (which is where the PICC is) not just because it's a sterile dressing, but also because it is still swollen and sore because of a blood clot next to the line. So that's what I was concerned about because she said not to let them near the line at all. The mesh is wide enough that it is see through. The only part you can't see is where the PICC line is inserted because of an antimicrobal patch surrounding the site and because of the plastic clamps that keep the line stable and attached to my arm.


I am going to tape the line extension to my arm so it won't move and won't be as much of a risk of it getting caught or dangling.

I've personally never had a problem with TSA before even with the medical supplies we usually travel with. And I wasn't overly concerned before this past week but with the complications we've been having with the line this past week have definitely upped my anxiety a little bit even though I know that it will be fine.

I'm just someone who likes to have control over these things.

 

[DvcDoc]

I've traveled a lot with my dialysis supplies and, like Happy 2 B Me, I also have a PD catheter in my abdomen. When flying, I always allow extra time for TSA and I have always used it. They have consistently wanted to do a detailed search of my supply carry on bag as well as a pat down of me. Have not had any issues with my catheter, just have told them what it was when they get to it. If they shouldn't touch your PICC line, I'd let them know going in and let them get their doctor to check it out. The big thing is, allow time for this so you don't stress about making your flight.