Flying with Prescription formula

[Mousequake]

But. They let you go right? They let you carry it on. I when I said they never say anything, I meant that they never put up a stink or they never treat it as unusual. They do what they have to do. We get swabbed (well my son does since he's carrying an insulin pump). the bags get swabbed. The ice pack gets checked for frozen state, the juice and insulin gets swabbed.

I don't expect to pass through unnoticed. I don't expect to pass through unswabbed. We travel quite a bit with a whole lot of prohibited to the general public items (last time I even brought scissors as they were 'medically necessary" to cut medical tap - ok for that it was an oops and I had meant to pack the tape and scissors in the checked luggage - but after explaining why I had them and what they were for, they let it through.

We've been in orlando, boston twice, providence, st louis and laguardia this summer. It's been very similar in every situation.

I'm coming to the realization that the TSA at my local airport (PDX) must just suck.

But you're right-- they always end up letting me through, but never without a big hassle and an even bigger attitude. When I flew out of SNA, they still had to swab everything and pat me down, but they were so freaking nice about it that it didn't even seem like a hassle. But bottom line-- I'll do whatever I have to do to get her formula on the plane with me. She can't live without it. I just keep telling myself, "they're just doing their job. They're just doing their job" and try to breathe calmly.

 

[buffettgirl]

I'm coming to the realization that the TSA at my local airport (PDX) must just suck.

But you're right-- they always end up letting me through, but never without a big hassle and an even bigger attitude. When I flew out of SNA, they still had to swab everything and pat me down, but they were so freaking nice about it that it didn't even seem like a hassle. But bottom line-- I'll do whatever I have to do to get her formula on the plane with me. She can't live without it. I just keep telling myself, "they're just doing their job. They're just doing their job" and try to breathe calmly.

I totally get it. I don't have to like the process, but I try to refuse anymore to let it get to me - or let it start my trip off on a bad foot. I try to thank them for doing their job. And then get out as quickly as possible.

 

[Bitsmommy]

what we normally do is this ...we sandwich my son between my husband and I. he takes my son's supplies and deals with all that. I go first and then my son follows. if there is the full body scanner we have to step into the other line, so if that's the case, then I'm already there and I know DH will get our items. If his pump alarms on the scanner, then I"m there. If they request a swab then I'm there. This way we have a system in place that I'm responsible for my son once he gets through the screening and dh is responsible for the stuff. If the stuff needs to be swabbed I can be far away already sitting quietly with my son. Just like you've prepped the kids already, work on a system with your dh that will allow one of you to handle the goods and the other to handle the kids. The reason why I take my son is that 9 times out of 10 dh gets pulled aside and patted down, sets off the alarms, sent through the full body etc. He's a nightmare to travel with. I figure he's going to be tied up anyway. LOL.

Good luck!! I'm sure it will be fine!

This is exactly my plan. We sandwich the boys. I am at the end with the medical supplies. I will get held up, ect. Our 2 year old has nothing on his body that will set anything off. I can get patted down, whatever. I am not going to not allow TSA to pat down my toddler, but if they need to do that, they need to understand he is 2 and doesn't like being touched by strangers AT ALL. I am not going to encourage him to do anything to anyone...I would never do that. But, I do have the right as a parent to help them get through it. The best way got that is to make sure they know he isn't a fan of being touched and go from there.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

with your 2 year old make sure he does not touch side of scanner as that will set it off and mean a pat down. happened to our7 year old as he is a flapper. person behind saw him touch so they did send him again. that was all it took to set off scanner. daughter does have to do pat downbecause of med equip which is a pain. this was at Philly not a small airport and we were on a Make A Wish trip. even if you walk thru with him, he will have to stand and wait while you go back thru scanner after he is thru. did not see anyone able to be done at same time as child.can not be taken thru in stroller as stroller has to be sent thru with carryons. have not found TSA very family helpful on our trips.

 

[jmartinez1895]

.can not be taken thru in stroller as stroller has to be sent thru with carryons. have not found TSA very family helpful on our trips.

At both Birmingham and Orlando our son was allowed to stay in his stroller because it was being used as a mobility aid. If you have have achild that needs to stay in the stroller due to a mobility problem I was encourage you to tell the first TSA agent that you come to. They have always been helpful with this for us. We do contact our airline ahead of time and let them know he will be using a stroller as a wheelcahir and they said that they send a print out to the TSA each morning of special needs passengers to look for.

 

[mommy2mb]

My daughter used the same formula. We always took about 5 or 6 in our carry-on. And the rest I would split up evenly with our checked bags. I was parnoid that if a suitcase got lost , all formula and supplies were gone too, plus it split the weight up. I would also package in ziplock bags that way if one broke open formula didn't get everywhere in suitcase. I think I could get 5 boxes in each ziplock bag.

 

[Bitsmommy]

One quick question. I went to the pediatrician (for another reason) and asked him about a letter or a script for the formula. He told me to write whatever it needed to say and he would put it on letter head and sign it. What exactly does it need to say!???

OK... TWO QUESTIONS...
My son is adopted. We have a rectal anticonvulsant that was prescribed PRIOR to his adoption finalization that has the name he was given at birth on it. Do we need to go back to the pharmacy that filled it and see if they will change the label?? Or will that not be an issue?? THANKS!!!

 

[Bitsmommy]

My daughter used the same formula. We always took about 5 or 6 in our carry-on. And the rest I would split up evenly with our checked bags. I was parnoid that if a suitcase got lost , all formula and supplies were gone too, plus it split the weight up. I would also package in ziplock bags that way if one broke open formula didn't get everywhere in suitcase. I think I could get 5 boxes in each ziplock bag.

His comes in cans. Did you have any problem getting through security with that many boxes in the carry on?

 

[mommy2mb]

His comes in cans. Did you have any problem getting through security with that many boxes in the carry on?

Nope, always just told TSA agent before it went through scanner that her food/formula was in that bag. We used 2.5 boxes a day on average, so in case of layover we would have enough for 24 hours. We always traveled with several other pieces of equipmet suction, feeding pump,meds and etc with no problem at all. I always felt the hardest part of the trip was preparing medical supplies for the flight You just never know what they might question.

 

[Bitsmommy]

Nope, always just told TSA agent before it went through scanner that her food/formula was in that bag. We used 2.5 boxes a day on average, so in case of layover we would have enough for 24 hours. We always traveled with several other pieces of equipmet suction, feeding pump,meds and etc with no problem at all. I always felt the hardest part of the trip was preparing medical supplies for the flight You just never know what they might question.

Do you use a prescription or a letter from your doctor? I am taking 14 cans. He uses 3 cans per day. The medical equipment company is shipping the rest down to us. That will give me enough just in case there is a delay in shipping or getting it to us. I have a pulse ox, all of his syringes and his extension tubes with us and an extra button. We aren't taking the pump because we can bolus him just as easy and we don't want to "feed the bed." It sucks when that happens in a hotel room!! Oh, that reminds me. I need to pack the KY in case I need to pop his tube back in!

 

[mommy2mb]

Do you use a prescription or a letter from your doctor? I am taking 14 cans. He uses 3 cans per day. The medical equipment company is shipping the rest down to us. That will give me enough just in case there is a delay in shipping or getting it to us. I have a pulse ox, all of his syringes and his extension tubes with us and an extra button. We aren't taking the pump because we can bolus him just as easy and we don't want to "feed the bed." It sucks when that happens in a hotel room!! Oh, that reminds me. I need to pack the KY in case I need to pop his tube back in!

Our doctor did a letter for her 1st trip, we never used it so I didn't worry about it for any future trips. If you can get a letter easily from doctor it never hurts to have the back-up! Our daughter never handled bolus feeds well, so we had to drag that darn pump around everywhere! I think i took the entire medicine & supply cabinet every trip

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Do you use a prescription or a letter from your doctor? I am taking 14 cans. He uses 3 cans per day. The medical equipment company is shipping the rest down to us. That will give me enough just in case there is a delay in shipping or getting it to us. I have a pulse ox, all of his syringes and his extension tubes with us and an extra button. We aren't taking the pump because we can bolus him just as easy and we don't want to "feed the bed." It sucks when that happens in a hotel room!! Oh, that reminds me. I need to pack the KY in case I need to pop his tube back in!

Do yourself a favor; take along the pump. You would rather have it with you and not use it, than not have it there and something pops up that results in you wanting to reach for the pump. Sometimes things happen that we don't expect. They always pop up when not at home, it seems. Being prepared can then be beyond welcome when it comes to something so vital as medications, feeding or medical equipment.


Feeding the bed should be a very rare situation. If not; look into it as it tends to be a sign of not having the right (size) button or tube, not having the right (length of) lines, you name it. Most of the times it is something that can be solved. For me it tends to be as simple as my tube having extended just the slightest amount in diameter, thus my connecting line not being able to fit as perfect as normal and see there; yuk......... Cutting of a smallest part and it is solved again, but not until I knew what to do. Have found with these things that the medical profession tends to know less of these things than those using it every day or specialised nurses that deal with troubleshooting 24/7 and have years of experience. If you don't know about them already, google the Oley Foundation. Also has a board, loads of info on there about all types of tube feedings. Thanks to those in my treatment team with proper knowledge (which alas are not my specialist as expected, but also not the "specialized" team in 3 hospitals I visit with this problem) there is now a standard of "any more accidents than once every 2 months is too much and can and will be solved". This includes constantly rolling around in your sleep etc.

 

[Bitsmommy]

Do yourself a favor; take along the pump. You would rather have it with you and not use it, than not have it there and something pops up that results in you wanting to reach for the pump. Sometimes things happen that we don't expect. They always pop up when not at home, it seems. Being prepared can then be beyond welcome when it comes to something so vital as medications, feeding or medical equipment.


Feeding the bed should be a very rare situation. If not; look into it as it tends to be a sign of not having the right (size) button or tube, not having the right (length of) lines, you name it. Most of the times it is something that can be solved. For me it tends to be as simple as my tube having extended just the slightest amount in diameter, thus my connecting line not being able to fit as perfect as normal and see there; yuk......... Cutting of a smallest part and it is solved again, but not until I knew what to do. Have found with these things that the medical profession tends to know less of these things than those using it every day or specialised nurses that deal with troubleshooting 24/7 and have years of experience. If you don't know about them already, google the Oley Foundation. Also has a board, loads of info on there about all types of tube feedings. Thanks to those in my treatment team with proper knowledge (which alas are not my specialist as expected, but also not the "specialized" team in 3 hospitals I visit with this problem) there is now a standard of "any more accidents than once every 2 months is too much and can and will be solved". This includes constantly rolling around in your sleep etc.

Usually the Y port opens or he pulls it out of the extension. Most of the reason that the bed gets fed, is because he doesn't like the way that it feels and tries to stop it himself (at the ripe old age of 2.) He and the pump have never really gotten along, we haven't done an overnight pump in over 5 months. But, now I am second guessing myself.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Usually the Y port opens or he pulls it out of the extension. Most of the reason that the bed gets fed, is because he doesn't like the way that it feels and tries to stop it himself (at the ripe old age of 2.) He and the pump have never really gotten along, we haven't done an overnight pump in over 5 months. But, now I am second guessing myself.

Ports opening regularly isn't something I would just accept as is. Good odds there is a solution or at least something to reduce the number of times it happens.

Him disliking the feel; has whomever is/are treating him ever tried different types of speed, types of formula etc? Sometimes the answer can be found there, but also for instance the amount of time in between him drinking and getting his feeds, lying down and feeds running back out of the stomach into the throat etc. Sometimes it can take some time to find the best individual settings and with such a young one I can imagine it can take longer since he can't communicate it al so clear yet. For instance, I'm on a setting that is relatively very low for an adult (about 70, sometimes 75 ml/h). Any higher however will result in me not feeling well or worse.

For some of the youngsters using pyama's in one piece can help by running the line through the trouser part along the leg to reduce trying to pull things loose. Probably something you will have tried already long ago, but mentioned it just in case.

Can totally understand you'r doubting, now reading about him not having used the pump for over 5 months! I would be doubftull in your shoes also. Are there still situations in which the pump might be(come) an option? Like when he's ill? (some tolerate feedings less then, reducing speeds and have run into people that then go from bolus to pump but not sure if that is factbased or just because is easier when sick and not wanting to be so busy with bolussing) If there are no situations like that, for myself I might very well then leave the pump at home. Hmm, sorry to have created doubt with my previous post, didn't do much of a favor did I? Would it stop any doubting if looking at the odds of needing it versus how much or little trouble it is to take it along?

 

[jmartinez1895]

We use Diastat ( which I assume is what you are reffering to by rectal anticonvulsant). I have never had them check the label on the meds. We fly with a small pharmacy and have never had any trouble. When they check the liquids we have seen them look over the labels, but never with the diastat or eye drops, inhalers, ect.

 

[kkandaj]

One quick question. I went to the pediatrician (for another reason) and asked him about a letter or a script for the formula. He told me to write whatever it needed to say and he would put it on letter head and sign it. What exactly does it need to say!???

DS was on medical grade formula (EO28 Splash) when we flew (this was a couple of years ago). I wrote a note that the doc put on his letterhead--this is close to what it said:

"XYZ is a patient I follow for life threatening food allergies. He will be traveling with several boxes of E028 Splash, a medical grade formula that is his sole source of nutrition. This formula is prescription only and can only be purchased through a pharmacy. It is imperative that he has this with him at all times, along with his epi-pens and liquid benadryl."I also had his phone number on it, in case they wanted to contact him.

We had 6 or so boxes (looks like juice boxes) and had the rest shipped to us, like you have arranged. I declared it as soon as I got to an agent, asked them if they wanted the letter from the doctor--which they didn't--they swabbed it and we were good to go.

Good luck! I know this is very stressful!

 

[lanejudy]

One quick question. I went to the pediatrician (for another reason) and asked him about a letter or a script for the formula. He told me to write whatever it needed to say and he would put it on letter head and sign it. What exactly does it need to say!???

DS was on medical grade formula (EO28 Splash) when we flew (this was a couple of years ago). I wrote a note that the doc put on his letterhead--this is close to what it said:

"XYZ is a patient I follow for life threatening food allergies. He will be traveling with several boxes of E028 Splash, a medical grade formula that is his sole source of nutrition. This formula is prescription only and can only be purchased through a pharmacy. It is imperative that he has this with him at all times, along with his epi-pens and liquid benadryl."I also had his phone number on it, in case they wanted to contact him.

We had 6 or so boxes (looks like juice boxes) and had the rest shipped to us, like you have arranged. I declared it as soon as I got to an agent, asked them if they wanted the letter from the doctor--which they didn't--they swabbed it and we were good to go.

Good luck! I know this is very stressful!

I recommend using the term "medically necessary liquid nutrition" rather than "formula" - because apparently that word tends to trigger (at least some) TSA agents into a baby formula mode of thought, as already indicated by several posters. "Medically necessary liquid nutrition" is also the terminology their own policy uses.

Good luck!

 

[kkandaj]

One quick question. I went to the pediatrician (for another reason) and asked him about a letter or a script for the formula. He told me to write whatever it needed to say and he would put it on letter head and sign it. What exactly does it need to say!???


I recommend using the term "medically necessary liquid nutrition" rather than "formula" - because apparently that word tends to trigger (at least some) TSA agents into a baby formula mode of thought, as already indicated by several posters. "Medically necessary liquid nutrition" is also the terminology their own policy uses.

Good luck!

Completely agree! Was just quoting what was on my letter. If I had to do do it again, after seeing all the issues everyone had, I would change the wording.

 

[buffettgirl]

One quick question. I went to the pediatrician (for another reason) and asked him about a letter or a script for the formula. He told me to write whatever it needed to say and he would put it on letter head and sign it. What exactly does it need to say!???


I recommend using the term "medically necessary liquid nutrition" rather than "formula" - because apparently that word tends to trigger (at least some) TSA agents into a baby formula mode of thought, as already indicated by several posters. "Medically necessary liquid nutrition" is also the terminology their own policy uses.

Good luck!

absolutely, and that's the terminology TSA uses on their website as well.

 

[Bitsmommy]

Thanks guys, I am going to draft a letter in the next few days and I will post it on here before I give it to the PCP to see if you all think it will be ok,