Anybody fly wrapped/TSA question
I'm flying next week--a 5 hour flight--and before I broke my hand, I always wore my Solaris with no problem. Would put it on at the gate and take it off after landing.
Well, since breaking my hand, I wrap, and my LE therapist wants me to wrap--and it's such a hassle.
So, I wore my Solaris for the first time since the break in October, and woke up with swollen hand!!!! Even DH (he of total denial) took a look and said "you'd better wrap"
So, since I"ve always gone through screening bare armed: do I wrap at home and go through wrapped? Or try and wrap at the gate area?
Anyone run into hassles in screening?
My hand came down quickly with a gauze wrap, but if get to my vacation with a huge hand, I don't think it's going to make things pleasant.
Kira
Comments
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KIRA-I don't have an answer for you. Just hope that you have a wonderful, swell free vacation!
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Toomuch, I do have a secret weapon: I'm meeting Binney and we're the invited guests of a compression manufacturer to go help with a lecture at a slightly weird conference. She's the expert, I'm the sidekick.
I was really hoping to just use the Solaris like before, but it's not going to work. Darn!
Hands are tough--and the wrapping works great, but is a royal pain to take off and put on in the airport environment.
If I could know that I won't be hassled by TSA--I'd wrap at home before going to the airport. We're flying out of Logan--dropping off the dog with my daughter and SIL and getting a ride to the airport.
My LE therapist told me about a woman who met her significant other as she wrapped on the plane...
Kira
I just clicked on a link that Binney had posted in the past about the TSA policy about casts/dressings/braces/prosthesis--and based on that and the general unpleasantness of Logan, I'll wrap at the gate or on the plane.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1370.shtm
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Kira, I'm flying next Tues (March 29th) to see my mom who is deteriorating (she's 88 years old) and I will also be on a 5 hour flight. I just picked up my 1st compression arm sleeve, they special ordered it for me due to my small size. I have a 5 inch wrist and they ordered a Jobst Bella Strong size S. The box said that it will fit wrist size 5" to 6 3/4". Tried it on and the wrist was way too big. If I lay it flat and measure it, it is 2.75" across which is 5.5 inches. I don't have time to order a replacement.
Do any one know if I should still wear the sleeve? I do not have swollen hands or wrist. My only problem is the forearm and upper arm.
Please give me some advice, thank you!
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Kira, don't people get notes from Drs. informing airline security of surgical metal plates and stuff like that? Could a note like that not work for the wraps so you could do it at home? It seems a shame to have to add a last minute wrap to the stress of flying.
However it works out and I hope it works out well, would you please give Binney a big ole hug. And one for yourself too. I hope you have a good time, but not a swell time.
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Honestly I don't think it will be a big problem.
Last time I flew I was in kineso tape stage one...the TSA lady looked at me and asked what the tape was about (it was my DIY and it was black, so it really did look ominous.)
I told her and she got kinda weepy and said god bless you.
I even managed to bring a pair of small scissors along to cut new tape....they were within the limit...I think three inches not too sharp.
On the other hand I once had them give me a tough time over snowshoes.
I guarantee the terrorists will not be carrying snowshoes!
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Snowshoes? That's a bit of a giggler. What were they thinking?
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Cookie, snowshoes? How scary are snowshoes?!
Does Al-Qaida use snowshoes, or what? I've flown wrapped, but that was before this latest security madness with the new scanners. Both arms wrapped, and a black Solaris vest that sure looks suspicious, even to me! They were nice, but very thorough. They swabbed everything and waved their wands about all over me. I handed out Jobst LE pamphlets liberally. It's a pamphlet for medical professionals so it has VERY impressive pictures in it, and I figured that wouldn't hurt.
Sure enough, it didn't -- they were worried about hurting me and kept asking me if I was okay. Best thing to do is bring chocolate along to help heal any indignities you may suffer. I used to LOVE to fly, y'know?
We'll share a hug for all of us!
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Kira,
I agree with Sharon. Can you not take a Drs notic? Also maybe a picture of someone wrapped with a LE definition. When I took my nephew to Ireland (he has Cystic Fibrosis) we had a Dr notice so they wouldn't keep pulling us aside with his vest and breathing device. It worked. Have a good trip.
Becky
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Unfortunately, I've been told that doctors notes don't help--the idea being that these could be faked.
Forgive me for intruding on a thread about lymphedema but I just wanted to share my recent TSA experience, especially since it was at Logan, where Kira will be flying from. I wear two prostheses, but so far don't have lymphedema.
Kira, when I flew last week, they were using both the old and new machines at Logan. Wouldn't you know it, I got directed to the new one and my DH got sent to the old one. My experience wasn't pleasant. On a prior trip, I politely told the TSA agent that since I wore postheses and would almost certainly be selected for a pat-down, I wanted to opt out of the machine. That time, the (male) agent was very nice, got a female to pat me down, which she did gently and quickly.
This time, no such luck as far as a nice TSA agent. I again politely explained my situation. The agent (a woman) seemed really hostile, gave me a very rough pat-down (rough on my back, sides, inside my waistband, and up my inner thighs to my groin). Ironically, the only place she wasn't rough was on my breast forms, which she barely touched. I don't think her hositility was due to anything I did. My DH was there and agreed she just seemed really alienated and like she hated her job. I'm normally not a modest person, but I really felt violated.
If you decide to go through security already wrapped, I think your experience might really depend on the particular agent on duty. If you got a sympathetic person, they'd probably be considerate and understanding about your wrapping. If you happened to get the unpleasant woman I had to deal with, she might make you unwrap the entire thing.
I usually take my breast-free situation in stride but this last time I found it upsetting to be subjected to greater scrutiny than those who haven't had mastectomies. The fact that you have to worry about whether to wrap at home or at the gate seems unfair in the same way. I was hoping the hubub about the machines would cause TSA to rethink their use. Instead, it seems I'll have to develp a thicker skin (no pun intended) about the whole procedure.
I hope you have a great time with Binney!!
Barbara
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Kira, I have done both; wrapped prior to arriving at airport and wrapping after getting through security. When I wrapped first, I was stopped at security and they had to do a swab of the wrapping to make sure there were no explosives (this has also happened when I have forgotten to take off my regular sleeve). Not a big deal; just a pain if security is real busy. I have also wrapped at the gate to avoid the security delay. I had my husband with me so it was not a problem wrapping. I vaguely remember you should have the sleeve or be wrapped 1 hour prior to flight. On my last flight (not a long flight) I went through security with nothing; put on my regular sleeve and then added my caresia at the gate. This worked great. Even on the way home from Florida after moving my daughter and dealing with some humidity my arm was fine with the flight. If I was having some swelling issues prior to flying I would wrap ahead of time and allow extra time for security. I am more relaxed wrapping at home than with a public audience.
Mary
PS Just read the above answer: When I went through security the first time with my arm wrapped, I said I would not remove the wrapping. They told me I would not need to as long as the swab test came back clean.
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Haven't had to go wrapped Kira. Have gone through with sleeve and gauntlet and 4 times now and not been given any grief.
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I too have wondered about going through airport security with a wrapped arm as I will be flying to Europe this summer. I've flown several times with compression sleeves and a glove on and had no trouble but wonder if wrapping will be treated differently. As I had bilateral knee replacements, a hip replacement, and a shoulder replacement long before I developed BC and used to fly a lot, I have had a lot of experience with being wanded and going through different kinds of security machines. The cards that orthopedic surgeons used to give out were of no use so I quit carrying them. However, I can say that I have generally found the security staff to be pleasant and professional though there are the occasional unhappy ones of the kind that Erica encountered. That said, I would bet that we will succeed in educating TSA employees about lymphedema before we educate the surgeons!
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I've gone through security with a wrapped Tribute - I said it was medical and offered to take it off necesary. They just did the swab test.
Have a great trip!
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I flew through Logan A/P last week, not wrapped but with my sleeve and glove on. I went through the new machines and even with an implant and partial prosthesis had no problem and didn't get pulled aside for a patdown. The sleeve and glove weren't an issue either. They just did a quick swab test. Good luck!
Pat
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Thanks for all the help: I sure wish the Tribute was working right now, but it just isn't an option. I'm leaning toward wrapping at home--and I will bring a prescription, the NLN guidelines, and I think I have some of those Jobst booklets--do have lots of Juzo ones.
It's just so much easier to wrap at home than on a seat at the gate area.
My co-worker's husband is currently working for TSA in RI and I'll ask her to ask him.
Erica, from what my coworker has told me about TSA, there are a lot of disgruntled employees. It sounds horrible.
Binney had pm'ed me that it's deciding which bothers me more: having to wrap at the gate or dealing with security. Right now, it's wrapping at the gate. We'll see....
I hate LE....
Kira
No one answered Diamond Girl: my fitter doesn't like those new Jobst sleeves--she finds them short. I'd be more concerned about an overly tight wrist that didn't let the hand drain, and if you already have swelling, you should be wearing compression for the flight--hand compression too, can you get ahold of a gauntlet on short notice? Is this your first sleeve?
Two links: the NLN position paper on flying and the Lymphadivas on why hand compression is important
http://www.lymphnet.org/lymphedemaFAQs/positionPapers.htm
http://lymphedivas.com/lymphedema/gauntletandsleeve/
I'm sorry your mother is so sick.
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Thanks Kira for your info. I hope you have a great time visiting Binney.
I returned the gauntlet because the edge was unravelling (poorly made). I might try wrapping the hand. It'll look strange alright!
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Diamond Girl, a good hand/finger wrap is always an option: I'll be right with you there in the looking strange on the plane--as long as the air marshals don't care, we'll never see these people again...
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Hi Kira,
Would you somehow be able to add bandages over the hand part of your Tribute to have it work effectively?
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Sher, that's what I did in the past--but I haven't used it since my fracture, and I wrap with gray foam and "carrots" and when I used the Solaris Saturday night (no short stretch over), all the fluid got trapped in my hand overnight, so to have it happen at sea level, I'm concerned about landing with a swollen hand.
My co-worker's husband is a TSA screener, and he said that they should not give me any hassle, and the new screener will see through it and the old one might not even notice it, and they will swab it if noticed, and don't handle any lighter fluid or gunpowder.
I'm inclined to wrap before we leave--we have an hour drive to drop off the dog and then to the airport and I just don't want to wrap at the gate.
We'll see how it goes with screening--wish I was flying locally where my co-worker's husband works...
I wrapped last night, and my hand is fine today--I just think after the break, it wants to swell if not wrapped. Darn. I also have a jovipak, but I just don't think now is the time to experiment.
Kira
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Kira,
I haven't flown wrapped before, but probably will from now on. I have flown (like Miss Cookie) with kinesio tape and compression garments and never had an issue.
Erica, what a horrible experience. Did she at least buy you dinner or give you flowers? Geez. Sounds like some bad dates I had with guys when I was still single many moons ago!
I guess I would be grouchy too if I worked at an airport, but I've always thought it would be kind of fun...maybe I'm a masochist.
Kira, let us know how it goes. I am very curious to see how you do - I will most likely have to fly wrapped from now on.
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Suzy, my LE therapist wrote me that most people wrap at the gate, but after talking to the TSA lady in Boston, who said "Bring a note from your doctor, and let them know it's a sensitive area, and you know, dear, they're not medical personnel--but let them know it's a support device for you."I figure I'll brave security wrapped--unless I chicken out at the last moment...
I figure, like Binney said, I'll play up the "I got this from BREAST CANCER" aspect and bring a note and a Juzo brochure.
Suzy, I was so disappointed with how the Solaris left my hand this weekend--it's never been great, but never bad before.
Erica--TSA has a blog and phone number to report your experience, and the nice lady at Logan can be reached at 617-561-2002.
I did like what my TSA contact told me today--just don't handle lighter fluid or gun powder with your wrap....
Oh, and being a germophobe, I'm bringing fresh bandages to wear when I get there. Where we're staying, there is a washer/drier, but I don't want to be waiting for them to dry that night....
LE, the gift that keeps giving.
Kira
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Maybe this is the occasion for some pink ribbon wear?
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Cookie, the (gag) thought occurred to me--just mentioning breast cancer to the TSA spokeswoman at Logan changed her tone immediately.
Kira
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Cookie!!!! I snorted when I read your pink ribbon comment. I am not a fan of the ribbon (I always remember that Seinfeld episode about the ribbon when I think or say that!) but am all for pulling the cancer/LE card for getting my way or making life a little easier. I figure this probably makes me a bad person, but as long as I'm not using my evil powers for world domination, I think it's all good.
Kira, I have really been disappointed in my Solaris - I know it's not the fault of my oven mitt, but it does nothing for me, and actually makes my le worse. I don't know if it's because my arm has changed since I got it, but it never really 'worked' like wrapping does for me. My arm has changed a lot (meaning 'gotten worse') since I got it. BUT it still bugs me - I paid a ton of money for that stupid thing and it does nothing for me...Whereas the 50 bucks worth of wrapping materials works wonders.
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Suzy, I've got to go through my Seinfield DVD's...
I completely agree with you: I SO wish I could use the Solaris and wake up better, but it does make my arm and hand worse--so much worse--and even before the break, if I wore it, I would have to deal with the hand all day--and that's where my swelling is.
Once, on my odyssey of PT's--I went to see a PT at a suburban branch of Mass General--and being totally hyper and on my own to manage my LE, I got a jovipak all by myself within a month of getting hand swelling (from a lacksidasical fitter who never checked the fit) and I was not improving. I had no real gloves. It was such a mess.
Well, she walked in, took a look at my Jovipak, and and said "Put it in your sock drawer!" and proceeded to make me a custom wrap with foam cutouts. And it worked. It was just to elbow, and ultimately did cause a small pocket above the elbow, so now I wrap all the way up.
Ultimately, she decided that because my swelling was all in my hand she couldn't justify (for insurance) any more visits and she discharged me, and got me the Solaris at the last visit, and actually wrote me that I had swelling "but it wasn't lymphedema"--Binney called her "bizzaro".
But I do think her initial instinct was sound: "Put it in your sock drawer"--and she's British, so it's said with an accent. (think the queen and corgis...)
Still can't believe I have a jovipak and a Solaris in my sock drawer--that's a lot of expensive foam.
Kira
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Where do I get the leaflets/brochures to hand out if needed when flying?
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I got my new Tribute Fingertip (with digit spacers) to Axilla, not liking it too much at this point. Initially I thought it too big in the palm, but before a remake, my therapist wanted me to try it out so we'd have a better idea of how it works. Last night I had it on for maybe 2 hours and my hand was pretty achy when I took it off, but felt okay with it on. It didn't seem to leave any ridges or tracks in my hand (did in my forearm) so I'm thinking it probably doesn't fit right.
I LOVE my Caresia glove and wear it alone without adding bandages and it does a great job - tracks and all so I was hoping the Tribute would do the same, but with the added benefit of full arm. I've seen a Tribute glove and it looked almost identical to my Caresia glove, so I assumed the fingertip to axilla Tribute would have the same hand. Not so! Gloves have a curved end around the fingers and full glove/arm Tribute fingers are cut straight across. F to A Tribute also has different foam channels than the separate gloves do. Gloves have channels that run straight up to the wrist or forearm from the fingers where Tribute F to A starts diagonal channels at the base of the fingers. There also isn't much of a thumb on the F to A Tribute.
Caresia told my therapist that they had changed the finger end from flat to curved on both gloves, but haven't done this on the F to A Tribute for some reason. This they would be happy to do if requested......problem is they don't make it known ahead of time. Any photos of these products don't show the fingertips (and I've searched a lot!), so my Tribute was a complete surprise!
So back to the drawing board I go. Nothing is ever easy with LE, is it.
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Becky, I order mine from Jobst -- they're free. They're called "Lymphedema -- Management Today." I don't recommend it for patients, because the pictures are extreme and who needs that?! But it's a good resource for doctors and nurses who aren't familiar with LE and need a jolt to realize it's not "just a fat arm," and that if they don't help their patients get decent treatment it could get out of hand. And it's good for anyone you need to impress quickly -- like a TSA agent.
Juzo puts out a gentler pamphlet for patients, also free by request, called "What You Should Know About Lymphedema". It would also work for TSA, I'm sure -- it's just not as grisly. It does have pictures of garments and wrapping, so it's handy for pointing out your own travel style choices to a curious TSA agent.
Good stuff!
Binney -
Oh, Sher, bummer! Nope -- nothing is one bit easy with LE. Onward anyhow! Get 'em to get it right!
Binney -
Binney, a quick question if you don't mind since you wear the full Tribute. When donning per the fold down upper half method, at this point the instructions say to twist the garment slightly toward your body to align the sewn seam to the center of the armpit. To me this is not slightly! So my question, do you actually start to twist (slightly) right up from the hand?
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