Travel with lymphedema pump

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withm
withm Member Posts: 5
edited April 2016 in Lymphedema

Has anyone flown with a lymphedema pump? I have no problem bringing it in the car when I travel but have not been on an airplane since developing LE

Do you recommend putting it in checked baggage or carry on? The pump itself is heavy, and the sleeve rolled up tight is about as big as the pump. Even getting it up into the overhead compartment would be difficult for me (but do-able).

But if it were lost inside a checked bag, unlikely as it may be, it would be very difficult, not to mention expensive, to replace. Would insurance even cover a second pump just two years later?

I don't imagine one could rent or borrow one in Detroit?

Any advice or comments welcome.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited April 2016

    Take as a 'carry on'. It is considered to be a 'Medically Necessary Device' and does not count as your 'carry on'. It is a good idea to have a written statement from your Dr (or LET) so stating - but it's quite possible you will not be asked for confirmation.

    It is not a good idea to check it (in a bag) as it is not unusual at all for bags to be 'lost' or 'misplaced' for days (or weeks) before they are 'found' and gotten to you. Also, what the airline will pay you for a bag that is never found is not enough to replace a MLD machine.

    I have no clue as to there being a rental place for a MLD machine at your destination - you might try calling the manufacturer and ask them if they know of that as a possibility. You could try Calli g some Medical Supply businesses (or a local Cancer Facility) to ask if such is possible there. Long shots but would just take a few minutes to ask.

    I have a FlexiTouch and I would not consider it 'heavy' at all but I suppose some might. There is no way I could roll the 3 sections of the garments into an area as small as the 'working brain box' of it. (All 3 garment parts are 'Small' so not a lot of material in them.). I would be concerned about doing damage to individual compartments in them or damaging/crimping the hoses if rolled super tight. I can definitely roll 'anything' tight and get more packed into an area than most. Too many years of learning how to pack the most in a small area thanks to the military - as a child, helping Daddy pack for deployments, as a WAC packing for myself and as a Navy wife, packing for Hubby for 20 yrs - I'm a Pro.

    Hope that gives you a bit of help.

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  • Beatmon
    Beatmon Member Posts: 1,562
    edited April 2016

    I flew with my Flexitouch in a hard shell Samsonite checked bag quite a few times. No problems

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