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Blog Entries With Tag: TSABlog: Anna's BlogFrom: FatCatAnnaPosted: Dec 22, 2012
Well, I hate to go off George Michael – but seeing as I always seem to have issues with my pump whenever I go on holidays – and I no longer have a warranty OR loaner pump available – I’m going to be disconnecting from him as of January 1st, 2013. Don’t freak out (last time I did this – the hate mail from pump users I received was astounding). I’ll be going back onto him probably as soon as I come back to Canada. I just don’t want to risk that he will break down on me – and ruin my holidays – I just want to be prepared. I’m not sure if it’s the cabin air pressure that has created glitches up my previous pumps from Animas over the last 4 years – or the metal detector at the airport – but I’m not taking any risks this time. I want George to last as long as he can – without any undue stress to him. With the latest replacement pump I received back in Feb 2012 - I don’t even take him into water anymore after talking to an Accu-Chek rep this past June – who stated that they have same water tight test aka IPX8 on their pumps – but say NOT to immerse in water. Yes, I am just being abit paranoid, but heck, with the recent news that many out of warranty Animas 2020 users (along with IR1200/1250) have received or heard about, I feel I have every right to be feeling this way. I want to protect my investment to the extreme – as I can’t afford to purchase another one yet. I hope that my pump will last as long as other pump users claim with the different manufacturers presently on the market. Personally, if I can keep a pump for 10 years – the cost of $1K a year is worth the investment to my health. So, I’ve got my prescriptions for pen refills of Lantus / NovoRapid – and I figure giving myself a lead time of a month prior to taking off on my holidays – I’ll have things sorted out so that the transition of using my “poor man’s pump” will be made easier. Prior to going onto the pump, I had issues with hypos overnight / waking up – which we T1D’s know is not enjoyable. I actually can attest to the fact that going onto the pump – has helped me understand how to use my insulin more efficiently – with having the proper basal setting (which my Lantus will be doing – not as efficiently mind you) – and setting up my carb ratio with my insulin coverage (I:C). It can be done with MDI – but is just a wee bit more complicated for some folks to do – but in time – we get used to it – and frankly – it is less expensive by a long shot to use the poor man’s pump. I know many T1D’s who can attest to this – though I don’t go to the extremes they do – with blood glucose (BG) testing of 20x a day – 10-20 injections a day. I average when I’m on MDI about 5-10 times a day with BG testing and about 8-10 shots a day. Some of you maybe cringing at 8-10 shots a day. Trust me, the needles we use today, compared to those we used 50 years ago – night and day!!! I use a pen needle which is 32 gauge – it’s Teflon coated – so it glides in easily. Maybe because I’ve been diabetic most of my life – this is something that doesn’t bother me – I have a higher pain threshold then someone who gets diabetes at a later age – or who is a rebel without a cause (e.g. they don’t take their diabetes seriously to take the correct measures to stay in good control to ward off the serious effects of this disease). The one thing I’m looking forward to – not that it’s ever bothered me? I won’t have to be pulled over by TSA due to wearing a pump(s). Last trip I took coming back from Miami – I had to argue with them that my pump(s) could not go thru’ the full body scanner, or send my holiday loaner pump thru’ the x-ray – it was very stressful – but thankfully this has only happened once while I’ve owned a pump. So, Season’s Greetings to You All – and safe travels where ever you maybe going!!! ~ My "fur" nephew Arthur getting in the mood ! ~
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Tags: warranty (1) Lantus (1) waterproof (1) IPX8 (1) insulin (1) Accu-Chek (1) pump (1) MDI (1) TSA (1) IR1250 (1) IR1200 (1) 2020 (1) Animas (1) Related posts:Type 1 vs. Type 2 | In a slump and scared | Surviving the Holocaust with Type 1 diabetes | My first month with Bowie my Dexcom G4 CGMS | Edmonton man denied insulin for 20 hours | Crack Free #ShowMeYourPump | Jenna and The Hypo Fairy | Welcome Ziggy Stardust | Wearing a dress with medical gadgets | Questioned by my pharmacist on my insulin regimeBlog: Anna's BlogFrom: FatCatAnnaPosted: Mar 29, 2012
![]() Last month when flying back from Miami, I experienced my first scary situation with being a user of an insulin pump with a group of Transport Security Administration (TSA) agents. I’ve flown many times and find TSA in the USA to be sometimes a little bit overzealous compared to my experiences flying from other countries. There I just get waved through – no metal detector goes off – no questions asked with my holding my vacation loaner pump in my hand – they just nod – and I go through. Now, are other countries more up on pump technology then the TSA agents? Makes me wonder. Now, it never has bothered me when the metal detector alarms, to be pulled over and then wait for a female agent to pat me down, swab my pump for explosives. Often we are chatting about diabetes and they are curious about the insulin pump. What they have to do is all part of protecting the passengers who are flying – as I could be a potential bomber and not be carrying insulin in my pump, but something else. I. GET. IT!!! The problem that occurred in MIA when returning back home to Canada, was that I had 3 agents insisting that I go through the full body scanner and I had to repeatedly tell them (as politely possible) that my Animas pump (and loaner pump) cannot be exposed to x-rays or radiation. The next thing that happened, that got me slightly worried is when one of the TSA agents asked me to hand over my loaner pump to her to be placed it in a tray. That has never been requested of me before, I always continue holding it – it never leaves my side. I asked her not to place it through the x-ray – at that point I was getting worried. At that point with all that was happening I lost sight of that pump (Salvador Dali). To this day, I have no idea if perhaps part of his failure a few weeks later and being replaced my George Michael was due to that agent putting my pump through the x-ray machine. I just do not know! So, now at this point, I had 2 agents insisting that the full body scanner would not do me any harm. I told them I knew that – but my pump I was wearing CANNOT be exposed to radiation and I was fine with the hand pat down. In the end, I stood my ground, and a female agent did their usual thing of going over my body, swabbing the pump (George Michael) and at that point, Salvador showed back up. Again, who knows where he went, was he swabbed or not, because if he wasn’t, well, you know what he could potentially be carrying. I know that many American insulin pumpers have written in forums that they never get pulled over plus they tend to hide the pump for some reason (mine is not noticeable as well - but I don't purposely hide it). Obviously, they don’t set off the metal detectors or hand held devices that goes over their body. Either it’s true; that I was abducted by aliens and some weird object was placed in my head that only metal detectors can detect? Who knows? Related posts:Instructions for Making a Thigh Insulin Pump Holder | Smooth sailing with CATSCA / TSA | Insulin Pumping since 1978 | Swine influenza - A (H1N1) virus | SNAP, Crackle, Pop - Asante is the new kid on the block | Adieu to my Antonio | Will I ever go back to my Animas pump? | Meeting up with another T1D in my own town! | Miss Idaho is Defeating Diabetes | Am so excited!Blog: Anna's BlogFrom: FatCatAnnaPosted: Dec 22, 2010
Last week I got back from a few weeks of holidays with my family - it's a little tradition that we do every December - usually just myself and hubby - but this year we brought along my ILS - since they were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. All went well, we weren't sure at first since my FIL has dementia, but he's been on an experimental drug since the summer time and he had no problems at all while on the NCL Sun with us. He knew that once he reached the whirl pool at the back of the ship (engine props churning away, to turn around LOL). He's got as great an attitude to his condition as I do to my having diabetes - so we make a great pair. NB: If you don't have the time to check out the CATSA link above - please note - that Canadians who are diabetic are permitted juice and gel on their carry on luggage. This is something that American travellers are not permitted to bring onboard flights. I searched TSA and could come up with nothing except Americans are allowed "glucagon emergency kit". I also tried to see what the British Airport Security had to say about diabetics with insulin pumps, and medications - and found nothing. It seems that airlines leaving from UK to American destinations have to refer to the TSA guidelines.
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Tags: glucagon (1) flying (1) security (1) CATSA (1) TSA (1) pump (1) insulin (1) diabetes (1) full body scanner (1) metal detector (1) Related posts:Type 1 vs. Type 2 | In a slump and scared | Surviving the Holocaust with Type 1 diabetes | Eating from the ground - Yuca Fries | My first month with Bowie my Dexcom G4 CGMS | Miss Idaho is Defeating Diabetes | Sugar and Your Health | Edmonton man denied insulin for 20 hours | Crack Free #ShowMeYourPump | Jenna and The Hypo FairyBlog: Anna's BlogFrom: FatCatAnnaPosted: Nov 22, 2010
Lately, in some of the diabetic forums I hang around in - alot of Americans have been very dissatisfied with the treatment they receive by TSA when going through security with their insulin pumps on.
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Tags: x-ray (1) radiation (1) flying (1) airport (1) full body scanner (1) pump (1) insulin (1) diabetes (1) TSA (1) Related posts:Type 1 vs. Type 2 | In a slump and scared | Surviving the Holocaust with Type 1 diabetes | Eating from the ground - Yuca Fries | My first month with Bowie my Dexcom G4 CGMS | Miss Idaho is Defeating Diabetes | Sugar and Your Health | Edmonton man denied insulin for 20 hours | Crack Free #ShowMeYourPump | Jenna and The Hypo FairyBlog: Anna's BlogFrom: FatCatAnnaPosted: Apr 27, 2009
I was going to blog about my fun experience with TSA yesterday at Orlando-Sanford Airport - where I was treated like a potential terrorist (I don't get treated this way anywhere else except in the United States - every other country lets me go thru' with my pump and insulin supplies with a simple nod). Anyway, since getting off the phone with my Dad - I've decided to change my direction of thoughts. This morning I had my usual weekly call with my Mum - telling her about my trip to Orlando (finally got to see ALL of Epcot - took 2 visits - now I've travelled the "world" ). On the flight home, I had noticed a few passengers that were returning from Mexico. Of course, having watched the news the past few days (my in-laws have the TV on constantly - bit irritating at times) - the outbreak of swine flu was the top story - and they were abit worried. So, here I am - on a flight - with a few people with the touristy somberos on - and it's making me wonder - hmmm - should I be worried? My Mum at the time didn't seem too concerned - and we'd agreed upon my purchasing some tickets for Too Many Cooks where a friend of mine, Harold Swaffield (a diabetic and the one that encouraged me to try out pumping) is acting in. So, fine and dandy, all I'm waiting on after the conversation is an email from my Dad to tell me what date they want to go - and hopefully it works out that I can drive to Ottawa which is a 2 hour drive from Montreal. Few hours later, email arrives from my Dad - short and blunt - "we have decided due to this flu epidemic we do not want you to buy tickets for the show". I called him up right away trying to understand their concern. Was it because I'd been in contact with people from Mexico or ??? I was confused. My Dad then started to go on about the epidemic of the 1918's (Spanish Flu) and how this swine flu could be the next pandemic (it would be the 4th according to what I've read). This swine flu has affected over 1,500 (149 deaths at the time I am writing this) in Mexico, the age group affected though is between the ages of 20-40 (that skips us I told him jokingly but now I wonder does it?). I was always under the impression that young and older people would be more effected - but not so in this case (plus there are two phases - so this could be Phase 1 - scary). He's pulling out the mask he uses for painting - saying the ones they are handing out in Mexico are useless - so he's all set (what about my Mum??). Just the fact that now other countries outside of United States/Mexico are advising against travel to this part of the world - probably Canada will follow next. Well, I'm not leaping on the panic button yet, I'll continue to do what I do to not spread germs (washing hands, coughing in sleeve) and hope for the best. That is the one thing now though with the Internet - news travels so fast - if it was around during the Spanish Flu - who knows what the minute-by-minute reports would have been like at websites such as Health Map. Stay safe and healthy everyone!!!
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Tags: airport (1) TSA (1) Canada (1) United States (1) Mexico (1) spanish flu (1) diabetes (1) swine flu (1) H1N1 (1) Related posts:Orthopedic Surgery in Mexico - Is it a good idea? | Total Knee Replacement Surgery in Mexico | Why Mexico Is One Of The Best Destinations For Hip Replacement Surgery ? | Surviving the Holocaust with Type 1 diabetes | Eating from the ground - Yuca Fries | My first month with Bowie my Dexcom G4 CGMS | Miss Idaho is Defeating Diabetes | Sugar and Your Health | Welcome Ziggy Stardust | When You're Hot, You're Hot |
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