Heathrow and the Pump interrogations and scaners and xray machines!!!!!

michelejane

Active Member
Messages
25
Type of diabetes
Type 1
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Pump
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reality/celebrity tv, sport
Here are the official instructions from Medtronic on how to proceed through airport TSA security:
https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/loop-blog/get-tsa-5-diabetes-devices/
I see they actually recommend to either disconnect the pump and place it on the tray for security checked while you walk through as 'normal' or that you declare in advance you want to keep it on and demand a manual pat down. And that you show your medical declaration if asked about it.

OK, 1st off: I stopped using a pump after trying first time back in the 80-ties when using one of the first models of the MiniMed before they got bought by Medtronic. And the world has certainly moved on since then, but so has the development of the glargine insulins etc. And as I experienced several trouble non-stop back then with airport security tightening up, trouble with blocked tubes, batteries going flat, etc etc And I engage in sports like surfing etc, where it also was a problem certainly back then. And I never went back... Sorry for that, as I know they work great for many!

'Fun thing' is though I don't even have any medical declaration about my diabetes or need for insulin. Never had one actually? And I truly travel every single week 2-6 8 flights is the norm. I load up my hand luggage. 2-3 Lantus, 4-6 Novorapid pens as the absolute basics. More in my toilet bag or tie-area in my roll-on bag if going on a roundtrip for more than 1 week. I never take out the pens from my hand luggage. They always go through xrays/security scans without a hitch. Same with my Abbott Libre on my arm, goes through all kind of scans, xray, mafnetic body scans etc etc. Never a single beep, never ever. Only time the Libre sensor cause a beeping is when you get one of those manual body paddings down, where they also use a body swiper-scan gun tool.

Only time ever after literally thousands of flights, was once in CPH Copenhagen Airport, where I went through in transit to a far east flight destination. They asked me to open my hand luggage there. I had 2x 5-pen boxes of Lantus pens and 3x 5-pen boxes of NovoRapid pens plus probably 6-8 pens laying loose in my small front pocket. So all that liquid together apparently lit up a bit on their otherwise dull security screen... Was not asked much after just declaring it was my personal insulin as being diabetic Type1. And off I went for a 6 weeks trip to the Far East and Australia/Oceania!

Only place I don't travel often is South America.
Otherwise rest have never caused any issue what so ever.
Thank you so much! Michele

I use an Insight pump (Roche), I don't use pens but I guess I better order some to take as back up. More to do this week!
 
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I use an Insight pump (Roche), I don't use pens but I guess I better order some to take as back up. More to do this week!
Animas provide loaner pumps when travelling.
Could be worth contacting Roche to find out if they offer the same service.
 

leahkian

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302
This is a lack of information by the airport and the government, my father is in a wheelchair so i have to take him through the security and the amount of times they have got him to stand up and talk his shoes off gets me angry. Then i tell them about my insulin pump and show them everything. There are consultants letters, doctors letters and a letter off medtronic telling them why i have a spare pump. They asked me to go into a side room i refused, i said ring the consultant up as we are in Newcastle they refused. Then the person in charge came to me but while i was waiting i phoned my consultant up and as he was just about to take me away i put my phone on speaker and my consultant went crazy with them. He told them they had seen the letter and could see the pump was attached to my body. they tried to say they did not know what was in the bottles which got a reply of can you not read. That was it on my way and when we got back to the airport i was stopped oh no not again but to my shock one of the airports managers said they were very sorry about what happened and gave me a £25 voucher, i told them i did not want the voucher just for them to get more information to staff about diabetes. As we were leaving the airport one of my friends heard a mother telling the check in staff that her son had diabetes so i gave him the voucher. When i saw my consultant next he said the airport had been in touch and all the staff had got a pack each on diabetes and pumps.
 

Celsus

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483
Type of diabetes
Type 1
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Insulin
This is a lack of information by the airport and the government, my father is in a wheelchair so i have to take him through the security and the amount of times they have got him to stand up and talk his shoes off gets me angry. Then i tell them about my insulin pump and show them everything. There are consultants letters, doctors letters and a letter off medtronic telling them why i have a spare pump. They asked me to go into a side room i refused, i said ring the consultant up as we are in Newcastle they refused. Then the person in charge came to me but while i was waiting i phoned my consultant up and as he was just about to take me away i put my phone on speaker and my consultant went crazy with them. He told them they had seen the letter and could see the pump was attached to my body. they tried to say they did not know what was in the bottles which got a reply of can you not read. That was it on my way and when we got back to the airport i was stopped oh no not again but to my shock one of the airports managers said they were very sorry about what happened and gave me a £25 voucher, i told them i did not want the voucher just for them to get more information to staff about diabetes. As we were leaving the airport one of my friends heard a mother telling the check in staff that her son had diabetes so i gave him the voucher. When i saw my consultant next he said the airport had been in touch and all the staff had got a pack each on diabetes and pumps.
And what airport is this?
 
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donnieboy

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Prefer not to say
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Other
So to confirm, the body scanner that you walk through [scanning for metal] is also not recommended.....?

I went through that scanner with pump attached and that pump became faulty.....is it connected?
I am new to pumping but have been advised by Medtronic that metal scanners are OK but the full body scans will damage the pump and may affect insulin. Likewise Xrays. In the US at least, there's no problems I've found asking to go through metal detectors. Once I had the full pat down but was OK.
 

novorapidboi26

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2,828
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I am new to pumping but have been advised by Medtronic that metal scanners are OK but the full body scans will damage the pump and may affect insulin. Likewise Xrays. In the US at least, there's no problems I've found asking to go through metal detectors. Once I had the full pat down but was OK.

so is the full body scanners the ones you walk through and the metal scanner is a hand held device passed over the body....
 

Chas C

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1,044
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so is the full body scanners the ones you walk through and the metal scanner is a hand held device passed over the body....

There are two walk through detectors - the metal archway detector and the full body scanner that you walk into. The metal detector archway is not the issue its the walk into one.
 
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ElyDave

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I travel through LHR about 3 weeks out of 4 for work.

My advice - get over it, and carry a letter. You're special and unusual

I've never been forced through a body scanner, I've always had a pleasant conversation with the security supervisor, the most I've had to wait is about 5 minutes.

Try getting through the hoops to go offshore, then you'll realise how easy LHR is.

My worst airport so far - Baku, my best airport so far either Aberdeen or Frankfurt
 

michelejane

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reality/celebrity tv, sport
Just got back from a trip to Ottawa from Heathrow, followed by an internal flight from Ottawa to Vancouver and ulimately the flight from Vancouver back to Heathrow. I didn't know what a body scanner looked like - I assumed it was something you had to step into and would have a sign saying what it is, so i was horrified after I walked through security - having first explained I was wearing my insulin pump which must avoid scanning or xrays. When I collected my belongings and went to have coffee, my pump took ages to connect with the handset and wouldn't recognise it. In the end I had to keep turning it on and off, and eventually I was able to do a test, but it was so slow and took a few days to work properly again, so I would NOT go through tthat again.
Ottawa security had no body scanner, but staff refused to even look at my doctor's letters (I find there's little point taking them any more, it seems to annoy staff). I explained I was also carrying a syringe for emergencies but one woman waved her arms in my face and raised her voice at me, until another woman told her it was ok, after my 'spare kit' pouch was rootled about with, scanned, and so on.
Vancouver however, was a breeze! they were friendly, seemed to recognise my pump and I was just waved through without even having to remove my belt or shoes.
It's such a shame it's so rare to have a stress free experience when travelling with a pump.
 

sprokowski

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I work at LHR and I travel quite frequently. I don't have a pump but travel with insulin pens, insulin, needles etc. I can honestly say I've never has a problem with the security (both when on duty when you have to go through either a staff security or passenger security or when travelling as a normal passenger). You do get some people who just don't seem to like their jobs but generally they act the same with everyone they encounter. I travel with my friend who has a pacemaker and cant go through the scanners and he just mentions it as no big deal before walking through a side door opened by them and has a pat down and swab (he always has his Drs note in his hand and they usually glance at it but never properly). The same with pregnant colleagues. The security staff encounter people with illness daily and most see it as part of their job to meet us and deal with our additional equipment and baggage. Some people are just plain ignorant though, like those mentioned above but I do think the bigger the fuss and the louder you shout does not help in airport situations. I did however, travel out of terminal 3 for work a couple of weeks ago and was travelling with a cool pouch thing (which I haven't used since flying with my parents when I was younger) I placed it in a plastic bag with the insulin inside and informed the lady (who looked pretty peeved off to begin with) she snapped at me and said 'why is it in a bag then if its not liquid' (? it contained the gelly stuff and insulin?) Before snapping back and correcting her I breathed, and let it go and walked away. The staff at security deal with a lot (I don't work at security and I never have, but I have dealt with airport passengers and I think that does help with my understanding) they are usually stressed out and only have basic understanding of a lot of things medical wise (lucky for them). Maybe sometimes we need to understand that, leave some extra time to clear security and be a little more forgiving when people don't know what we have to deal with to keep us alive. Also, something to think about is that on some flights (which i'm not going to mention destination and airlines) I would say about 30% of the passengers are diabetic, and the security staff will be used to people using the term as an excuse (and I do say excuse because working on check in I have heard it all and have turned around to several passenger and informed them that I am too a diabetic and that does not mean I should get a wheelchair just because of that, an upgrade, priority boarding, excess luggage, a special seat etc)

:)
 
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SallyEzra

Active Member
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36
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Thank you do much to everyone that has contributed to this post.....I have been wearing an insulin pump for over a year & a half & have just been using airport security as normal. I had no idea!. Very fortunately the body scanner machines do not appear to have affected my pump, but clearly they have alarmed & resulted in a full search & swabs etc. Plus, being pregnant, I hadn't even contemplated any impact of body scanners on that. I think the reason that so much of this has passed me by is because when not in work, most of my travel has been taken with my 3 yr old son, so in airport security most of my focus is taken up keeping a handle on whatever he is up to!. Many thanks again, really helpful.
 

yakudueye1

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Messages
44
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Sandwich and cold foods
I am travelling September to go to Tanzania through Heathrow and intend to carry a hidden camera on my pen so when I can back to show it and see how uncivilized some get when you show stance
 

dbr10

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,237
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
As a pump user I travel a lot, yes my hand luggage is a pure medical bag most of the time and contains my spare old pump (Medtronic) and all insulin and other drugs I take. I always have a letter from my Doctor and Hospital and one from Medtronic. On a recent trip which was to be one month going to Amsterdam then on to Cape Town for 3 weeks I was fully prepared or so I thought. I was flying from Cyprus via Athens to Schipol. At Cyprus I went through security showed my letter had usual pat down and swabs etc. of medical equipment, all good. At athens I had to go through same procedure some confusion with the pump but when I got a supervisor again all okay. Arrived Schipol and stayed a week in Amsterdam, lovely weeks break there and great people the Dutch for sure. Next step fly Schipol to Heathrow, Schipol equipped with full body scanners declared pump user all the usual things and could I avoid scanner. No problems all checked polite and very understanding. I must state I have no problems with security checks as they are essential in the times we live in and I always declare what medical equipment I have before going through security and give copy of letters stating not to put equipment through scanners or x ray equipment, fine on metal detector gate though. I arrive in Heathrow, oh boy what a reception at security!!! I declare I am wearing a pump and it is advised I do not go through the Body scanner or put the pump through x ray machine. I am met with a sharp response that I have to go through the body scanner no matter what!!! I politely point out that it is okay to do a pat down search etc. I am told again I must go through the scanner and my spare pump must go through the x ray machine. At this point I refuse and ask for a body search. After some fifteen minutes I am taken away to a room and given a body search with this guy telling me that UK do things different as opposed to other countries, really thinks me? but put up with a rather intimate body search at least the worst I have had. Eventually I was swabbed and all was okay for me to proceed to my transfer flight. Boy was I angry at my treatment by now. On my return trip all airports were straightforward and Heathrow were much more professional but still had to explain no xray please because etc. I have travelled extensively to America, Middle East, Far east, and all over Europe with no problems declaring my pump etc. However I always have major problems at Heathrow Airport, they are rude and to be quite honest extremely blunt and cause extreme embarrassment to passengers like me even when we do everything we should! I know this is a bit of a rant but they are extremely poor, and remember My problems went on for fifteen minutes in full view of other passengers and it was not the first time this has happened, plus they escort me to the room for a search!!!. My second time at Heathrow was an improvement and there were announcements that UK checks may differ from other countries so maybe by standing my ground someone may have picked up on it! Over to other pumpers for comment. Heathrow Security staff please note there are ways to do things correctly, politely, and with some courtesy and the job you have to do which is important will get done as well!
That is absolutely awful and so very distressing for you.
 

dbr10

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Messages
2,237
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
My experience at Heathrow security has been varied.
Usually, they have been great: polite, understand the pump, take it off me to swab as I go through the body scanner.

However, last year, I had a similar experience to you where they got very upset when I told them my pump would not go through the scanner. Eventually, they took me to a room for a pat down (thankfully, not too intimate) without any assistance carrying my bags and the liquids, laptop, etc. plus coat, belt, boots (which they would not let me repack or put on) but on the way told me very loudly this was my fault and I chose to have diabetes. At the end of the pat down, they told me to get out of the room ... still without giving me a chance to pack my bags and dress.

I wrote a polite but strongly worded email to the security team their who apologised and agreed to train their staff better.
I have since travelled and found them fine (although one, obviously new recruit had no idea what an insulin pump is, does, ...)

Sounds like they have one or two members of staff who are in the wrong job.
Just inexcusable ignorance.
 

briped

Well-Known Member
Messages
947
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Only time ever after literally thousands of flights, was once in CPH Copenhagen Airport, where I went through in transit to a far east flight destination. They asked me to open my hand luggage there. I had 2x 5-pen boxes of Lantus pens and 3x 5-pen boxes of NovoRapid pens plus probably 6-8 pens laying loose in my small front pocket. So all that liquid together apparently lit up a bit on their otherwise dull security screen... Was not asked much after just declaring it was my personal insulin as being diabetic Type1. And off I went for a 6 weeks trip to the Far East and Australia/Oceania!
I travel from Cph once a month, and have done for at least 10 years. Always just with carry on luggage. It contains one or two victoza pens, and I've never been stopped because of them. Other weird stuff, yes, toothbrush charger, for example. I was advised not to pack it in the corner of my small suitcase, as it might resemble a bomb :rolleyes: Yes, fine, ok. I haven't heeded the advice, and was never stopped because of that again.
I honestly believe that many of them are enjoying their 8 hours of daily power. Once a foreign female passenger was given a regular telling off for putting perfume on while going through security. The security officer treated her like a naughty schoolgirl and claimed there could be people suffering from perfume allergies. True enough, but right after security everybody has to go through the biggest perfume outlet in Denmark!! To make a quiet point I asked her if there was any way of avoiding that. I hope the other woman heard.
I've had unpleasant experiences at Heathrow too, but nothing diabetes related. I do dread security anywhere in the world, though. I hope they were treating you courteously at Cph?
 

dbr10

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Messages
2,237
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I travel from Cph once a month, and have done for at least 10 years. Always just with carry on luggage. It contains one or two victoza pens, and I've never been stopped because of them. Other weird stuff, yes, toothbrush charger, for example. I was advised not to pack it in the corner of my small suitcase, as it might resemble a bomb :rolleyes: Yes, fine, ok. I haven't heeded the advice, and was never stopped because of that again.
I honestly believe that many of them are enjoying their 8 hours of daily power. Once a foreign female passenger was given a regular telling off for putting perfume on while going through security. The security officer treated her like a naughty schoolgirl and claimed there could be people suffering from perfume allergies. True enough, but right after security everybody has to go through the biggest perfume outlet in Denmark!! To make a quiet point I asked her if there was any way of avoiding that. I hope the other woman heard.
I've had unpleasant experiences at Heathrow too, but nothing diabetes related. I do dread security anywhere in the world, though. I hope they were treating you courteously at Cph?
It amazes me that you can travel all over Europe with no problem at all, until you try to get back into your own country. I came back from Amsterdam a few days ago, so we had a sniffer dog slobbering all over our bags, and the handler seemed unable to control him. Then we were merged with another flight to go through passport control which only had four people on duty; and, of course, no machine passport readers. I've never encountered this before. It just seems like a shambles. And, needless to say, they found nothing.
 
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briped

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Messages
947
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
It amazes me that you can travel all over Europe with no problem at all, until you try to get back into your own country.
I should mention that most of them are domestic flights, but that won't make a difference to security, of course.

I came back from Amsterdam a few days ago, so we had a sniffer dog slobbering all over our bags, and the handler seemed unable to control him. Then we were merged with another flight to go through passport control which only had four people on duty; and, of course, no machine passport readers. I've never encountered this before. It just seems like a shambles. And, needless to say, they found nothing.

It's such a hazzle, isn't it? I've had re-chargable batteries for my camera confiscated at Mumbai. Luckily I was able to talk them into handing them over to my flight crew as they were quite pricey, so I got them back just before landing. At Frankfurt a security officer wanted to confiscate either a pair of tweezers and a nail file. My choice, because I couldn't have both. His imagination must've been a lot wilder than mine, because there seemed to be no end to the havoc such two objects could wreck together. I let him have the nail file. I was left alone, and he was the hero who'd prevented some spectacular attack.
 
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tim2000s

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One of the biggest issues in relation to insulin pumps and other diabetes technologies in Europe (and the UK in general) is the lack of prevalence of them. When you consider that in the UK, around 10% of T1s have an insulin pump, whereas in the US, it's around 40% of T1s. As a result it's much more likely they have been encountered at security in countries where they are more common. That has quite a large part to play in familiarity.

And if you think a pump is fun, try a small blue box of electronics that doesn't have any branding and you tell them is your artificial pancreas!