How to pack serum for air travel

[Hopeful2]

Hi there,

I'm trying to figure out how I can get my serum drops through security at the airport. I have to take connecting flights so I want to get everything packed in my carry on luggage. Any tips?

Thanks

[Guest]

OMG!!! I was just about to post the exact same question!!!

My travel day that was previously set at about 16 hours (including time to and from airport) has now been extended to 20 hours due to a flight change by the airline.

I ordered a couple of thermos containers from Amazon that are supposed to keep stuff cold for up to 9 hours... but that won't be nearly long enough... worst case, I can prob. change the ice throughout the travel day, but that's not an optimal solution...

Hoping someone will come along who's used dry ice... If anyone has used dry ice, where did you get it, and what kind of vented container did you use???

[Hopeful2]

Hi SAAG,

I knew I could count on you for a response. After I posted I read through some old posts. It sounds like you can ask the flight attendants to store your drops in their fridge . . . maybe they have a freezer? Is sounds like they are able to do this for medications.
Have a great trip!

[Guest]

Hmmm... asking the flight attendants to store them in the fridge is a great idea! I'll ask the airline about that option for sure - it sounds nice and easy! I found a place here that sells dry ice (thank-you Google!!) - the smallest amount they sell is something like 4kg for $25 - more than I need, but at least it's not crazy expensive! They said people normally keep it in a styrofoam cooler - if I go the dry ice route, I'd better hurry up and buy a cooler before they sell out for winter!

[PotatoCakes]

I carry two of the ice pack things that are cut to fit into the Thermos. One to give the airlines stewardesses and one for the Thermos I have with me. I switch off when it's getting close to melty (Thermos keeps things cold with ice pack 7-9 hours, so to be safe, I figure hour 5). For trips longer than a week, I plan to take 2 Thermos, one with the ice packs directly against the drops (which keeps it frozen) and one insulated with a shot glass or small piece of fabric so that it's cold but not frozen. Upon boarding, ask the attendant to put one in the freezer.

My mom has to carry a cooler with her for medication and has had no problem taking dry ice packs through. She gives her medication to the airline staff and they put it in the fridge for her. When my daughter was an infant, I used to carry formula in a soft cooler with dry ice and never had an issue either. In Palm Springs (PSP), they asked to test the formula (grrr) but every other airport I went through didn't even do that. At least once, I was escorted through security like a VIP.

[Guest]

Good to know! Being escorted through security like a VIP would be a nice perk lol I mean honestly, with all the crap we deal with on account of freakishly bad dry eyes, there has to be SOMETHING good to come of it

[Pinky]

You can try a battery operated insulin cooler. Keeps medications refrigerated for up to 13 hours. Also comes with an adapter that you can plug in.

http://www.dhgate.com/diabetic-batte...8266e4aad.html

[Guest]

Great idea Pinky! If anyone else checks that link and falls off their chair due to the high price, don't worry... there are lots of insulin coolers on Amazon.com for WAY less expensive price-points... I'm browsing them as we speak

This one looks promising: http://www.amazon.com/Insulpak-Insul...791951&sr=8-12

[Pinky]

@SAAG
Just make sure you get one that's also battery operated. I'll check the link you just posted.

Thanks

[PotatoCakes]

When I was in the shower this morning, I remembered something else really important about traveling with medication...

Just to be safe, ALWAYS print out and keep with you the TSA rules & regulations about carrying medications and dealing with those with disabilities:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...eds/index.shtm

Notification card (I've never printed / used this but it probably wouldn't hurt):
http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/disabi...tion_cards.pdf

info about batteries:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...batteries.shtm

I started doing printing TSA rules out when I had my baby and wanted to make sure, with all of the security hype, I wouldn't be forced to fly with a hungry infant because security decided her formula might be dangerous. I print out a fresh one (ideally with the print date) every single time I fly and carry it with me.

I realize this may sound paranoid and like overkill but the reality is, for all of the great TSA employees out there, there are also some out there that have issues and / or may not know the rules. There are YouTube videos and horror stories galore and hope isn't enough to keep your eyes healthy if you get an uninformed TSA agent that may require you to do something that would compromise your drops or decide you can't carry them on with you for whatever reason.

[Guest]

Thanks for the links! I'd already found the Canadian rules, but since I'll be flying into the U.S., I wanted to have those as well. Printing them is a great idea - I'll be sure to do that.

On the Canadian site, they specify that gels/ice packs are exempt from size rules if they are being used to keep medication cold. Trying to find something similar on the TSA site...

Oh... never mind... TSA says so here:

You may bring all prescription and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) including petroleum jelly, eye drops, and saline solution for medical purposes.

Additional items you may bring include:

Liquids including water, juice, or liquid nutrition or gels for passengers with a disability or medical condition;
Life-support and life-sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs;
Items used to augment the body for medical or cosmetic reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetic breasts, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids; and,
Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medically related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions.


(I added the bold and italics)

source: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...rial_1059.shtm

[Hopeful2]

Thanks for doing all this research. I had called TSA and they recommended I use an insulin cooler for the serum drops.

Two more sleeps till Dallas, three more and I'll see what Dr. Gemoules has to say.

I have to admit that I am really scared . . . what if he can't help me. . . what if the sclerals just don't suit me. I had a very sore dry eye day today, probably because I am stressing. Maybe because I stopped the doxy? I developped a nasty yeast infection so I stopped the doxy. But I think it seemed to help with the dry eye discomfort, if that makes sense?

Wish me luck!

Donia

[PotatoCakes]

The battery-operated refrigerators fascinated me so I did some research on the one above by Dison / DHGate ... one thing to consider, insulin apparently isn't very large. The refrigeration space in it is only 170*46*18mm. My serum bottle might (borderline) fit into that but I know it's not deep enough for my compounded Restasis from Leiter's. If you want to see how deep 18mm is, look here http://www.vendian.org/mncharity/dir...L/rules_mm.pdf

[canndym]

Thank you for all the information! I have been wondering this same question as I am sure many others were as well.

[Guest]

I received my Insulpak yesterday - put a roughly 24oz gel freezer pack in it and some ice cubes to see if the ice would still be frozen by morning. After 12 hours, the ice cubes had almost totally melted, but was still pretty cold. That being said, the gel freezer pack was still half frozen. Am going to retry this with 1 ice pack on either side of the ice cubes to see if they will stay solid longer... I'll post an update. I figure the ice cubes are good for pretend serum drops

The Insulpak that I bought: http://www.amazon.com/Insulpak-Insul...791951&sr=8-12

So, I just put 2 fresh ice packs in it with 3 more ice cubes... we'll see how it performs now...