My Story: Tim
Thu, 12/15/2011 - 2:06PMTim, HeartMate II since May ?11
I received my LVAD on May 23, 2011. Prior to this, my work had required me to travel throughout the US and the world, usually for 2-3 weeks a month.
In November it was necessary that I travel by air from Baltimore to St Louis for a family emergency. I spoke with the doctors and nurses on my LVAD team and was told I was physically able for air flight, but that it would require some preparation that I did not previously have to worry about. A few weeks before the trip I received a ?for whom it may concern? letter from my LVAD nurse for my use to explain the situation to TSA and aircraft personnel ? the letter broadly states the function of the device, reassures the airline that it is in compliance with all FAA restrictions and requirements, and spells out that the device and necessary equipment must remain in my possession as carry-on luggage. My wife and I got to Baltimore Washington International Airport at 5:15 AM for a 7:30 AM flight --- just to be safe I made sure we got there earlier an hour earlier than I usually allow.
As we snaked through the security line I noticed the TSA ?bag screener? was sending almost every bag back for a re-look in the x-ray. I wasn?t optimistic about getting my charger, extra controller, six extra batteries, cords, vests etc through without some detailed explanation on my part. Amazingly, my bags went right through without a single problem. My wife?s, however, required a rescreening because of a shoe that looked ?suspicious?. Before I got too haughty with her, I decided to wait until I got through the body screening. I had my boarding pass in hand and my ?here?s the situation? letter in my pocket. As I approached the TSA screener I told him I was unable to go through the screening machine due to an implanted artificial heart and the necessary equipment I had to carry to keep it operating. He hesitated for a moment, then said ?OK, we?ll have to hand search you?, to which I replied ?OK by me?. He never asked for the letter. I was sent to another screener who very politely asked me to describe the situation and asked if there were any places he should exercise caution and/or not touch. I told him the only really sensitive area was where the drive line entered my body. He did a thorough, but not invasive, body search, asked me to unbutton my shirt where the drive line passed through it and and was very cautious around the drive line. He also did some swab tests on the batteries and controller, which entailed wiping them down with a cloth and putting that cloth in a reader. I was through security with my bags before my wife, since her bag required rescreening.
After a very few moments I decided it was still not wise to be haughty with her, especially since she is the woman who changes my dressing every several days?
Once at the gate I explained the situation to the gate agent and had absolutely no problem carrying my equipment on board the aircraft. The flight was uneventful.
The return flight from St Louis two days later was almost identical to the flight from Baltimore.
Bottom line ? with just a minimum of preparation and planning the flights went off without a hitch. Now if we could just do something about the lack of leg room...
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