My Tips for Traveling

Last month my husband and I went to Paris as a last hoorah before we would see how the rest of my cardiac year played out. The day we were flying out I was feeling particularly icky with nausea and being exhausted, and I was glad to have a few travel “tricks” up my sleeve. So I decided to share a few of my them I’ve found to be successful to hopefully ease your end-of-the-summer travels!

1. Pack all of your medications in your carry-on bag just in case your checked luggage is lost. Make sure you have extra in case of delays.
2. If you need assistance getting to your gate, let your airline know at the ticket counter when you check in.
3. If you are traveling with special equipment – oxygen, nebulizers, liquid medications – call the TSA Cares line at 855-787-2227 at least three days before you travel. They can answer your questions about screening policies and procedures to help things go smoothly.
4. If you need water to take your meds, or staying hydrated is very important due to your cardiac anatomy, you can declare your water from home as “medically necessary liquid.” You don’t need a doctor’s note, just a verbal explanation. It will be screened by TSA.
5. Declare your other medical liquids such as liquid medications or IV solution to TSA officers. Let them know if things can be X-rayed before they begin screening.
6. If you have an implanted medical device – like a pacemaker – you should bring your implanted device ID card and inform your TSA agent before they start their screening.

Do you have any other travel tips that make traveling with CHD a little easier?