I'm back

[Monica]

Hi all

As the title says, I'm back. We had a great time in Switzerland. The first 2 days we spent in Lucerne at the Carnival and the next 2 days we spent up the mountains sledging. On the second day of sledging I forgot to tell her to put a temp basal on, but while sledging down the mountain, I kept asking her if she wanted a biscuit or some glucose. She always declined, but just as we got to the bottom, she asked for some glucose. We didn't bother testing before, but we tested when we got to the restaurant 15 minutes later, she was around 5. So after lunch Carol herself decided it might be a good idea to put a temp basal on, as we were going to sledge down again 2 more times. She did end up being around 12 just before dinner, but I don't think she corrected it.
I ended up with a mega bruise on my left leg, because Carol sledged into me while I was taking a photo of her coming down the mountain!!!!

Manchester Airport was a nightmare though. I told security that Carol had the pump. OK, no problem. Then they wanted us to go through the full body scanner!!! I went in it, but told the woman that Carol couldn't go through that with her pump on. She insisted that Carol had to. I got in such a fluster, I completely forgot that Carol could take her pump off to go through it. This woman was very stubborn and horrible with her attitude. If Carol doesn't go through it , she won't be able to fly!!! Eventually, another security person came and I calmly apologised and said the pump must NOT go through there. So Carol took it off and gave it to the nice man, who held it very delicately in his open hand, walked round the scanner while Carol went through it. In the meantime at least 5 other travellers walked past this full body scanner :-O I was livid!!!!
Then at boarding, the usual, handbag into suitcase please. Not handbag, it's a medical bag. OK, have got proof??? Luckily I had the consultants letter with me.

Swiss security couldn't have been more different if they tried. They did pat down Carol after asking my permission and were very friendly. They also wanted to open my suitcase, as they wanted to check if I had cheese in it (which I did have). I'm assuming it looks like explosive packs or something on the x-ray.
I bought OH some Kirsch (schnapps) at the airport, so I asked the lady if I could have a "dutyfree" bag, so that I could put my medical bag in that.

All in all, we had a good few days away, with Carol's bloods being in range most of the time.

 

[trophywench]

Great Monica - glad it went well ! - and sounds like fun to me.

 

[Steff]

Glad you had a lovely break away Monica and everyone else,Sorry you had to ecounter the Gerstarpo type people at the airport but guess they just have to be see to doing there job right.

 

[Copepod]

So, cheese from Switzerland - chocolate too? Not that having a Swiss great uncle has given me an unnatural interest in Swiss chocolate, of course 🙂

Sounds like one inadequately trained security person at Manchester - hope they learned from experience and won't do that to the next person they encounter with an insulin pump - being pretty rare, a security person could work weeks or months before encountering one.

 

[Monica]

So, cheese from Switzerland - chocolate too? Not that having a Swiss great uncle has given me an unnatural interest in Swiss chocolate, of course 🙂

Sounds like one inadequately trained security person at Manchester - hope they learned from experience and won't do that to the next person they encounter with an insulin pump - being pretty rare, a security person could work weeks or months before encountering one.

LOL, most certainly chocolate too. I bought a 5-pack of Ovomaltine chocolate, a 3-pack of "Tourist" (almond, hazelnut & raisin), 3 truffle bars, a bar with orange and strawberry cream in the middle (Carol's choice) and a bar of banana chocolate (Fiona's choice). I also bought a double pack of Ovomaltine sticks and a pack of chocolate covered Ovomaltine sticks. If you google "Ovomaltine" and then go to images, you can see it 😉 We also bought some chocolate popcorn, but they didn't make it home, as there wasn't any room in our suitcases. I would have bought some Ovomaltine spread, but it's classed as a liquid- so not allowed.

But the security lady was only interested to know about the cheese.

 

[Phil65]

Monica,

I have gone though the airport scanner whilst wearing my pump, no problem at all (spirit combo). Also some of the airport staff are not aware of an 'extra free bag' for diabetics, so always handy to print the T and Cs and have with your Drs letter. Glad that Carol's numbers were okay 🙂 did you put a TBR on for the flight?

 

[Monica]

Monica,

I have gone though the airport scanner whilst wearing my pump, no problem at all (spirit combo). Also some of the airport staff are not aware of an 'extra free bag' for diabetics, so always handy to print the T and Cs and have with your Drs letter. Glad that Carol's numbers were okay 🙂 did you put a TBR on for the flight?

You've gone through the x-ray scanner?? 😱 I'm not talking about the "normal" scanner. I know she can go through that no problem 🙂

I always take the letter, but this is the first time ever that I had to use it in 4 years. I remember I had to use it at Birmingham Airport security once (he was quite stroppy too).

No, no TBR for any of the travelling ( 15 minutes walk to station, 3 hours on train, 3 hours at airport, 2 hours flight, 1 hour car) She was hypo after all the hassle with security, but otherwise she was ok. Same travelling home (reverse above, except only 45 minutes at airport)