Let me start with saying that yesterday was one of my worst days in recent history — years. Traveling with diabetes should not have to be this hard. If you travel frequently you may not understand or have compassion for my experience. I have not traveled much in my life due to the financial impact diabetes has had on me.
I wrote a post a few weeks ago announcing I would be at CampWILD. Well I am here. I arrived last night. Yippee! I have very little time to write this as I must get to sleep but wanted to share quickly. I apologize right now if it is hard to read/understand. I am pretty much just typing the rough draft you see below and clicking publish. Our day starts at 7am tomorrow and I must get to sleep as it is after 10pm. Here is a quick summary for you. I hope you can follow okay.
Traveling to get here should have taken no more than 3 hours. It took me almost 9 hours because everything that could go wrong did. With my pump and CGM on my waist, it set off an alarm at security, which led to a pat down which led to finding out the bag I was trying to check but the attendant said I could keep with me as a carry-on (I was happy as I did not have to pay for another bag), had liquids (personal care products) larger than the minimum so I had to be escorted out by security, check back in with Delta to check my bag (she had to hand write the tag because it was past the deadline), go back through security again, get another hand pat down and have every item in my bags gone through and tested including me having to touch my pump all over then the TSA people swabbing my hands, they dip-sticked my water, and finally confiscated my drink boxes of orange juice that I have on hand to treat lows (Can they do this?) I told them I had type 1 diabetes and needed them to treat my lows. They did not care and said they would have to open each drink box to test it. By the way, the worst part was as they gingerly went through my belongings at a snails pace, my flight was leaving in just 15 minutes by this point. By this time I was sobbing. I was being treated like I was a criminal. And getting suspicious looks from other passengers too. It looked like I was going to miss my flight. They told me to look for a cart to get a ride to my gate to help me get there quicker as my gate was far away. There was none to be found. A friendly TSA agent seeing my distress told me, “You are 5 moving walkways away. You need to run each one. It will be close. Good luck.”
Thankfully with those words that is just what I did. With a backpack purse on my back and a rolling backpack I sprinted down 5 moving walkways. I was crying and running as fast as I could. I could barely breathe and started getting dizzy and lightheaded. Running/sprinting is not something I do regularly. As I approached the first walkway of five I heard my name called over the intercom that if I was in the airport to please check in right away. The plane was leaving. By the last 1-2 moving walkways I was no longer able to run. I was worn out. I walked as fast as I could. I feared I would miss my flight. There was no way I was going to be able to run anymore without feeling like I was going to pass out. I could not talk as I approached the man at the ticket counter. The pilot was waiting and said they’d need to check my bag. I could not take it with on the plane. They closed the door within a minute of me getting on the plane and we were off. I started coughing and proceeded to cough after the sprinting I had to do. I couldn’t stop. People around me looked at me cautiously assuming I was ill and going to get them sick.
Once the plane arrived I went to baggage claims. One of my bags did not arrive. I went to baggage claim services and they were not able to track my bag or know what happened to it. This bag had my diabetes supplies and all of my toiletries in it. Remember this bag was supposed to go with me but I had to check it last minute. There was nothing I could do. The next flight was coming in about 2 hours. There was a chance the bag would be on that plane. I waited. I was given a food voucher and proceeded to walk around to 4-5 different restaurants all of which could not feed me a meal safely without gluten, corn or nuts. I went to a small market and bought a strawberry banana smoothie (one of the processed ones).
I then went back to baggage claims and waited a good half hour. When nearly all of the luggage had come through, there at the very end came my missing bag. I was overjoyed. Things could not end here though and keep going well. At least not yesterday. I went to SuperShuttle and was told I had to wait 50 minutes for the next shuttle heading to Boulder. It finally came and I got to see the mountains and they were beautiful. I drank my smoothie and couldn’t believe my ears when the elderly couple next to me told me there son is 55 years old and has lived with Type 1 diabetes since he was 19. They did not know at the time I have diabetes.
What should have been a one hour drive to Boulder took almost 2 hours. It was 10:30pm Boulder time before I arrived at my hotel room. I was exhausted and hungry. I ate the almonds and carrots and warm few pieces of cheddar cheese and strawberries that were left in my lunch sack with an ice pack that was long melted.
I proceeded to go to sleep but with my bad day woke up what felt like at least 30 times.
I must get to sleep now. Today went better. I’ll leave you with a few pictures of day one (yesterday).
Because of the long days and exhaustion I may feel, I may not be able to post each day. I’ll do what I can. Thanks for understanding. Sorry for any typos. This is going out without much editing.
Getting dropped off at the airport. Before all of the drama started!
My first view of the mountains (on this trip) while waiting for the shuttle.
Trying to remain positive despite difficult day.
SuperShuttle!
Beautiful view on shuttle heading from Denver airport to Boulder.
A sight for sore eyes. My hotel!
Blessings, light and love,
Cynthia
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2 comments
Cynthia, I hope you are feeling better after such a exhausting day ,and experience. We can’t always be prepared for such days,especially when traveling. I too, haven’t been flying much in recent years, but I’ve heard many other stories of people with diabetes having problems with security,and what’s allowed on the plane,etc. I was told to have a Dr.’s note when traveling just in case I run into a problem. Being alone can be hard too,I know. I read about others in the DOC that travel and fly a lot for attending meetings,etc. and perhaps they can offer some tips for these situations. I hope you enjoy your time at Camp WILD, and your trip back will be a lot smoother. Thanks so much for sharing your experience, and glad you made it through such a challenging day.
I’m so sorry to hear about this awful flying experience! They did a LOT of things wrong with regard to dealing with you. I agree that next time you travel you should get a Doctor’s note, it just gives you power! They should have NEVER made you check the bag with your supplies in it! That makes me mad. Next time you fight back and say “No, this bag has been authorized. I need these supplies with me at all times.” I’ve traveled a lot and it’s never been as difficult as it is now. They (the TSA) really needs to up their training to deal with every situation (since all kinds of people with different needs are passing through their lines)!
That being said, I hope you enjoy your camp! I’m sure Colorado is beautiful! Take care and may your travel home be safe and uneventful. 🙂