I just heard for the second time on NPR that rules regarding what one may take onboard a plane have been relaxed. Of specific interest to us is that one may take on the plane any beverages purchased in the secure area.

It looks like the people agitating for this got some quick action. A Big Thanks to those from here who joined the action!

Unfortunately, they are still saying you can only bring small amounts of liquid meds, etc. 3 oz. or less according to the NY Times. I have yet to see Boost or Ensure sold at airport stores, so for those of us who are dysphagic that basically means we can live on overpriced juices we buy in the airport before boarding (assuming there is a place to buy those -smaller airports may not even have that inside the gate area). This will work fine for shorter flights but for longer ones it stinks. I can't swallow much but I get hungry when I haven't been without nutrition for a few hours just exactly like other people and I get faint and lightheaded (and easily nauseated) if that goes on for too long. Obviously, if I want to fly anywhere really far I'll have to break up the flight with stops on the way.

I'm still not happy and I still think if they won't let you take Boost on boatrd when you have a PEG tube (easy enough to verify if they want, just like having a baby that needs formula) it's a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act--no one else is being told they can't eat! I know some people have said they've gotten on board with a can of Boost or Ensure and a doctor's note(which is still not a full meal but a little better). I guess I'll believe this works when no one is given a hassle.

Nelie

I had a silly experience flying home out of Boston this past Tuesday, the day the "less restrictive" regulation went into effect. I voluntarily pulled out my prescription med in a tube (less than 3 oz) and the security folks went into high gear. They held me up waiting for a ridiculous form that they kept absolutely no record of. The TSA guy filled it out (name of the med) and handed it back to me for my records. Uh, dude. I know what it is. What I found interesting is that everyone who had anything that was not a med (in a 3 oz. or less container) blew through security with no forms, questions or anything. The irony is that once I was given the okay to go through security, the metal detector didn't pick up the big assed metal belt buckle that I was wearing.

Yeah it's good news alright -they'll be charging more for a bottle of water then the Oakland Coliseum (where the A's play) - 5 bucks a bottle. We might as well just resign ourselves that the terrorists have won the fricking war.

I guess it's cheap insurance from getting E coli from the aircafts so called potable water system.

I understand that they spend more in 5 days in Iraq than the sum total of all besic research grants for cancer since the Nixon administration.

Friends,
I think that I forgot to report my experience when I flew to CA and back from Houston last week. I had a letter from my oncologist at MDACC saying that I needed water and Boost. I had to throw out the water but just refilled the empty bottle after passing security and then had the flight attendant immediately fill the empty bottle again once I boarded.
What was more interesting was dealing with the Boost. I called for a TSA supervisor at Houston and he allowed me to take the two bottles of Boost through security, and, without too much hassle the TSA people at John Wayne airport also let me take on two bottles of Boost.

Fortunately these days I can eat pizza and sandwiches, etc. that can be bought in the airport or received from the airline, but back in the days when my only nutrition onboard came from the thermos of soup and the Boost that I brought on with me, I would have been way out of luck....and hungry.

Keep on pushing....

Danny G.