[gazza99]

hi everyone
heading on holidays for the first time as a amputee, just loking for tips as how or what should a amputee do on plane journey and cooping with the heat,

cheers

G

[Grum]

Coping with the heat is just a case of getting used to it, the more you do it the quicker it happens. Given how hot it's been in Ireland recently I doubt you'll have too many problems. As fer the flight, I carry a 4mm Allen key with me on all flights these days, it allows me remove the knee without removing my socket giving me more leg room, saving me from leaving my prosthetic in the aisle and generally making the whole experience that little easier.

Of course this only helps if you're an above knee amp and you are competent and confident enough to do this. I asked my prosthetis to show me the correct way to do it, he wasn't too keen at first but once I explained that I was going to do it he realised that it was better to show me how to do it propperly that have to fix it hwne I did something wrong.

Make sure as you approach security, you empty all of you pockets into your hand luggage leaving nothing but your passport and boarding card. You're going to get a pat down and everytine they find something in your pocket you'll have to get it out to show them what it is, the less you have the quicker you'll get through.

Another handy tip is to ask for an assisted transfer, this doesn't mean a wheelchair (unless you want one). What it means is that you get someone to escort you through security checks at the staff/ air crew points. This Saves you and your travel companions spending ages in a long queue. Never remove your shoes unless someone tells you you have to and before you do explain that you're an amputee and it is difficult for you to do so (I never need to explain as I always wear shorts and I've never been asked to remove my shoes, once in a blue moon they swab my shoes for explosives but this test is done while they pat me down so doesn't add any time).

Oh yeah, wear shorts if you're comfortable doing so, it means that when the metal detectors go off you won't be asked to go through several more times removing more and more clothing, you just walk through, wait for the beep and assume the position ready for the pat down. Wearing shorts also means that you wont have to explain why you need assistance / why you're taking longer to do something or why you need an aisle seat.

[sueflayy]

gazza99, on 12 July 2010 - 03:28 PM, said:

hi everyone
heading on holidays for the first time as a amputee, just loking for tips as how or what should a amputee do on plane journey and cooping with the heat,

cheers

G

how exciting! i recall when i FINALLY had a holiday, after my amputation. ive had many since! such freedom. i suggest NOT taking off your leg on the flight. leg can swell from altitude and getting prosthetist back on could be issue, also, wear a "shrinker" as one of your socks. will keep leg from swelling

if you are swimming or in heat, just have extra socks since they might get wet and take SO long to dry

other than this, you should have a great time,

[cherylm]

I agree with all that's been said so far...I'll just add that, in addition to wearing shorts (or loose-legged, easy-to-expose-the-prosthesis slacks in really cold weather), I don't wait until I've set off the metal detector: I just tell the first screener that I see that I have a prosthetic leg that will set off the metal detector, so let's just proceed to the pat-down, please. Everyone is generally agreeable to that, and it saves a bit of time and some irritated looks from fellow-passengers.

Since I'm BK, I just leave the leg on in the plane...but I like the idea of an AK being able to remove the leg from the knee down, leaving the socket in place to avoid swelling. That's a really clever plan, if you know how to do it!

Good luck with your trip...I hope you have a fine time!

[cwrm4]

Regarding coping with the heat, try to find an "excessive perspiration roll-on antiperspirant" product to apply to your skin to reduce the inevitable sweating under the liner. In the USA, my favorite product is Certain-Dri (http://www.certaindri.com). Apply it at night before you go to bed, and after a couple days you'll be amazed at the reduction in sweat collection in the liner.

[old git tim]

cwrm4, on 14 July 2010 - 03:44 PM, said:

Regarding coping with the heat, try to find an "excessive perspiration roll-on antiperspirant" product to apply to your skin to reduce the inevitable sweating under the liner. In the USA, my favorite product is Certain-Dri (http://www.certaindri.com). Apply it at night before you go to bed, and after a couple days you'll be amazed at the reduction in sweat collection in the liner.

Just from a professional point of view I have heard from a few patients whom have taken the limbs of on flights only to find that due to swelling it won't go back on afterwards.

[Sue1]

Having just got back (and still jet lagged) from a trip to Canada I would like to add a few comments.

I am not comfortable wearing shorts but always tell them before I go through the metal detector that I will set it off and why. Most airports then do a pat down and sometimes swab for explosives - at Gatwick this time I was taken off for a body scan. The security at Toronto is very laid back, they did pat me down but very half heartedly and not very effectively - I assume that they did not think I was a terrorist and were only going through the motions because they had to!

I did remove my leg for a night flight once and it was a big mistake, not because of swelling which I had anticipated (I planned to put the leg back on with less socks to allow for this) but due to pain. The circulation in that leg is not good and without the constriction of the leg - I didnt bandage it - it was a painful flight which continued even when I did put it back on.

Heat is a problem and I find that I can do less than I usually can and I change the socks more often than usual (a couple of times a day sometimes) - typically Toronto was having a heatwave whilst we were there.

I now also always ask - in advance through the special needs department - for a bulkhead seat and so far have always got one, this gives me a little more room for my leg as due to the problems with the residual leg normal economy seats are very uncomfortable.The first time we flew I didn't know about this and sat in a normal seat for ten hours.

[Karen]

Sueflayy,

LOVE your suggestion to use a shrinker as one of your socks! My limb always swells when flying.
I am going to try that on my next flight (in 2 weeks) and if all goes well will be sharing it with others. Thanks so much!