Mechanical Valves & Airplanes

[buschlight]

Hey, quick question from a lurker. I've been visiting this site for a little over a year; I almost never post, but I do keep up with the posts whenever I can. I received a mechanical aortic valve in December 2004, and during those hectic & scary few weeks before surgery, this site was a god-send.

Anyway, my question is this: Has anyone with a mechanical had any problems getting past security post 9/11? I've heard horror stories, but never from anyone first hand. I do have my little mechanical implant card - is that all I need? Or do I need to do, or bring, something else to the airport with me? The reason I ask is because I'm going to Vegas next month. I didn't buy the tickets, but the person who did buy them said that the travel agent said I shouldn't have any problem, but if the implant card couldn't hurt to have with me, just in case I did have problems. For some reason, I'm thinking it's not going to be quite as easy as that, but I really don't know what to expect.

I'm just a poor farm girl from Iowa - - please take pity on my innocence & help me out here!

Thanks in advance!

Barb

 

[tommy]

Barb, glad you spoke up. That's what we're hear for. I've never had any trouble at airport security. I carry the card, but have never had to show it to anyone. My x-ray looks pretty weird, but no trouble with metal detectors.

 

[Karlynn]

No trouble here, either.

 

[geebee]

I have never had problems in an airport but recently I was at the federal building in downtown Cincinnati (the one with the local FBI office). I kept setting off the metal detector and I had no metal "on" me (after they made me take my jewelry off, etc.). I finally realized that maybe it was the metal inside so I pulled out my ID card, they did one more scan with the wand and let me go on after the wand picked up metal in the chest area.

I guess it just depends on how sensitive they have it set. Most people going through were setting it off initially but it was always forgotten keys or the like. Maybe they just wanted to double check everyone going into a federal building.

 

[Ross]

They've never got my heart valve, but boy does my hip make them nervous!

 

[Mary]

They've never got my heart valve, but boy does my hip make them nervous!

Your hip makes me nervous too.

 

[Rich]

Barb,
The valve itself shouldn't set off the detector.
Most like a St. Jude are made of carbon, not metal.
Chest wires and any remaining staples could however be detected.
Rich

 

[ChuckVSP]

Magnetic personality!

Magnetic personality!

I, too have had the misfortune to activate security devices. I keep my implant card handy now, but didn't have to show it the last time I activated the alarm. I walked back through slowly, and made it through. I don't understand that, but it worked. That was at one of the Federal Buildings in Washington, DC last year. The same deal also worked at Charlotte, NC airport, after I nearly had to strip my clothes off (that would have been a show ) Those rascals can be sensitive.

Enjoy your trip, and be safe.

 

[Blanche]

Hello all:
In the last 15 years Al has never set off an alarm with his mitral valve, nor does he have or know about an ID card or an inplant card. Sure would appreciate knowing more about this card.
Many,many thanks
Blanche

 

[sue943]

Airport security alarms

Airport security alarms

Yes, I have set one off. It doesn't happen every time but I warn them just before I walk through the detector arch that I might set it off as I have a couple of mechanical heart valves (not to mention the wire around my ribs). I normally flip over my MedicAlert bracelet and show them that although I also carry my ATS cards.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

It was more likely your Medic Alert bracelet. The valves are not metal -

 

[sue943]

Airport security

Airport security

What about the wire around the ribcage, could that not have set it off?

 

[geebee]

There is some metal in the St. Jude valve. This came from their website:

Will my artificial heart valve or ring set off an airport metal detector?

The amount of metal used in mechanical heart valves and heart valve rings is very small. It is usually not enough to set off the metal detectors; however, if it does, simply show security personnel your patient identification card. Passing through a metal detector will not hurt your heart valve.


Now, it is possible the sternal wires set off the detector (or a combinations of both). I still set off the alarm after my ID bracelet was off.

 

[cocoalab]

We never had any problems the one time we flew out of Chicago. Andrew had a St Judes. Now with his ICD he is not suppose to be wanded and most likely will set it off. He is a metalzed kid but now has a bio valve.

 

[vboesen]

Alexia just got done flying

Alexia just got done flying

No alarms or beeps with her St. Jude!

Valerie

 

[Johnny Stephens]

What about the wire around the ribcage, could that not have set it off?

That's not a lot of metal - I find it hard to believe they have them set that tight. There aren't many of us valvers compared to the huge numbers of bypass veterans out there. The majority of them have sternal wires as well. I suspect I have more metal in my mouth than in my sternum. Course, now that I have a pacemaker it's all sort of moot, like Wendy says.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

Hello all:
In the last 15 years Al has never set off an alarm with his mitral valve, nor does he have or know about an ID card or an inplant card. Sure would appreciate knowing more about this card.
Many,many thanks
Blanche

Blanche, email or call the manufacturer of Al's valve, and they will send an ID card. If it's St. Jude, the contact info is right on their website.

 

[geebee]

That's not a lot of metal - I find it hard to believe they have them set that tight. There aren't many of us valvers compared to the huge numbers of bypass veterans out there. The majority of them have sternal wires as well. I suspect I have more metal in my mouth than in my sternum. Course, now that I have a pacemaker it's all sort of moot, like Wendy says.

I would have found it hard to believe until it actually happened to me. However, as I said, I have never had a problem at the airport, only at the Federal Building. Obviously they have their machines set to a more sensitive level. I brought it up only to make people aware that the machines do have the ability to pick up such small amounts of metal. I do not know what kind of damage they think such small amounts of metal will do, but they can scan for it. Since Chuck had the same problem at another Federal building, maybe this is unique to them.

 

[buschlight]

Thanks!

Thanks!

Thank you all for your replies. I just wasn't sure what to expect, it's been a long time since I've been in an airport.

Thanks again for all your help. I appreciate it!