traveling

[Birky]

Has anyone set off the metal detector at the airport? We are flying Sat and wondered if this will happen. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks,

 

[Ross]

Not with a heart valve.

I have a nice titanium hip that does though. I had all sorts of fun at the courthouse with it! Another reason why all of you should take me on trips with you.

 

[terryj]

We have flown since my husbands AVR and I was also concerned about this. He had his AVR card in his wallet so at least we could show he had a mechanical valve. But, luckily we did not set off the security beeper.

 

[Karlynn]

I haven't ever set it off.

 

[tobagotwo]

I understood that it's not the valve, which is primarily carbon, but the stainless steel chest wires that can set the alarms off for some people.

However, I've not seen any posts from anyone who has. Wonder if they'd give you an echo on the spot?

Best wishes,

 

[catwoman]

I've flown probably 2 dozen times since my surgery and I've only set off security once, at the St. Louis airport -- not sure why.
A friend with a hip joint replacement says she always sets off the detectors.

I would strongly advise you to wear slip-on shoes. You are really required to take your shoes off going through security. TSA agents are extremely nice, but I would not want to cross them again by keeping my shoes on. Been there, done that once at DFW. Boarding pass & ID (passport) were snatched away, my luggage and cat's carrier examined and I & my cat were both patted down. Yes, the cat was patted down; you never know what a Persian show cat might be hiding in all that long hair.

 

[The Bionic Duo]

We flew for the first time since we both became bionic this past October--Bob breezed through, but my bionic knee set off the alarms. He thought it was funny, I just tolerated being patted down and wanded from stem to stern. Oh well it certainly won't stop us from traveling.

Joan

 

[bvdr]

I've never set off any alarms nor have I ever had any problems traveling with my PROTIME unit. I always keep that in a seperate cosmetic-like unzipped case and tell the scanners before I put it through that it is a medical device. Sometimes they look at it but most of the time they do not. No one even blinked an eye earlier this month when I also had a supply of my Lovenox injections in the same case.

 

[MarkU]

We went to London on vacation and my wife's underwire bra set off the metal detector. She was mortified, especially when the security people used their electronic wands to pinpoint the problem area. The fact that I was almost rolling on the floor laughing didn't help things...

Mark

 

[Ross]

We went to London on vacation and my wife's underwire bra set off the metal detector. She was mortified, especially when the security people used their electronic wands to pinpoint the problem area. The fact that I was almost rolling on the floor laughing didn't help things...

Mark

I wish you could have seen the look on this Deputies face when I approached the machine and told him I was going to set it off. I don't think the fool believed me. Had me empty out all my pockets, take my watch and belt off, like that was going to change anything? I don't think I've seen so many hands going for holsters! Made me mad because I warned them and told them why it would go off, but they still had to man handle me like some criminal. Not like I'm able to run anywhere.

 

[geebee]

Ross,
Just like there are no cops around when idiots cut off others on the highway going 120 mph, there are too many security people at airports looking at everything except the problems. Since no one predicted 9/11, the security people assume the next terrorist will be the little old lady with the tennis shoes. What they don't seem to realize is any future problems will be just as unpredictable as the first.
Enough of my soapbox. I just LOVE this guy, where did you find him?

 

[Guest]

I've never set off a detector; then again, I don't fly much.

The last time I flew was July 2003, soon after my most-recent open heart surgery. We went to CA for a cousin's wedding. I didn't even go through the detector because of the pacemaker .


Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 31swm/pig valve/pacemaker
'72/'6/'9/'81/'7, train/models = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
MC Guide = http://www.chevyasylum.com/mcspotter/main.html

 

[Harpoon]

Wallet cards are very useful thing....


My understanding is that the sensitivity of the detector is what determines if it will go off on your "bionic" parts or not. Generally, they don't keep it that sensitive, but if they do (say if there's a hightened security alert) it might pick up the metallic (ferrous, that is, containing iron which is what the detectors pick up) parts inside of you.

The hand wand will pin-point the source of the "hit" to about where your heart is in your chest and show that there's no metal anywhere else (unless you have the fake hip thing) and the explaination should be enough to suffice... But again, the wallet card is your best defense. They get a phone number to call if they don't like your story...

 

[Ross]

Ross,I just LOVE this guy, where did you find him?

One of the girls at another site made him for me for valentines day in Photoshop.

 

[Gail in Ca]

I've set one off, but it was my shoes, apparently the soles have wire in them, so I got the major once over for that. Never had my valve set it off.
Also, here in Ca at the SJ airport, if you buy a one way ticket, you get pulled aside and really get the whole inspection.
Gail

 

[geebee]

Gail,
Sure glad I am not traveling anymore in CA. I used to travel for business between LA & SJ & always bought 1 way tickets on Southwest because my schedule was so crazy. I would be spending all my time with security people if I was still there.

 

[tnboomer1013]

Traveling

Traveling

Since surgery in July of 2001 I have flown to over 5 different countries and nearly every state in the union and have never set one off for the artificial ticker I have. The only thing that has set it off is my medic alert tag. You should have no problem.

 

[weekycat]

I understood that it's not the valve, which is primarily carbon, but the stainless steel chest wires that can set the alarms off for some people.

However, I've not seen any posts from anyone who has.

That is correct. I didn't set off the metal detectors when I walked through them, but because we had discount tickets or something, my sister and I had got the wand treatment (and our luggage searched through), in Mpls.

When they did the wand thing on me, my chest wires set it off. I know this, because I had a repair...not a replacement. It was kind of funny, the lady said, "Oh that must be a necklace or something, huh?" I was clearly not wearing a necklace, and told her it was my chest wires. She said, "oh....OHHHHH". I didn't need to take out my card...just showed her my lovely zipper on my chest, that was proof enough.

We had to go through the same security check on the way home, and it didn't set the wand off in Phoenix, so I think it really does depend on how sensitive each one is.

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

It has been almost three yrs and I have flew quite a bit and have not set off the alarm. But now I have the pacemaker I sure it will be a different story. I take my protime machine and lovenox needles with me too! and they haven't searched anything yet. My they seem to like to make my youngest take off her flip flops every time she flys. And that makes her crazy. Sshe doesn;t like the Ideal that she hass to put her feet on the mat where everybody else has put their feet! ugh!!!!!

 

[Birky]

thanks

thanks

Thanks for all the input. I am more worried about the sternum wires. I know the valve has no metal in it. Oh well, if I have to get the once over, I hope that he is cute. Just kidding,