I travel a couple times per month. I have never gone threw the security measures. Tell them you have a pacer & want a pat down.
I have a letter written by my doctor in cse its needed plus Metronic card. I only have shown them on international trips.
People have told me to walk threw the arch way but I take no chances. And my two doctors do not recommand walking threw at airports or government buildings that use them. Walking threw walmart or a store & not linger is alright. I was in DC last week, several stores & government buildings I ask for a pat down.
Better safe then sorry...

 

 

I was told to look at the TSA person when you put your things on the roller for x-ray then pat your left shoulder which is the signal that you have a pacemaker. The put me through the gate for a patdown. Not the wand at all - you can't have that. They say you can go through the "see me all" unit which I will never do so I go with the patdown and they will tell you what to do. It is done and over with. You do show your Metronic card and they sometimes look at my Med. ID bracelet. I travel alot and you get used to it.
Sugar/Patty

 

Since having mine in at a very young age I have always asked for a pat down. When they do the wand they ask me to put my hand over the PM to indicate where it is. One time at a very small airport I told them I couldn't go through because I have a PM they just looked at me and said she is not hiding anything so I didn't get searched that time. It was kind of funny. It does help when I have traveling with someone so they can watch for my bag to go through.

 

I went to Windsor Castle & it happen the Queen was in residence that day. Security was very tight & I told them about my pacer at security. I showed my card, my pacermaker & letter from my Cardiologist plus my one from my family doctor. Still would not let me enter until they called my doctor on phone. I was holding up the line & people were not happy & was making noise to speed up my process.
The castle was great to see & I can say security was doing its job that day in England.

One time in my travels at Pittsburgh, PA airport. This was the time when TSA had started checking bags & people. Two ladies took me in a private room to pat down. The door locked & could not be open from inside & walls were thick. We were in there for almost twenty mins before a person open the door & let us out.
My husband Airline Pilot & I was going on the trip with him that day. So he had my purse & tote bag with him when he was checking in at Flight operations. H came back & ask the State Trooper stationed at the security area if he saw me . That was when they checked the locked room & there I was with the two TSA ladies.
If he didn't have my purse & belongings they could have been stolen sitting on the beltway. I wrote letters, phone calls to TSA & made them aware of that situation for ladies. The program was new & had many changes needed to be made. Now they ask if you have some one with you to handle your belongings before a pat down.

Regarding the wand- the security lady was going to wand me one day & I said no. My doctor say no wand over any part of body even if waist down.

 

2 weaks ago i traveled to Romania.On the airport (it was the first time after my PM implant )i did show my Medtronic card and did get searched like i was a "jonky".All the people sow that.I felt such umiliate!! Idon't know what to do the next time.
Anette.

 

Aneette
I am so happy to be alive those pat downs are nothing.
I am a survivor of cardiac arrest & the doc thought I was dead & called the time occured. So I am thrilled to be here for any pat down.
Nothing to be ashamed of.You can ask (generally the TSA lady will ask if you want a private pat down here in the states.) If they don't ask - request one.
Life is wonderful- relax & enjoy!

 

The first time that I flex after PM install [may 08] I told TSA and got a wand inspection on the return trip from Honolulu, I told them and get in the line with people that had replacement parts, knees, hip joints etc. it took forever to get through. My co-workers were at the departure gate before I got through.

Since then I go through the detectors. Have been through Sacramento, Honolulu, Pittsburgh, no problems, never set off a detector, don't linger, just a quick walk through.
Going to Denver next week.

Do a search on this topic, people go both ways.

Later, Charlie

 

I live in England and have travelled by plane several occasions since having my pm. My cardiologist and everyone else concerning this matter has said NO WAY
TO GO THROUGH SECURITY MEASURES,
I am at a total loss as to the rest of the messages on here, some say yes and some say no.
The best thing I can do is say NO, then I will be ok.

It is embarrassing to say the least when we have to be frisked, but better safe then sorry.

Regards
Fluzy Suzy

 

Fluzy Suzy

My Cardiologist & electrophysiologist both told me NO
GOING THREW SECURITY MEASURES.
I know other people does it but I am not taking any chances.
I see patients not paying any attention to instructions from their physician on lifting, laying on tender side, or wearing arm in sling etc. Then they wonder why their arm hurt, have pain or afraid of wires slipping.

I don't see the big deal some people makes over a pat down. If you do not want some one to see you then ask for a private one. I find most TSA will ask you right away before laying a hand on your body if you perfer a private pat.
I am done before my family has got threw the other procedure.
Why would you want to chance it just to walk threw to save a minute.

 

Here is what the St Jude manual says about the subject.

"Metal Detectors: Walking through the metal detector
archway will not harm your ICD. Be sure to pass through the archway at a normal pace and avoid lingering in the immediate area. Your ICD system has metal inside that may set off the airport security system alarm. If the alarm does sound, be sure to present security personnel with your ICD identification card. If a search with a hand held wand is performed you should stress to security personnel that the search should be performed quickly and that they should avoid holding the wand over your ICD for a prolonged period."

I think that the manufacturer knows better than most physicians.

Later, Charlie

 

I have a Medtronics ICD implanted this year. The instruction manual says DO NOT for going through the metal detectors and states it can alter or damage the device. I recently went to my county Courthouse. At the metal detectors, I flashed my card and they refused to honor it. They insisted I go through the metal detectors, I mentioned it to the Heart Failure nurse at my visit who was shocked and told me I shouldln't have gone through it. I'm sure the airport security is better than the local yokels at my courthouse, but after a discussion with 2 deputies and then a 3rd County employee, they wouldn't budge on insisting I go through the detectors. I didn't cause the machine to go off and I don't think any harm was done, but in spite of that, I won't be visiting the courthouse anymore and taking a chance.

 

I have Medrontic as I wrote above to Fluzy Suzy.
My doctor said & wrote a letter stating no security . He said a lot depends how how much you are pacing. If it kicks once in a while then that could be alright if you don't linger. But pacing 100% or almost all the time. The answer is no.
I carry a card from Medtronic, small note from my family doctor & letter from the Cardologist. I only had to show one time in article I wrote before on here about being at Winsor Castle in England. They looked at my pacemaker/ICD, checked my letters & card still made a phone call to the doctor back here in CA.
Other times in all my travels I just tell them & do not need to show any proof.
I was wand one time the gal was not paying attention when I told her no. She ran the wand from neck down & I could feel a buss for about one hour. No more...

 

I just tell them about my PM. Only once I had to show them a card. When I travel I know where my card is at all times just in case I am asked to show proof. Which is not nearly as often as I thought I would. I am only 33 but I have experience living with a PM since I was 7. It will be 26 years this week (I believe). I traveled a lot when I was younger so I got use to being frisked at the airports. My parents forget that I have one until I tell someone and then they realize it and look after my bags for me. It is kind of funny in a way. After awhile it gets to be a habit.

Becky