follow up to airport security

Hi everyone,
I posted a few weeks ago, about having trouble at the West Palm Beach Airport. The agent said it was ok for me to go through scanner, and my doctor said no. Well, I saw him today, and he said the new scanner is alright for people who have a pacemaker, but since I have a pacemaker/defib and am 100% depended on it, I should not go through. He is now writing a letter for me, so I will always be able to be patted down. I thought if anyone has a ICD, that maybe you should also check with the doctor, to make sure that the scanner is alright for you. Hope this helps.
Mongee

5 Comments

Great Suggestion

by Pookie - 2011-05-24 07:05:18

I think you just came up with a great suggestion as each airport can be different with how we are to proceed through security. A letter from your doctor and/or cardiologist is an excellent suggestion.

I wonder if the manufacturers of our devices will now consider making us new cards that we can carry that will have NO to the scanner on it????

Thanks!!!

Pookie

Thanks!

by bchgirl - 2011-05-24 10:05:48

Will keep this in mind if I ever have to fly again. Not crazy about planes, but will definitely get letter if I need to.

ok, but

by Tracey_E - 2011-05-24 11:05:24

Not to argue with your dr, but I'd check with the manufacturer to verify that the dr is not confused. The FAA states that the new scanners are safe for pm and icd as well as other metal implants that can't go through the regular detectors, so a lot of folks with icd's are going through them every day. All the new scanners are is an xray, so I don't understand what makes this scanner unsafe when any other xray is ok.

Personally, I lovelovelove the new scanners. I've had a pm for almost 20 yrs now (completely dependent) and have had enough pat downs to last me several lifetimes, I'm thrilled to be able to go through a scanner.

airports SCANNERS

by relax221 - 2011-05-26 04:05:26

JUST WENT THRU MY FIRST SCANNER...NO PROBLEM WITH A ST JUDE PACE/DIFIB AT WEST PALM BEACH FL

New airport scanners

by crashnburn - 2011-06-05 11:06:42

I fly a lot for business and I also have a Medtronics ICD for the last 7 years. Like TraceyE, I also love these new scanners. I have not had any side effects or problems going through them, and I do go through a lot of them.

You know you're wired when...

You have a new body part.

Member Quotes

The experience of having a couple of lengths of wire fed into your heart muscle and an electronic 'box' tucked under the skin is not an insignificant event, but you will survive.