Flying
A couple weeks ago I asked about flying. As I was going thru security I had my I have a pacemaker card out. I never got a chance to show it to anyone. (It's bad enough I don't get carded any more now this) I went to stand by the full body scan and was flagged over to walk thru that arch thing. Went thru I'd say in a couple seconds and it never beeped or buzzed or whatever it does. Someone told me later I should not have gone thru that. I thought it was I should not get the wand. I'm flying back in a couple days. Do I just do the same thing? How come I did not set off an alarm? Hmmmm something to ponder.
Patsy
5 Comments
Whatever you are comfortable with
by ElectricFrank - 2011-02-19 01:02:54
Your experience is pretty normal as far as not experiencing a problem. Most of the problems people have is due to apprehension rather than pacemaker interference.
If you are comfortable with just walking through the normal metal detector I would do the same thing on the way back. Of course it would be your luck this time to be directed to the full body scanner.
frank
metal detector
by Tracey_E - 2011-02-20 09:02:37
Most of the time the metal detector won't go off and it won't cause the pm any problems, but I still don't go through them. If you do happen to set it off, the pat down takes a lot longer than if you'd just had the pat down to start with.
The wand is a concentrated metal detector. They can use it on our extremities but must keep it away from the pm.
The scanners are perfectly safe. I've also requested the scanner line and been told to move to the metal detector line. I told them I was in the scanner line because I have a pm and each time they told me to stay where I was. More and more airports are getting the scanners. Even my little local airport has them now.
been through it
by veronika - 2011-02-21 09:02:46
just went on a big trip to korea. i feel always more comfortable being "patted down" than going through a scanner. I had a reveal plus loop recorder in for over 2 years before my PM. people have always been very respectful in "patting me down" and gentle. i guess it is just a preferrence what you want to do.
I am flying home in 1 week and will go the route of "being patted down" again. for me it works.
veornika
Airport scan
by sunwanderer - 2011-03-28 08:03:28
I'm not sure about the above responses. It works for them and I say: "If it works, do it." But, I have had an AV node ablation and so I have nothing but that pacemaker to keep me alive. It doesn't work, I don't work. When I got the pacemaker, my doctor said: "Have them do a pat down at the airport. Don't go through the machines." I'm a believer. I have had people at TSA tell me there is no radiation so it's okay to walk through (either they are just too busy to want to do a body search or unaware of the machinery they work around), but most have been very accommodating. If you're comfortable waltzing through those machines (though it's proven that 89 or so percent are not even calibrated right to begin with), go for it. Me, I'll take the body search and hope to live as long as possible.
ggz
You know you're wired when...
Your favorite poem is Ode to a Cardiac Node.
Member Quotes
I've never had a problem with my model.
Go thru them all the time
by ccmoore - 2011-02-19 01:02:24
Concur with Frank.
I go thru metal detectors at airports all the time. Haven't traveled where a full body scanner is in use.
Only set off a metal detector once in Pittsburgh.
The St Jude site says that their PMs are safe to go thru a metal detector.
Later,
Charlie