Flying and Crying and Airport Scanners!

Magnetic Airport scanner
try to avoid this machine.

I traveled by myself for 20 years for business.  I am no stranger to airports around the world, yet this little flight to West Palm Beach frightened me.  It would be the first time I would fly with my pacemaker.

 As soon as I got in the line for security, I panicked.  I became the little girl with monsters under her bed. I had to tell someone.  I know fear is illogical.  I just wish it were not so emotional.  When you have to tell someone that you have a pacemaker, it is like having to admit you are a bit of a cyborg or part machine. You are now different and have to go a different line.

I get all teary eyed as I tell the TSA agent at the beginning of the security line that I have a pacemaker. The TSA agent looks at me and says (“Oh so you can’t even say hello.  Really, that it is too much information. I do not want to know that about you.  Tell them not me.”) The next TSA agent puts me in a round machine where you lift your hands over your head and radio wave surrounds you. 

Just make sure you do not walk through the rectangular shaped detector because that works with magnetic fields.  So, that is my non-technical advice from the first time I flew with the pacemaker.  Do not expect any sympathy. 

This is now my 8^th week since pacemaker surgery.  I was hoping I would never have another dizzy spell but they still show up.  I had one on vacation where I was very dizzy as I was sitting at a table in a restaurant.  I just crossed my legs (as they say to do) and squeezed all my private areas and it went away.   I do not like them. They rob me of my confidence.

Here is what Medtronic says about airport scanners on their website:

“Given the short duration of security screening, it is unlikely that your Medtronic heart device will be affected by metal detectors (walk-through archways and hand-held wands) or full-body imaging scanners (also called millimeter wave scanners and 3D imaging scanners) such as those found in airports, courthouses, and jails. 

The metal case of your heart device could set off a metal detector. To minimize the risk of temporary interference with your heart device while going through the security screening process, avoid touching metal surfaces around any screening equipment. Do not stop or linger in a walk-through archway; simply walk through the archway at a normal pace. If a hand-held wand is used, ask the security operator not to hold it over your heart device and not to wave it back and forth over your heart device. 

You may also request a hand search as an alternative. If you have concerns about these security screening methods, show your device ID card, request alternative screening, and then follow the instructions of the security personnel. “                        

  

This is the scanner that works on Radio waves.
This is the one that people with pacemakers are
supposed to use.
You just have to be able to lift your
hands over your head.