TSA and ports and bags

ketziah35
ketziah35 Member Posts: 1,145
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I thought I would share this information. My mother has a port and her doctor asked if she was flying for the holiday because she probably would not pass through without any issues. He advised her to keep her medical card and bracelet with her to make sure she could advance through security.

Comments

  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #2
    Hi!
    I used to fly between Reno and Vegas at least 2x week to a job site and between Vegas and other cities frequently for work. I haven't had the pleasure of flying since my colostomy and port but, I have heard from others that especially with the full body scan machines you are likely to get pulled to the side and be patted down. I have read from others on other boards that this happens frequently and some make a fuss about it and some don't. I've read on another board where someone was asked to let security pat down their bag to make sure that nothing was contained in it. yuck ... don't touch my junk has a whole other meaning for us.
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    #3
    Kez:
    George has traveled about 6 or more times since diagnosis and the port has never been an issue. With the new rules it might be different. He does not have a bag but does have a brace on his leg so they always swab that for explosives and after going thru security at some airports he did get wanded, where they pass the wand, not hands, over your body but the port was never an issue. Airports he has been thru are Detroit, San Antonio, San Diego, Las Vegas and Dallas and a few others. Las Vegas is 5 star in my book, other airports could learn from them, very considerate people there, they go out of their way to make you comfortable and they never made us wait in a long line once they saw George had a cane. He uses the cane for stability when standing or walking very long distances. I always make him take it even though he sometimes objects. Hope this helps.

    Tina
  • jararno
    jararno Member Posts: 186
    #4
    Port
    I went through the full body scan machine in August, I mentioned the Power Port to the TSA agent....they didn't say anything, but I did have a quick two fingers run down the sides of my upper body, so they must have seen something. No big deal. My daughter-in-law was wearing a light jacket with a zipper down the front and she had the agent run her two fingers down her back. The others in our party all went through the full body scan without being touched.
    None of us really had any issues with the scan. I am not sure what happens when you go through a regular security check point.

    Hope nobody has problems with the holiday travel.

    Take Care,

    Barb
  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    #5
    TSA Scans
    I travel quite a bit, so let me add my thoughts.

    1. There are two different kinds of scanners, one is just a metal detector, the other is the full body scan which is an x-ray device

    2. The metal detector is a non-issue for ports (not sure about ostomy bags)

    3. The full body scan will pick up a port. If the TSA agent is familiar with them he may let it pass, if not there will be a secondary inspection

    4. Again, the full body scan uses radiation, as cancer patients, we are getting bombarded on a regular basis and there are secondary health issues to overexposure

    The full body scanners are mostly in large hub airports {though I just went through JFK and they only had the metal detector}. In smaller regional airports you are more likely to run into the metal detectors.

    Personally, I will no longer be using the full body scan due to the radiation exposure, and the likelihood that I will be patted down anyway when they see the port.
  • jararno
    jararno Member Posts: 186
    #6
    jararno said:

    Port
    I went through the full body scan machine in August, I mentioned the Power Port to the TSA agent....they didn't say anything, but I did have a quick two fingers run down the sides of my upper body, so they must have seen something. No big deal. My daughter-in-law was wearing a light jacket with a zipper down the front and she had the agent run her two fingers down her back. The others in our party all went through the full body scan without being touched.
    None of us really had any issues with the scan. I am not sure what happens when you go through a regular security check point.

    Hope nobody has problems with the holiday travel.

    Take Care,

    Barb

    Smaller Airports
    Many of the smaller airports do have the Full Body Scanners. The one where I was scanned was in Fort Wayne, Indiana. My son had flown from Los Angeles, Washington DC and Detroit without meeting up with the Full Body Scanner so we were quite suprised to see it in Fort Wayne!

    I actually wasn't flying, but went through the scanner with my son who is military so I was able to see him off. I hadn't really thought about Body Scans and didn't mind going through it to spend more time with my son before he left!
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    #7
    scanners a waste of money. they let the real terrorist through
    I have a dream that one day soon the scanners will so advanced they may actually do
    something useful like detect cancers. Can you imagine the advertising.
    Come flyer Qantas and get a free health scan. The CT, the MRI the PET techologies are so advanced and seem to be improving ie less radiation. At the moment the whole security feels like a massive waste of resources and time. Especially since all our countries have so many people in need and our health systems are struggling. In aussie they cannot even do decent prevention. They stuffed up millions of poo tests. What a joke, but not funny.

    I guess current system keeps lots a security guards employed and good profits for the scanner companies. Since getting cancer I have gone from a capitalist to a socialist in many ways.

    The real irony here is all these scans for zip benefit. How many fellow passengers are
    flying around in blissful ignorance with there little bowel cancer bombs ticking just waiting to get discovered. But they have to watchout for the poor dangerous granny with the port and bag. She is a real threat. NOT.

    If the public really knew the cancer risks they would have something to be terrified about. If they knew what cancer means like we do.

    Bowel and lung cancer are the only terrorists I want too fight. We need to elect better politicians in all our countries. Its just the DEX.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #8
    Buckwirth said:

    TSA Scans
    I travel quite a bit, so let me add my thoughts.

    1. There are two different kinds of scanners, one is just a metal detector, the other is the full body scan which is an x-ray device

    2. The metal detector is a non-issue for ports (not sure about ostomy bags)

    3. The full body scan will pick up a port. If the TSA agent is familiar with them he may let it pass, if not there will be a secondary inspection

    4. Again, the full body scan uses radiation, as cancer patients, we are getting bombarded on a regular basis and there are secondary health issues to overexposure

    The full body scanners are mostly in large hub airports {though I just went through JFK and they only had the metal detector}. In smaller regional airports you are more likely to run into the metal detectors.

    Personally, I will no longer be using the full body scan due to the radiation exposure, and the likelihood that I will be patted down anyway when they see the port.

    It's a personal choice, but...
    A person flying from L.A. to San Francisco is exposed to more rads in the air than those at the new body scanners..

    And, the higher you fly (I go back and forth from Europe, about 30,000 feet), the more rads you are exposed to. Flight personnel (pilots, flight attendants) are actively watched for signs of radiation poisoning for this reason...

    Will I stop flying? Nope. Will I ask for a pat down? Well, for whatever reason, I have been patted down the last 3 times we've flown...I figured it was because I looked friendly, and they had a pat down quota...

    Hugs, Kathi
  • Kenny H.
    Kenny H. Member Posts: 502 Member
    #9
    pete43lost_at_sea said:

    scanners a waste of money. they let the real terrorist through
    I have a dream that one day soon the scanners will so advanced they may actually do
    something useful like detect cancers. Can you imagine the advertising.
    Come flyer Qantas and get a free health scan. The CT, the MRI the PET techologies are so advanced and seem to be improving ie less radiation. At the moment the whole security feels like a massive waste of resources and time. Especially since all our countries have so many people in need and our health systems are struggling. In aussie they cannot even do decent prevention. They stuffed up millions of poo tests. What a joke, but not funny.

    I guess current system keeps lots a security guards employed and good profits for the scanner companies. Since getting cancer I have gone from a capitalist to a socialist in many ways.

    The real irony here is all these scans for zip benefit. How many fellow passengers are
    flying around in blissful ignorance with there little bowel cancer bombs ticking just waiting to get discovered. But they have to watchout for the poor dangerous granny with the port and bag. She is a real threat. NOT.

    If the public really knew the cancer risks they would have something to be terrified about. If they knew what cancer means like we do.

    Bowel and lung cancer are the only terrorists I want too fight. We need to elect better politicians in all our countries. Its just the DEX.

    I rarely fly. But are glad
    I rarely fly. But are glad they are doing this.
    Need more proven facts on radiation amount scans put out.
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #10
    OK So
    I had a friend send me this via email. It was meant for laughs:

    This should settle the problem once and for all!


    The Israelis are close to deploying an airport security device that eliminates the privacy concerns that come with full-body scanners at most airports.

    It’s a booth you can step into that will not X-ray you, but will detonate any explosive device you may have on you. They see this as a win-win for everyone with none of this crap about racial profiling.
    It also would eliminate the costs of a long and expensive trial.
    Justice would be swift. Case closed!

    Picture this. You would be in the airport terminal and hear a muffled explosion. Shortly thereafter an announcement comes over the PA system . . . "Attention EL AL standby passengers — we now have a seat available on flight number XXXX. Shalom! And have a pleasant flight."


    Followed by: "Clean-up at security point A."
  • VickiCO
    VickiCO Member Posts: 917
    #11
    My experience4
    I flew to Australia recently and in Denver ( my home airport) I was ordered - yes ordered - to take the Xray. I told them I have an ostomy - they kept asking "what is in your pocket?" I replied I didn't even have pockets on those pants - it's an ostomy. I was then taken to a private room and strip searched. It was not pleasant and the agents (female of course) were rude.

    Three weeks later I flew to Houston - on the return flight at Bush Int'l., again I was pulled out of line and sent to the Xray. I asked if I could just skip it and be patted down - they said NO. If I refused, I couldn't fly. So in I went - again the questions "what's in your pocket?" Again I explained I had an ostomy. At least this time the TSA Supervisor who strip searched me (yes, again!) was apologetic and embarrassed. She did not want to do it any more than I did! She even said they were not properly trained to handle medical issues.

    I will not fly again until the rules are changed....my dignity is worth more than that.

    Vicki
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #12
    VickiCO said:

    My experience4
    I flew to Australia recently and in Denver ( my home airport) I was ordered - yes ordered - to take the Xray. I told them I have an ostomy - they kept asking "what is in your pocket?" I replied I didn't even have pockets on those pants - it's an ostomy. I was then taken to a private room and strip searched. It was not pleasant and the agents (female of course) were rude.

    Three weeks later I flew to Houston - on the return flight at Bush Int'l., again I was pulled out of line and sent to the Xray. I asked if I could just skip it and be patted down - they said NO. If I refused, I couldn't fly. So in I went - again the questions "what's in your pocket?" Again I explained I had an ostomy. At least this time the TSA Supervisor who strip searched me (yes, again!) was apologetic and embarrassed. She did not want to do it any more than I did! She even said they were not properly trained to handle medical issues.

    I will not fly again until the rules are changed....my dignity is worth more than that.

    Vicki

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #13
    VickiCO said:

    My experience4
    I flew to Australia recently and in Denver ( my home airport) I was ordered - yes ordered - to take the Xray. I told them I have an ostomy - they kept asking "what is in your pocket?" I replied I didn't even have pockets on those pants - it's an ostomy. I was then taken to a private room and strip searched. It was not pleasant and the agents (female of course) were rude.

    Three weeks later I flew to Houston - on the return flight at Bush Int'l., again I was pulled out of line and sent to the Xray. I asked if I could just skip it and be patted down - they said NO. If I refused, I couldn't fly. So in I went - again the questions "what's in your pocket?" Again I explained I had an ostomy. At least this time the TSA Supervisor who strip searched me (yes, again!) was apologetic and embarrassed. She did not want to do it any more than I did! She even said they were not properly trained to handle medical issues.

    I will not fly again until the rules are changed....my dignity is worth more than that.

    Vicki

    Vicki
    Thanks for sharing your story. I think it's important that we are prepared for all the possibilities. I don't think it's ever appropriate for anyone to be rude and offensive but, if I know going into a situation that I might encounter such an attitude, it might help me to keep from being that way back to them.
  • ketziah35
    ketziah35 Member Posts: 1,145
    #14
    I did not expect this type
    I did not expect this type of discussion. Wow!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #15
    ketziah35 said:

    I did not expect this type
    I did not expect this type of discussion. Wow!

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • VickiCO
    VickiCO Member Posts: 917
    #16
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Thanks Gracie
    Yes, I agree that we must stop the terrorists, but a little common sense and courtesy go a long way.

    Also, I am glad that I could help you with my journey to the ostomy. Everyone has their own tolerance levels - mine was finally being able to leave the house, travel, even just go to the grocery store comfortably. Do I wish it were different and I didn't have to have it? Yep - but it isn't so bad once you get the hang of it. At least my "Ethel" is fairly well-behaved! (Unless I drink beer...oh boy! LOL!)

    Vicki

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