First time flying commercial since I got my pacemaker 14 months ago....anything I should know before hand?   I know I need to let them know, I have my card handy...anything else?



Never mind

by Thevics - 2019-06-21 21:28:44

I read some previous posts and I beleive they have answered my questions!


what you should know before traveling...

by ROBO Pop - 2019-06-21 23:47:21

Your destination.


by Thevics - 2019-06-22 08:38:13

Your comment made me smile!  

Walk on Through

by Swangirl - 2019-06-22 14:32:27

I don't identify myself as having a pacemaker and just walk on through the metal detector and no alarms sound.  There is very little metal in these new devices.  

Lesson learned

by Enduro1 - 2019-06-24 00:24:06

I travel for my job, fly commercial nearly every week. I don’t identify myself as having a PM and walk thru the metal detector. I have never once set the alarm off. 

I still do

by dwelch - 2019-07-04 02:17:02

I have had pacers for over 30 years, and have almost always said something, I have no fear of going through the metal detector, no worries whatsoever, just dont want to play games with TSA.  One time I went through, set it off, they wanded me and THEN I said there is a pacer there, and the guy was pretty pissy about that.  Let me go but "you should tell me, ..."

There was a time in some airports you could use the "I have a pacemaker" deal to get into the special (sometimes much shorter) line.  Did that many times.  Perhaps I am still hoping to get that benefit, but now they send us all through that same hold your arms up (hope your pants dont fall down) machine.  I hardly fly maybe next time I wont say anything and see what happens.

There is no reason to fear the detectors with your device, just walk on through.  If you dont have any other significant metal, change, etc. but the detector goes off.  then tell them.  so far the hold your arms up machines I have been through have not lead to any kind of pat down.

thirty years ago the saudis would have their detectors set quite sensitive and the men would basically end up mostly undressing right there, when it got down to the zipper on my jeans and the pacer:  hey I have this device...for the women they would just take them into a room and feel around for stuff.  I have not been there in almost as many years.  around that time I would set them off in other countries too.  dont know if I set them off at home in the usa, I would try to tell them everywhere, but some places they dont understand what you are saying and I didnt get a card written in a bunch of languages until like pacer number two or three...have had them hover the wand over the device, no negative effects, there shouldnt be any long term effects, possibly a short term while they are messing with it, but once out of the field of the wand then no.  the wand cant reprogram the device nor can the metal detector.



by Thevics - 2019-07-04 09:35:20

Leaving KC I mentioned it and they had me go thru a different line. Leaving Orlando...busy airport. I said nothing. I got pulled aside cause it spotted pacemaker area as well as steel wires holding rib cage together/ mechanical valve. I then explained . They patted me down and let me go.   I think machines are getting more sensitive!

You know you're wired when...

You make store alarms beep.

Member Quotes

I have an ICD which is both a pacer/defib. I have no problems with mine and it has saved my life.