One of my coworkers is still off on sick leave, recovering from foot surgery. I talked to her on the phone a week or so ago, and she said that she has a plate and screws in her foot now. I said something about setting off machines at airports, and she said her doctor told her that when she flies, she will have to tell the security folks that she has metal in her foot, and that she will probably be taken aside for private screening.

I told her to ask her doctor for something written on his letterhead (or a prescription pad) with the doctor's signature. It might help the process. So, she said she's going to ask her doctor when she goes in for her next post-op checkup.

Maybe that would help your husband, too.

My niece has a rod in her back. I believe she carries documentation from her dr. for those sorts of situations. Should be simple enough to get your DH's dr. to give you the paperwork you would need. Why don't you call your travel agent Or airline and ask what you need to do to make this as simple and easy for all concerned.

The doctor will give your hubby a card to carry with him...But in my case, I have 3 screws in my femur and those didn't cause any beeps....I guess it really depends on what material the rods, etc., are made of....
At our airport, we have full body screening so they'd be able to see my screws....Next time I fly, I'll have to ask them if they're still tight or coming unscrewed...Don't think that would go over very big!

According to my doctor, one just tells security that you have hardware, rather than written confirmation, so I suppose they do the full-body scan then. I'm flying next month, so hope he's right. Perhaps would be best to call the airline.

I too have the same concerns, as I have a lot of metal in my hips that were completely rebuilt, and I must use a quadcane (that I decorate). I'm wondering if they will dismantle my whole cane. I will get my orthopedic surgeon to give me some kind of paperwork when I see him in October. My other concern is if I take my own wheelchair rather use one provided by the airport, if they will rip it apart too. If I know ahead of time, rather than an emergency situation, that I have to fly up to my daughter, I am sending a box of my belongings via mail to her and taking as little as possible "with" me. She would then mail them back home to me when I leave.

A friend of mine had knee replacement surgery last year. She has documentation from her doctor that she carries with her when she travels. She flies quite often and has been asked on 2 occasions to show the documentation.

My first husband had a pin in his hip...he carried a card from his doctor's office stating the location, and they would hand-scan that hip to verify.

I'm surprised that some think a note or card from a doctor will help get you through security...like a terrorist couldn't fake an official letter from a doctor???

I'm pretty sure a TSA agent will not accept a note from a doctor.

Explain you have metal in your body, expect additional screening.

There are layers of security, if you don't pass all you should be checked further.

ML

I just flew to North Carolina today (I'm waiting to go to a party right now). I have a screw in my shoulder, but I went through the body scan and there were no issues. Quick and simple.

I have a long titanium rod in my thigh, and it never sets off the alarm. Even if it did, they can hold the hand-held scanner in the area and tell if it's medical hardware or you are packing. My dr. said a note from him is worthless since notes could be forged so easily. I've never had any trouble.

I haven't flown since Aug. 09. But when I went through the metal detector it didn't beep.

However, when I went through the metal detector when I went to Jury Duty I set off the metal detector. It was my cheap bracelet and earrings. So watch that.

I once forgot that I had a knee brace on with metal stays - they simply hand scanned the area.

DH has had both knees replaced. We fly often and they just always call for "Male Assist" and have him remove his belt, hold his arms up in the air and wave a wand over him. Not a big delay. I thought what happened to Rosemary T. was awful!!! Never been thru that new scan..and, like her, don't especially want to...

I had metal pins in many years ago (pre-9/11 though) and it was not a real big deal. Told them about it and they went thoroughly over the area with the scanner and I emptied and turned the pocket inside out. But then again, these were the days you could carry a pocket knife or a bottle of shampoo.

I too chuckly at a note being accepted. I don't think I want to fly on an airline that accepts notes like that!

My surgeon gave me a note after my first hip replacement in 2004. It's useless. I'm always wanded and patted down.

I don't mind this, personally, but I think all of the passenger-search and X-ray stuff is nuts -- except as a make-work opportunity for the unemployed. AFAIK nobody has ever been 'caught' -- and I'm certain we'd all hear about it if it had happened! (Think of how fast a police department gets out a news release about arrests or finding caches of drugs or guns.)

Numerous times these TSA shuffles have been tested and proven to miss weapons and bomb components. The turnover in these jobs is enormous. The 'security' behind the scenes and on the airfield is extremely porous. If a terrorist wanted to bring down an airplane, he could do what he'd do in Iraq: Fire a rocket from outside the airport perimeter.