Question:
Did anybody have to show proof when going through metal dectectors at airports
I know this sounds stupid but here I go - I am going to Florida next month. I have staples inside me due to open rny. With all of the new detectors they have due to 9/11 will I have any problems? Anybody who has flown recently please let me know your stories. Thanks - Tracy — tracyr (posted on April 14, 2004)
April 14, 2004
Ahh relax! First remove EVERYTHING METALLIC from your person, no cell
phones rings bracelets shoes with metal absolutely nothing when going thru
the archway type detector. They arent sensitive enough to detect our
stomach staples. But the wand type are. If you avoid setting off the
archway detector thats most of the hassle. I stupidly had my cell phone in
my pocket:( That set off the archway detector and they detected the staples
with the wand. I pulled up my shirt and told them what was up. No problem
at all. Over in seconds! Another person found the wand detected the
metallic ink in a candy wrapper, and no it wasnt me. Enjoy the flight, the
security workers are there for our protection and only trying to do their
job. they were very nice and understanding but dont wear anyhthing
embarassing just in case:(
— bob-haller
April 14, 2004
I have not flown since my RNY in July 2002, but I did have staples from my
VBG and flew in Jan 2002. No problems at all, but then unlike Bob I've
never been "wanded"!!
— Ali M
April 14, 2004
I have flown internationally (4 times) since I had open RNY and did not
have a problem with metal detectors.
— ChristineB
April 14, 2004
I work for United Airlines and go thru the metal detectors every day I
work- No problems! :) have fun on your trip!!
— Sarah A.
April 14, 2004
Not a lot of steel in the staples..titanium I think. They aren't like the
big ones used on skin. They are tiny and even show up on x-ray as the
faintest shadow.
— DrL
April 15, 2004
Heck, I went to Mexico for my open RNY and flew home 7 days later with a
huge zipper of metal on my stomach and even those staples didn't set
anything off. :o)
— Dinka Doo
April 15, 2004
Hi Tracy...I have to fly at least every 2 weeks for my job and the staples
won't set off the detectors...they are made of titanium, so they don't
read...Now if you went thru the new experimental XRay machines they are
testing (voluntarily only) here in Orlando they *might* be able to see
them, but maybe not because the staples become covered with scar tissue.
Don't worry about it..lol Have fun on your trip and thanks for visiting
Florida!! Denise 316/158
— lily1968
April 15, 2004
I travel a lot.. your bra will give you more trouble than that staples
do... I never have a problem though.. except with little metal pieces in my
bra. *grin*
— Lisa C.
April 16, 2004
I've flown 4 times since my surgery and I've never set off the metal
detectors. But on another note, I was disturbed by something that happened
(or rather, didn't happen) last week when I went to Las Vegas.
We left Detroit Metro Airport and flew into McCarran International Airport
in Las Vegas. The security checkpoints at each airport looked the same and
had the same professional looking security guards.
Anyway, when we went through the checkpoints in Detroit, neither of us set
off any alarms. I was surprised because we put our carry-on on the conveyor
to be checked, but we didn't empty our pockets.....even so, no alarms went
off.
When traveling, my husband always wears a comfortable "traveling
outfit" that translates to bluejeans and a t-shirt with a pocket and
his New Balance sneakers. None of this set off any alarms in Detroit.
When we were leaving Las Vegas and going through the checkpoints, he
couldn't get through. The Las Vegas detectors picked up the ink pen in his
pocket, his belt buckle (which he wore through Detroit, also), the rivets
on his jeans, the eyes on his sneakers and even some of the stripes on the
cards in his wallet...specifically his ID card from Ford Motor company.
How safe does that make you feel that NONE of that same stuff set off
alarms in Detroit, but caused him to practically get strip-searched in
Vegas!
— Lynette B.
April 17, 2004
Just wanted to say...I have an artificial knee, metal plates and screws in
my neck, both shoulders and screws and a metal bar in my right leg as well
as staples from my RnY surgery and I have NEVER set off any Detectors of
any kind in ANY Airport I have been in since 1997.
— cindirella
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