Airport X-ray machines and a prosthesis

Hi Atlantic. I actually don’t think it makes much difference if you do either of those things. On my return trip, I notified a security person standing just before the area where you put your carry on baggage for X-ray. She just told me to tell the X-ray operator which I did but I still had to go through all the same processes as I did on my original trip. I told people but it made no difference

Where would you present your letter or give them a heads up before joining the security queue

Thank you everyone for this information: I had no idea!  If we ever travel again, I will be prepared. We are widely travelled, and it has been my experience on a number of occasions (in the US, Switzerland, the UK) that some airport officials get their thrills harassing travellers, who are in a very vulnerable situation. Give some people a uniform, and they know no bounds!

@Rowey hey, don't blame yourself for not knowing what you don't know.  I would expect that security staff at airports would be better trained to know how to deal with searches in a sensitive way.  They are "mongrels" and really need to train their staff better to deal with people with prosthesis and also with "artificial" limbs, they really are callous in my opinion.  Sorry you had to experience that and also @Locksley it really should never happen this way. 

OFFS!!! What a humiliating situation to be in, ladies. Being interrogated in a public space is shitty enough, being groped is something else. And probably crosses a number of lines, but what do you do at the time?

I know they are only doing their job and are under considerable pressure, but a bit of respect would be appreciated. We are used to leaving our dignity at the door when we enter a medical facility, but really??

The temptation to haul that chicken fillet out of your shirt and shove it under their noses would be almost irresistible.

Sorry you both had to endure this. It's both infuriating and terribly sad. Mxx

@AllyJay @Carissa_BCNA thankyou both for your info.  Same I didn't think about it but I will now.  I will get a letter from my doctor.  @Rowey thankyou for asking the question on the forum.  Sending you a hug.

@arpie you are very kind. I will definitely look at some of the “good stuff”. Mostly I’m great and coping well. I’m active and happy. But it’s always there and jumps out at you when you least expect it. I’m glad I bit the bullet and sent my first post

I can fully understand why it has upset you, @Rowey - but if you hadn't been told of the link that AllyJay gave us - you wouldn't know the correct procedure or paperwork required to avoid the stress of the explanations/pat down/scrutiny out in the public arena!  The Person doing the scrutiny SHOULD have known & been trained to deal with it in a sympathetic way ..... but you also should have been advised of the necessary details, after your surgery.  :(  

If you'd like to check out some other areas of the forum (even funny bits!) jump onto this thread - you may like to check out some of the other posts, on pets, gardens, art & craft & other stuff that we all get up to during the day 
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-our-new-members#latest

take care xx

Thank you all for you advice and info. I guess I should have been better prepared for travel but I just didn’t think about it. I’m surprised at how much it has upset me. Issues come out to bite you when you least expect it. I guess places like airports will never understand that impact

AWESOME info there, @AllyJay!  Thank you so much. 

I will pass the pacemaker bit on to my brother!  I don't think he has flown since it was fitted.

That is vital info that all women with protheses (liquid or other) should be told as soon as they've had their surgery - and to know their rights re privacy & pat downs!!  

Here is the link to AllyJay's post - and a PDF of the whole page as well.
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/what-we-do/travelsecure/travellers-with-specific-needs