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TSA precheck?

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Posted 11/8/2021 9:34 PM (GMT 0)
Do any of you use this? I am thinking I will after my latest business trip home.

Everything was fine until I had to go through the body scanner.

I step out and turn to the agent and ask if I'm good. "No!" He says emphatically pointing to the heat areas and proceeds to pat me down.

After the pat down he brought in another agent for a second opinion. Here's where my UC plays a role. I get anxious about travel with my condition so I wear a diaper. The two agents were feeling the extra bulge and were suspicious. Granted, I am thankful they were just doing their jobs, but man was I embarrassed. I told the second agent I have a digestive disease and I was wearing a diaper. He walked by the first agent said something in his ear and I was cleared to go. (Probably said diaper or medical)

That experience was the first time in 10 years having this disease where I felt down and distraught.

Anyone have a similar experience and I think TSA precheck skips the body scans.
Posted 11/12/2021 4:51 AM (GMT 0)
No experience with this and TSA. Just wanted to say I am sorry you had to go thru that. It's difficult when you are coping with your disease and then you have to deal with all the other things that seem to tag along.

My GI gave me a card that indicates that I gave UC and Crohn's. My Colorectal surgeon gave me another card indicating a colostomy... But I haven't flown for just this reason.

I don't know how I would handle this situation, either I would cry or start lecturing about IBD. Way to go keeping your cool.

Clo
Posted 11/22/2021 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
How do you go about pre check don't you have to do like an interview?

I flew out of NY with my ostomy and I had to go into a separate room because I didn't want to expose myself and they touched my freshly opened belly and other sensitive areas. While I felt it was inappropriate, it's actually in their guides that they can do that. I felt so humiliated and anxious.
Posted 11/23/2021 1:57 AM (GMT 0)

Andreita said...
How do you go about pre check don't you have to do like an interview?

I flew out of NY with my ostomy and I had to go into a separate room because I didn't want to expose myself and they touched my freshly opened belly and other sensitive areas. While I felt it was inappropriate, it's actually in their guides that they can do that. I felt so humiliated and anxious.

After my first surgery my hospital gave me a medical card identifying that I had abdominal surgery and an ostomy for situations like that, I think it was for more informative so people were surprised and trusted what I said. I’m not sure that I used the card or not.
Posted 11/24/2021 12:25 PM (GMT 0)
Can you get a medical card from your doctor?
Posted 11/24/2021 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
"That experience was the first time in 10 years having this disease where I felt down and distraught".------------ Looking on the bright side... This is a good thing! A pretty good 10 year run! You are probably healthier (body and mind) than most victims of IBD.
Posted 11/24/2021 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
A few years ago I was traveling a lot for business so I applied at an airport for the TSA precheck. I think I still had to go through a scanner (it may have just been a metal detector -- I don't remember now), but with pre-check you don't have to take your shoes off or all that other stuff (liquids & laptops out of bags) and it's a whole lot faster to get through security.
Posted 11/24/2021 6:03 PM (GMT 0)

turtlepower said...
Do any of you use this? I am thinking I will after my latest business trip home.

Everything was fine until I had to go through the body scanner.

I step out and turn to the agent and ask if I'm good. "No!" He says emphatically pointing to the heat areas and proceeds to pat me down.

After the pat down he brought in another agent for a second opinion. Here's where my UC plays a role. I get anxious about travel with my condition so I wear a diaper. The two agents were feeling the extra bulge and were suspicious. Granted, I am thankful they were just doing their jobs, but man was I embarrassed. I told the second agent I have a digestive disease and I was wearing a diaper. He walked by the first agent said something in his ear and I was cleared to go. (Probably said diaper or medical)

That experience was the first time in 10 years having this disease where I felt down and distraught.

Anyone have a similar experience and I think TSA precheck skips the body scans.

Maybe go into the bathroom after you get through security and put the diaper on afterwards.
Posted 11/24/2021 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
Having TSA precheck is not always a magic carpet ride through security. If an alarm is triggered, say even for metal from a joint replacement, expect the full treatment just like any other possibly dangerous suspect. That includes a hand check for traces of explosives and a pat down that can become quite intimate if the traveler is wearing non-standard underwear.
As far as I know applying for Precheck does not require an interview but you might have to show up in person with documents. Skip a scan? Never hear of that.
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