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What I am amazed at is the lack of uniformity in searches and investigations by TSA crews. I recently flew, and will explain the treatment i received at two different airports.

I have MS. I use a wheelchair in an airport. I also have an implanted Baclofen pump, which is a hockey puck sized device implanted in my abdomen. A plain x-ray will show the device, quite prominently, and also show the catheter that carries the med from the pump to my spine. I also carry a card which I hand to the TSA agent at the very start, and it verifies the pump and my identity as a recipient of the device.

Leaving my home airport, they were concerned about the pump, even though I had given them the card. I was due for a pat down if I didn’t do the full scanner... I can stand and walk short distances so I chose the scanner. I got into the machine and then was asked to raise my arms over my head. I told them that wasn’t going to happen because they don’t raise any higher than my ears. At any rate they were okay with that, and they met me with my wheelchair on the other side...and I was on my way.

Return flight. This TSA crew were obsessed with the wheelchair. The first TSA group had barely even looked at it, I seemed to be the threat. This time my wheelchair seemed to be the threat. I never went through any scan, no pat down, only had my hands swabbed...I don’t even remember them using a hand scanner. But the wheelchair, it endured the “assault.” They swabbed the entire chair, took it apart (I had been asked to sit in a chair they provided) and then put it back together. Once they were convinced my
little travel wheelchair was not the threat, I was on my way.

I’d like to know who decides what is and isn’t a priority in a search, and why one group would target me, and the other crew targeted my wheelchair. Very strange, and absolutely no uniformity....it all seems so subjective and directed by the “whim” of the TSA crew as to if you do or don’t “pass muster.”