Intl travel

I had a St. Jude pacemaker implanted a couple of weeks ago and am wondering if anybody has traveled outside the U. S.? Any problems with security, completely out-of-spec metal detectors, refusal/inability to read a pacemaker ID?
They sent me home with a Merln box. Do I need to take this along? Since it seems to need a local cell tower, what happens in an area without cell towers?

5 Comments

enjoy your trip

by Tracey_E - 2017-09-05 22:53:28

Security around the world sees pacemakers all day long, and we can go through metal detectors now. Newer pacers use a different alloy that does not set off airport motion detectors. Keep your id card with you just in case but I've never needed it. 

Confirm with your doctor but I was told not to bother taking Merlin unless I'd be gone more than a month. 

movin' on

by Gotrhythm - 2017-09-06 13:59:50

Pacemakers seem new and special to us, but to airport personnel they are old hat. At one airport security, I think it was Munich, they even had special checkpoint for people with pacemakers and other devices. Kinda nice, because the line was much shorter.

But even if you're mixed in with the folks who aren't battery powered, "pacemaker" is the same in any language. Just tell them and they will take it from there.

Don't try to take the Merlin. You're right. It won't send internationally.

Ditto

by Reboot1212 - 2017-09-06 19:47:22

Asked the same question today at my interrogation. Doctor said leave OK to leave Merlin home. Not set up for overseas anyway The nurse asked me the dates I'm away so she could coordinate with planning scheduled Merlin transmissions. Bon Voyage!

Intl travel

by TBrous&Chip - 2017-09-07 05:21:13

Medtronuc offers (for free) an ID card with info in multiple languages just in case you get a security person who does not recognize your standard pm ID card.

Not to worry

by Jill S - 2017-09-07 09:45:46

Hi, I've travelled internationally (from Canada to Europe/Caribbean) many times since I got a PM 16 yrs ago. My experience:

- Just let security know you have a PM. They are experienced with it. Just so you know:  You shouldn't walk through the metal detector or be gone over with the wand they use.  They will pat you down instead (as a woman, they always get a woman to pat me down).  Usually, they offer to do this in private in case you're embarrassed by it.  I let them do it in public--I don't mind and it's faster.

- Most airports in Europe now have body scanners. My understanding is they are sonar and don't affect the PM.  I have used them with no problems.  In Canada, I'm sometimes offered a choice to be pat down instead of the body scanner. It's up to you. 

Hope this helps. Have a great trip.

You know you're wired when...

You take technology to heart.

Member Quotes

I have a well tuned pacer. I hardly know I have it. I am 76 year old, hike and camp alone in the desert. I have more energy than I have had in a long time. The only problem is my wife wants to have a knob installed so she can turn the pacer down.