Laurie

I was pointed to an small area to go  & wait & once there my ticket was checked again & I was told to be seated in a small area in both airports. In the first airport, it was small enough I did'nt need assistance but was given a choice to a free check in of my carry on suitcase. I took the opportunity. 

Arriving & leaving Vancouver I was very impressed with the Air Canada service.  I was taken on a golf cart with a few other passengers from & later to the plane & right to where the luggage carosel was to pick up my luggage in Vancouver.  I had enough ostomy supplies to change my pouch 3 times if needed in my purse but it was a short flight so I really had no concerns.  I also did'nt eat the morning of my flight so I had no reason to use the washroom anywhere. At security, bcuz of my cane, I was given a wooden cane to go through the security xray? machine & I was never asked about anything on my body concerning my pouch area. All in all I felt it was a very good experience for my first Ostomy flight. 

That is so exciting, Linda!!  Where are you going to go?

LLNorth ... Oh!  My! Goodness!! I'm so sorry you went through all of that!   I'm actually picking up my very 1st Passport application this week & am planning a trip for a year away & honestly I'm surprised to learn there is nothing in the application that would have excused you from such a "public" search. I know these searches are needed to be done for our safety but really, so openly??!!!!   You are a tough cookie!  I'm 65 &  I know my hair will glow in lights too.  My worst embarassing moment was not with my ostomy, but when I tried to home dye my gray hair back into submission only to result in a full head of purple hair! The young kids & teens thought it was great!   Me, not so much! Lol! It took over 2 weeks before my very kind understanding hair dresser could repair the damage I'd done but I was somewhat mortified ! Lolol... ugh. 

Good on you for keeping your cool! 

Keep two thoughts in mind; it isn’t personal, and you have done nothing wrong.

This is so important, and I appreciate you saying that.

@llholiday I can understand how that would be a stressful experience, but keeping those two points above in mind, I do hope that future TSA checks go by more smoothly for you.

Speaking of airport moments, I'm not sure if I've ever shared this, but here it goes:

On one of my trips (I believe from Orlando), our group was heading to the airport and one of my friends asked if I wanted her bottled drink (Gatorade, I think). I took it, thinking I'd be able to finish it before boarding.

As I'm at the TSA stop, i went through the scanner and so did my backpack.

The officer asked if I had any fluids, and I said no. He repeated the question, and I said no again.

Then he checked my backpack, finding a full, opened bottle of fluids there... my god, I thought I'd be taken to the back and interrogated 😂 I apologized and explained that I forgot my friend gave it to me. He was nice enough and let me go through. I'm sure I had to throw out the drink, though.