My husband, daughter and I are flying to Oahu in a couple of weeks. I'm terrified of the pat down procedure, but I'm more scared of the radiation from the machines. I've called the TSA to ask for other options and was assured by the guy on the phone that they're not doing this to upset me - thanks - but I had a weeping anxiety attack as I sat there on the phone with him telling me I had no choice in the matter. I could either submit myself to physically dangerous radiation (skin cancer history), or to the psychologically dangerous enhanced pat down (rape and molestation survivor).

I even wrote a message to the White House about it today, but I doubt it will be taken seriously. I wrote to Barbara Boxer a few months ago and got a "thank you for your letter but there's nothing I can do for you" response.

My daughter is only 13. Except for me, the only people to even see her naked in the last ten years are her doctor and the other women changing at the Y pool locker room. She's shy about getting naked in front of people, but if everyone's doing it, it's not as big a deal. To my knowledge, there has been no touching of any kind for her.

So do we have to have an amendment to this no touching rule? Do we have to include random TSA agents?

I'm really hoping we get to just walk through the regular scanners.


What should we wear?
Knot, did the lycra thing work out well for you?
If I wear a dress, they can't check a waistband, but how far up do they go with their hands?

Can I insist on them changing their gloves before patting me down?

Any other suggestions for getting through this with a minimum of psychological trauma?

Thanks,
Roxy