Day 20 - April 1, 2019

Today I’m traveling back home. As I went through airport security, I again tell them I have a device on that I cannot remove, show it to them by pulling up my pant leg and that I cannot go through the metal detector or the body scanner, paperwork in hand. The TSA agent asked me “So you really can’t remove it?” Um, NO. Believe me lady, I’m not exactly wearing this for my comfort or sanity. 

She instructs me to put my shoes through the scanner (I was prepared this time & wore footies : ). She told me to go through the metal detector anyway (totally different protocol than my home airport...) and if it set it off I’d need a body search & swab. To her surprise it didn’t set off the metal detector at all so she told me to just keep on going...okay...

Look, I get this is court ordered, but this is highly intrusive into my private life when I follow specific parameters given to me by SCRAM for traveling and I’m still questioned asked for additional information that’s extremely personal. You’re treated like a leper. TSA doesn’t know anything about these devices, what they are or how to treat them. That seems very irresponsible and just begging for a tampering violation or worse their decision to do other than what my paperwork instructs breaks the device and costs me a $1,700 replacement.

Day 19 - March 31, 2019

Tonight I had dinner with a colleague at a restaurant in Kansas City where I’ve been working. My steak arrived with a sauce atop. I hate when the menu doesn’t say a sauce comes on top of the steak. 😡

I was about 3 bites in when he & I proclaimed simultaneously “WHAT IF IT’S A F$@%!+G RED WINE DEMI GLACÉ?!”

I immediately motioned the server over and asked her about it. She just hollowly blinked and replied “Why, are you allergic to alcohol? You should’ve told me that when you ordered.” Of course I explained I was not allergic but I am not allowed to consume any alcohol and that I was wearing a device that would detect ANY injested alcohol and that the menu should make it clear that there would be a sauce and if that sauce contained alcohol. She said she’d check...

She comes back out from the kitchen and assured me they do not cook any of their dishes with alcohol. I told her that’s not exactly what I asked, the sauce could be made with alcohol and not necessarily be “cooked”. She said she’d ask again. I didn’t see her go back there, rather she attended to other guests and as my food grew cold and I grew frantic my colleague motioned her over again to which she assured us there was no alcohol in the food. I sincerely hope not. It was clear she didn’t care and doesn’t know what I have at stake of there was. Needless to say my colleague finished my steak. I ate the mashed potatoes and green beans that hadn’t touched the sauce.

Normally, I would’ve just run to my car and blown into the breathalyzer for a 0.00 on record but I’m traveling and I flew here. No car to save me. Fingers crossed.

Day 17 - March 29, 2019

Today I had to fly out for a 4 day work trip. I was told I should not have a problem getting through TSA screening and that it should be less difficult since I am Pre-Check, but to allow myself extra time. I was told I could not go through the metal detector or the scanner due to the device’s sensitivity, but that they would likely subject me to a body search and swab.

When I approached the TSA agent in line I informed him that I was wearing a device that could not be removed and I pulled up my pant leg. He asked me to go in the body scanner instead of through the metal detector and I showed him my SCRAM paperwork saying that was not something that should be done, however, he insisted. I wasn’t about to stand there and argue with him and it’s on camera I showed him my paperwork and he still made me get in the mschine so if anything happened to the device it’s on him.

Even though I’m Pre-Check and not supposed to have to remove my shoes they did make me remove them. I didn’t really care but I wished I would’ve known they would do this because I was wearing ballet type slippers and didn’t have on socks. Who wants to walk around on that funky ass floor without socks?!

Once I got through the scanner the monitor still set the scanner off (go figure - I tried to tell you!) they asked me to sit in the chair with the device exposed (pant leg up), pat the device with my hands and then swabbed my hands. After a few minutes they let me go and I was on my way.

Day 16 - March 28, 2019

I went to the nail salon today. I skipped the pedicure for obvious reasons but I had to be manicured for a work event for the weekend. I made sure I removed my SNS powdered nails myself before I went in so they wouldn’t have to use chemicals that likely contain straight alcohol in direct contact with my skin to dissolve them before they applied the new SNS powder. I was very nervous every time the tech next to me sprayed anything or did anything to the lady next to me but I told my tech that I could not have contact with alcohol and he performed a ‘botanical’ manicure which contained products that are all natural and he assured me did not contain alcohol. Of course it came at a higher price.