I shattered a heel five years ago and had a plate and nine pins in my foot. The surgeon was going to leave the metal in, and told me I'd get a medical card to get me through the TSA screens. I've since learned that such cards are virtually worthless, which makes sense because it wouldn't be difficult for even a Muzzie terrorist to figure out he could avoid a thorough search by merely forging a doctor's excuse if they did work. I am fortunately, I suppose, that I required two additional surgeries and on the third they pulled all the metal.
I hate to burst your bubble, but at 6'6" and 315 lb you are fat, with a body mass index of 36, which is well above the obesity threshold of 30. I have no doubt that you carry your mass well, considering. I have a BMI of 40, so I envy your relatively svelt physique.
Given the bullets in your legs, think about requesting a front-row seat with no reclining seat in front of you. Or, request a seat behind an exit row, as those seats don't recline. Just tell the booking agent you have a disability, and they will likely accomodate you. I usually request an aisle seat on the side of the plane opposite my bum foot, because its easier to get in and out of my seat with such an assignment. I've been accomodated more often than not. The problem I've had is the airline being overaccomdative by greeting the plane with a wheelchair for me (which I've never requested, but the word "disability" seems to trigger some protocol). I've always declined a wheelchair because I regard the walk through the airport as a form of physical therapy. I've only missed one connecting flight because of this.
Those who take cheap shots at fat folks are fortunate that they have a metabolism or an ability to stay active enough to keep the weight off. I gained 50 lb after being diagnosed with diabetes, much of that due to the medications. I stopped taking one pill for two months just to see if it had any effect on my weight, and I lost 20 lb without any increase in physical activity or any attempt to modify my diet. My blood sugar was sky high after those two months and I went back to taking the pill, but as my doctor said, "Take the pill to keep your blood sugar down and live longer at a higher weight, or forego the pill for a lower weight, a supposed higher quality of life, but plan on dying sooner." To tell you the truth, being lighter with a chronically high blood sugar isnt much of a quality improvement.
In our current environment I’m okay with them pulling you aside despite your medical card. Otherwise, that might become an easy dodge for those with bad intent.
And, indeed—thank you for your service!
You can try military hops if commercial travel is a hassle. It’s not as reliable as commercial flights, but it is an alternative.
www.militaryhops.com/
You can try military hops if commercial travel is a hassle. It’s not as reliable as commercial flights, but it is an alternative.
www.militaryhops.com/
You found a TSA agent who could read?
/tangent
Nitehawk, thanks for your service.