December 16th, 2023
71
My ear just potentially cost my company a fortune. What the hell could be wrong with it?
Every flippin time I’m flying and have to go through the TSA security scanner, the TSA agents ask if I have a hearing aid or hidden earring or something on my right ear. I say no, and they proceed to put their gloved fingers into my ear trying to find something. It’s happened so often that everytime the TSA agent stops me when getting out of the tube, I say “is it the ear?” then explain that there’s something about my ear that always sets it off. They always probe into my ear hole anyway because of policy.
Today I got a TSA agent who was really aggressive with my ear then asked me “what the hell” I had in there. I told him what I always say, basically that I don’t know, and he told me to wait there and then radioed for someone. They came and took me to the fucking INTERROGATION ROOM—- which I thought was just a movie thing.
They didn’t give me too hard of a time in there, thankfully, but the whole thing took so long that I missed my flight. This is one of the most important business trips of my career and I could not afford any hiccups, or my company could lose hundreds of thousands in valuation— and of course hiccups came anyway.
I’m currently waiting at the gate since I got bumped to the next flight, and I really need to figure this thing out so this doesn’t happen again. What the hell is wrong with my ear?
December 16th, 2023
71
Comments:
Katya117
If it's a metal detector, there is something metal there. Perhaps ask your parents about any procedures you may have had as a child?
If it's an RF device they only detect external abnormalities. So unusual ear shape, cyst, or tumour.
31
Mr_Money5hot
25
AtavisRune
28
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1
JackBinimbul
Metal detectors react to metal. There is something metal in your ear.
Sort this out before you ever get an MRI. It is a giant magnet and will rip whatever it is straight out of your head in the most expediate and painful way imaginable.
63
TheDoorInTheDark
Those TSA scanners aren’t typically metal detectors, they’re body scanners that usually use radio waves or radiation (like x-ray). They can detect non-metal objects as well. I think it’s probably pretty unlikely OP has an unknown bit of metal lodged in his head and more likely just has some wonky contour by his ear that’s setting off the body scanner.
12
JackBinimbul
Ah, I missed the part where he was referring specifically to body scanners, not metal detectors.
3
crazdtow
This is kinda freaking me out as for whatever reason my vagina always sets the detectors off and I’m pretty certain I s don’t keep anything in there for later use and I still have no clue what it is they think they see that could possibly concern them so much but I’m grateful I don’t get the gloved hand shoved up in there digging around either lol. I often wondered if I have some magical gold pussy with the way a few exes have acted as well lol bc lol is all I can really think to do with subj an awkward moment.
4
Butterflyelle
I am not a doctor but get one to look in your ear! Or buy an otoscope on Amazon and do it yourself (very carefully! You don't want to puncture your eardrum).
My guess- you either put something in there as a child or something got blown/flew/pushed into your ear and you didn't notice. My guess would be something made of metal.
27
Jabberwocky613
Something small enough to fit inside an ear is pretty unlikely to set off a scanner. Not impossible, but super unlikely. Especially metal that OP isn't aware of (since it would have to be extremely tiny).
I mean earrings don't trigger the detector/scanner. Neither do metal buttons. A zipper will sometimes set it off, but not always.
OP, do you have a metal plate in your head? /s.
I recently traveled in a medical compression garment that is full of hook and eye closures, a long zipper in front and another at the crotch. I didn't set off the scanner outbound at all and on the return I got a 3 second patdown before being sent on my way. It was the abdominal zipper that set it off, but the one at my crotch didn't at all.
17
[deleted]
Great guesses. That sounds like it makes sense. I wouldn't do it myself though, just go to the Dr.
2
RedditUser12090
Or an earring came out in your sleep and fell in. Either way, get it looked at
1