Wendy.

A) I have found it best to travel in shorts, since TSA visually examines the prosthesis and has to swipe it with a cotton cloth to test for explosive residue. You will still need to empty your pockets, etc ... but I haven't had to remove my shoes since I was going to be going through the more thorough screening.

B&C) Personally, I have a 'hands free crutch' (iwalk-free.com) which I use when I don't have my pros on (I am a BK). I just wear it to the beach and pool as well, and it is sturdy enough to get wet. Some people have 'water legs', but most insurance companies won't pay for them as they aren't a medical necessity.

C) If you need your crutches, take them with you! You can get away with carrying them onto the plane (especially if you are wearing shorts/skirt and your pros is visable). I keep a name tag on my crutch when traveling, and just hand it to teh flight attendants when I get on the plane and then retreive it when I get off. If you have standard set of crutches, I would suggest strapping them together, so they are a 'single unit'.

Have a GREAT TRIP to Hawaii!!!!

Ron

There's not as much to it as you might think, and once you've done it a couple times it gets easier. Like the other commenter said, you can just bring your crutches on the plane, maybe put your name on them. Whenever I fly I wear a skirt with no metal zippers or rivets just to make it easier. They'll ask you to take off your shoes so make sure you wear shoes that are easy to get on and off. Let them know you have a prosthesis before you go through the metal detectors (they've gotten a lot better at it than they were before, it just takes an extra minute or so). I find it hard to get into the ocean, basically the only way I do it is if my sister is around to give me a piggyback, but pools are no problem. Just leave your prosthesis in your hotel room, or at the side of the pool if you're ocmfortable with that, and swim. If you have any other questions you can ask me!

I, too, find it easier to travel in shorts. And, the last time I flew, the TSA guy at the metal-detector told me not to remove my shoes - I had been popping off my leg to remove the shoe on my pros, and then putting it back on to walk through the detector.

You will, of course, set off the machine, so I tell the metal detector operator that I have a prosthetic before I walk through. They will probably make you wait a bit in a holding area, and then do a more thorough screening to one side. I just plan for at least an extra half hour to get through screening, although it has never taken longer than 15 minutes (I tend to err on the side of caution).

As for swimming or the beach, my Hanger Pros guy said he is going to order a water-proof cover for my leg, so I can go swimming and to the beach for a family cruise at Christmas time.

Sometimes, if I wear NO other metal, I can make it through the metal detectors without setting them off, but normally, they do extra screening. I learned not to be the one holding our baby going through or he gets wanded too. :)

I swim without a prosthesis and haven't missed it.

Have a great trip! We went to Hawaii for a wedding last year and it was wonderful!