Well, I can answer some of your questions. I don't wear a leg, so I sat in a wheelchair through the airport (only because airports are so big and it would just speed things up). At the security check-point, they will take you aside and use a hand held scanner up and down your body. They always ask if you want more privacy, I never did, but if you do, they will take you behind a screen I guess. They will put the crutches through the X-Ray machine. On the plane the crutches will fit easily in the overhead compartment. I used to have a metal rod in my leg and I never had a doctor's note. They just use that hand held scanner and gently pat leg to make sure you are not hiding anything in there.

I wouldn't worry about any of this. The airport is pretty used to this sort of thing and it goes quickly. They are really nice about it too.

I didn't know that they make you take your leg off if you are wearing one. I guess someone else will have to advise you on that one. That seems like such a hassle to have to take it off.

If your anxiety is really high, I'd say take something to relax. I'm all for taking something if you need to. Why suffer? No need to have any anxiety though, it will all be fine!

Hey, have a good time, wherever you land!
Melissa :)

I am a frequent flier, and airports are nothing to fret over. i wear my prosthetic leg through, and the extra security measures don't even add that much time to your check in process.
the security process varies at every airport, but it always has the same basic format.
just like everyone else you put your carryon items in the bins, along with your shoes. some airports want the shoes in a separate bin, some don't, but don't worry, there are always signs everywhere. keep your id and your boarding pass in your hand.
as i start to walk through the metal detector, i always announce to the guard that "I'm going to set if off, I have a prosthetic leg". they always say some variation of "that's okay," they wave you through and send you off to the side somewhere and ask you to wait. they shout "female assist", and usually pretty soon after that a female guard will come over to do the wandy thing.
most of them will ask if you are flying with someone who is getting your things, and if, like me, you fly alone, they will ask what is yours and they get it for you. she explains everything as she does it. you stand feet shoulder width apart, arms out while she does the hand held wandy metal detector all over. she tells you when to put your arms down, and if you set it off, she pats the area down, she'll use the back of her hand in sensitive areas. after the wand the do a quick pat down, where the usually check your arms and legs, some do the torso too.
then they will do a chemical test on your hands, and on your prosthetic leg. it is just a small piece of round paper, or a balled up thing on a stick that test for gsr, or basically tests whether or not you have handled guns or bomb materials. they usually swipe my foot and my knee and as far up as i can pull my pant leg on my fake leg. once the test comes back that you're clean, they tell you to have a nice flight and you are free to go.
they always ask at the beginning if you would like privacy, if you would they will take you to either a private room, or a screened off privacy area. if you ever want the privacy and they forget to ask, just let them know. they do so many of those checks, sometimes they just forget to ask if you want privacy.
i have only once had to take off my leg, but that was pretty soon after 9/11 and the whole chemical test thing was brand new. i have flown at least twice a year since, often more, and it has been smooth sailing.
i guess it does kinda of help that i fly a lot and know the whole drill, but it really is nothing to worry about.
if you do plan on flying soon, i would recommend that you try out a pair of crocs, and see if they will stay on your prosthetic foot without the strap behind them. i have found that mine will, and this make taking my shoes off and putting them back on at the airport a breeze. crocs.com has all kinds of styles now, but the ones i have are just the original, old school ones. and besides basically being able to walk in and out of them, they are insanely comfortable!
so there's my low-down on airports, i hope it helps.

Hey Harley...

I have travelled extensively and it is hit or miss when I wear "the leg". When I don't I wheel right through in the chair and as Melissa said, they just "wand" and "pat" you. When I wear the leg, I am generally taken aside - and have my shoe from the prosth leg removed and scanned. I usually just get patted down, but in four airports I was actually accosted (Phoenix, Boston, Cincinatti and Charles deGaulle in Paris) In Paris I actually had to take my leg off and the f'n security lady felt me up - all over my residual area and other private parts until I started crying.) I asked for her supervisor....at which point she promptly returned my leg and passed me through to my plane...)

TIPS: Be on time, know your rights, and if you are ever uncomfortable with the procees --- demand the Supervisor's Supervisor!!

In the past few years I feel like airports have gotten better at dealing with people who have medical issues that set off metal detectors. It's not just amputees, pacemakers and other things will set off the machines. When I first flew as an amputee (after the 9/11 attacks, before that I had no problem) in the summer of 2003 I was brought to a little room and had to hike my skirt up to show them my leg. I flew to Florida last winter and it was so much easier. I usually make sure I'm not wearing anything metal (no jeans with rivets) and make sure I'm wearing shoes that are easy to get on and off. I tell them ahead of time that I'm wearing a pros and it'll set off the metal detectors, then they send you into a separate space that is in plain view of the public so they can't do anything weird and scan/wand/whatever, but it's totally fine and takes maybe a minute extra.

well, I travel alot. I am a below the knee amputee and I have never had to take my leg off. Every time I walk thru and get detained because I set off the metal detector. They ask if i want a private screening but i always say no cause i dont care. all they do is pat down the leg and run the metal detector over it. the whole process takes about 15 extra minutes. its not a big deal it's really more of a hassle.