Thanks for the replies. So my fears are not unfounded -- I am going to get hassled by the TSA.

Unfortunately, like most of my trips, leaving the airport is not an option. If the choice is to be sexually assaulted or leave the airport, I guess I'll go for the sex assault. It's happened to me before (not at the airport, but by a relative), so at least it wouldn't be my first time.

How about this -- this idea of mine is not totally serious, I'm just throwing this out as a possibility -- (assuming metal detector is not an option) -- I go through the scanner, they complain that I'm wearing an adult diaper, so I'll go backwards to remove it in the restroom pre-security, remove the adult diaper, and then while waiting to go through again, if I so happen to s*** in my pants, oh well. Then they can pat down my s***ty pants and be thoroughly disgusted (or not, maybe they have one of those weird fetishes ).

I appreciate the suggestion that I claim a medical injury and can't lift my arms, but I consider that to be "caving". I won't do that. I would rather do a strip search or poop in my pants than lie. I do have medical problems but lifting my arms is not one of them.

I am bringing an extra pair of underwear and pants in my carry-on for worst case scenario, because the last thing I want to do is contaminate the airplane seat. And of course I will arrive in plenty of time to clean up.

I was arrested one time and then released later (no record), so I do know what a strip search is like. It's quick and involves no touching. Pretty sad that TSA has less respect for the human body than the CO's at the local jail.