I'm asthmatic and allergic to practically all airborne perfumes and scents. Usually I opt out because I know what's going to happen in the box. When I get into an enclosed space and I smell any powdery scents (like those often found in deodorants/antiperspirants) I start coughing. Profusely. It seriously sounds like I have TB. I always warn the TSA officer of this situation, but they always say "You can opt out if you want, but you'll be subjected to a "vigorous" patdown. My last trip I was sick of it. So I went full throttle.

Last month I went from SMF to LAX and then from LAX to SYD, in each instance I was put into the cancer box, I started coughing profusely. Because I was unable to cover my mouth as I was holding "the position" I coughed for 5 seconds straight. In SMF, the three passengers all waiting to go in behind me protested and refused until the cancer box was "sterilized." They closed the Body Scanner and let those pax through the WTMD. Uhhh.....you're welcome!

In LAX, I coughed all over the TSA officers. They also closed down the cancer box. And one went immediately on break...I assume to do a whore's bath with Purell.