I have had my pacemaker for 5 years and I don't fell any better than I did 5 years ago. Every 2 to 3 weeks I have a migraine headace and vomiting for 2 days . when I get tired this happens and I miss 2 days of work. I have been to 3 different dr. & no one knows what is wrong with me. My family thinks that I should try to get on disability. I like my job very much and don't want to give it up. I am a custodian at the high school and I love being around the kids. I have had this job for 14 years. But my family thanks that it is to much for me. I also work in the lunch room at noon serving icecream to the kids so I don't get to have a lunch break. Does any one else have this problem or some thing like it. Tired of being sick all the t...

 

Has anyone flown in a helicopter after PM or ICD placement? I am wondering about any magnetic stuff going on in/around the helicopter, the radios, etc.

 

First of all Merry Christmas to all!

Second of all...wanted to know what would happen if you did go through the security at an airport. Will it mess with the pacemaker? Will it cause any damages? Will it just deactivate?

Thank you all,
emt500april

 

hello , my name is robert, I just had a pace maker put in this last sunday, they also said I wqs a 100% dependent on it, I guess the batteries will need replacing sooner, any one have any complications with the st. jude model, I also am on disability, not for just the pace maker implant, I also have conjestive heart failure, C.O.P.D., enphesiema, I am also bi-polar, wow, I do ride a harley davidson alot during the summer months, I travel alot of miles on it, as u know a harley is pretty loud, has anyone had a problem with theres riding bikes , being around loud noises, thanks for your time, and have a merry christmas.........Robert

 

Hello, fellow pacers!

Five weeks from tomorrow I will be on a plane heading to SA for three weeks! I am so excited...and a little nervous since I haven't travelled solo internationally in almost 14 years!

I have seen other posts on here about pacers having a hard time getting traveler's insurance. I was able to get traveler's insurance that covers a slew of things...including my pre-existing condition/having a pm. I just had to purchase it within the two weeks after purchasing my ticket. So, there is hope for those of you who travel!

Anyone here travel internationally with their pm and have any problems at international airports? Just curious.

Happy Holiday Pacing,
ela-girl

 

Hi,
As some of you know, I had a PM inserted for Sick Sinus Syndrome 3 months ago. Since then I have had many problems. I get strong chest pains that bring on anxiety. I have been back to accident and emergency dept on 3 occassions because of the chest pains.

When I get the chest pains, I get very anxious and have suffered two panic attacks. My doctor prescribed diazepam to help with the anxiety/panic attacks.

My partner is travelling abroad so we got joint annual travel insurance (even though I am not well yet to travel and have no immediate plans). The travel Insurance company covered me for Sick Sinus Syndrome without too much of a problem.

When I received my insurance policy, it stated that th...

 

I was searching trying to find information on ICD/pacemakers and electrical generating plants.

I will be getting a ICD/pacemaker in a few weeks. My job requires me to be in large hydroelectric poweplants. I do not work on the generators but are around them. I asked my doctor about this and he said he wasn't sure but the manufacturer should know. I have no idea who the manufacturer will be. Anyone have any info on this?

Thanks

 

Hello everyone

I am new here. Just got a pm on sunday and have been recovering quite well. My arm feels fine but the incision site feels stiff and hurts when i do alot of movement. I am an audio engineer by trade and do alot of reaching and constant moving during my job. a few doctors told me to wait 2 weeks others said I could go back to work immediatly(I havent) how long should I wait? I dont want to screw anything up with the leads, pm etc.

also does anyone have any information about speakers/ wireless microphones interferance with a pm? we use high end gear and the room we work out of is small and has a ton of electrical gear. should this be safe?

thanks everyone. trying to adjust to this new life its...

 

Hi-I'm still new to all this!
My pacemaker is 2 & 1/2 weeks old and we will be going to Europe in another 2 weeks. I have not fared well with dehydration in the past then I get into real trouble,) so I will be alert to that issue but if anyone has any other travel tips, I would really appreciate it!

On a side note, I went into a department store today and walked past the In Store Security system and my heart/pacemaker/defib -whatever it was - started freaking out. It was really scary. My heart felt like it was doing flips in there and my sports watch could not read my pulse - it was jumping up and down. Once I realized what had caused this event ( I had taken 4 steps away from the units when it hit), the store was very nice...

 

Well, here I am finally home safe and well actually we never really know how "sound" I am ha ha... Anyway flights were great, the time in Florida was wonderful and the friendships I will hold dear to my heart for the rest of my life. I will be so happy to share the information and stories after I have a little nap. Very travel weary.
Tammie and Gary thank you for your wonderful thoughts and comments. I always look forward to hearing from you.
Tracy, Putman, Bev, Linda Loopy Lou and Blake and Gary... I miss all of you!

 

We have had a fantastic time in Tampa! I want to thank Blake and Rachel for the wonderful experience. Blake worked so hard to put this event together for us and it was awesome! We were well taken care of, the speakers were informative, so easy to talk to. My Goodness I am exhausted and ready to return to my home, but I am so happy and thankful that I was able to come. It has meant so much to me to actually meet the Pacer Chicks, the Pacer Studs and of course Blake and Rachel. The hotel was great, the staff wonderful and the location too. We laughed, enjoyed drinks together shared a lot of toast with an assortment of drinks. The Ball was something special as well. Everyone looked so handsome and beautiful.
I learned a great deal fro...

 

Hi! Im 26 from Hungary and have a pacemeker for few weeks.
Could somebody help me to find a pacemeker protector to play soccer? I've asked it and its exist, but in my country is nobody who trade with this. Any informatoin would be very important. Im sure that are players with pacemaker. Soccer is my life. please help me!

 

I had my ICD implant 4th weeks ago, now that I am back to work, they are worried about me. Las Monday I end up in the ER because I was to close to a magnetic field at work. Now work has me not doing hardly anything because they are afraid that I may have another incident. What can I do so that I don't lose my job. or If I lose my job, would I be able to get another job, should I metion that I have an ICD during my interview?

 

Trying to make contact with police officers or others who wear a bullet proof vest and have a PM. Looking to hear your experiences with how you are treated at work.
My employer hired me as an immigration enforcement officer with the knowledge that I had a PM. I was cleared to do the job by both my doctor and my employer's doctor.
I have been fighting for 2.5 years to get my vest and equipment. My employer has now conceded and are willing to give me a vest but only if I sign off on the liability.
I would welcome any advice

 

Hi All,

I am looking into going back to school for a new career at midlife since losing my previous job due to my pm. Is anyone here a Pharmacy Tech or Dental Assistant???
If so, any problems/complications with these jobs?

Thank you.

Take care,
Casey

 

I recently had to go to Hawaii for work, which meant dealing with airport metal detectors or security gates at Sacramento and Honolulu airport. I passed through both of them without any problems.

This is not a recommendation just a report from the field. I have a Saint Jude PM/ICD installed since May 2008.

There seems to be conflicting information about metal detectors. Here is what is on the Saint Jude website.
---------------------
From www.sjm.com/resources
FAQs

Will airport security systems damage or reprogram my pacemaker?
There is a slight possibility that a pacemaker may mistake the energy from a security gate as your heart’s natural rhythm and withhold its pacing output ...

 

Currently, I'm living in China, about 12 hours southwest of Beijing. Has anyone else been in a developing country for any length of time with a pacemaker? Ever since arriving here, I've had problems with it going off multiple times everyday, whereas at home I was only using it 1% of the time. Do you know what could be causing it to pace now? Will it hurt my heart or cause damage to the pacer with it pacing this often? My husband (who's back in the states) called my cardio doc and he said he had no idea and couldn't help me so far away. Help?! Thank you!

 

Hi,

I lost my job in 2007 after getting my pacemaker. I was a Locomotive Engineer. My Cardiologist and Medtronics Tech both released me to return to work in Oct 2008. The railroad would not accept the release and would not come out with a clear and concise explanation. It boils down, in so many words, that they do not want the liability. I have found from other railroads, that they pretty much force the employee to go on disability! Disability when you are still able bodied!?

I understand their point on one hand, if there was a accident the party suing would jump all over the condition of the engineer having a pacemaker.

Now that I have vented....

Has anyone had any problems in getting employment...

 

Hi Friends!
I just got back from a work related trip to Rochester N.Y., and seem to be having some of my pre-pacemaker symptoms. When I arrived in Rochester( and during the flight), I started having symptoms of palpitations and dizziness. These symptoms got a little better as the week went on ; although at night they kept me awake or startled me awake. The day I flew home I had overwhelming symptoms of dizziness, palpitations and heart rate readings of 59 and 60 ( my pacemaker is set at low rate of 60, but the guy from St. Jude recently my some adjustments to combat some fatigue issues about 2 weeks ago) and still dont feel well 2 days post return flight. Before flying to Rochester I had none of the dizzy palpitation symptoms. Al...

 

I had a pacemaker fitted in April this year. Since then I have found it difficult to get a reasonably price annual holiday insurance cover, even though I am probably at less risk to them than I was before I had the p/m.
Can anybody in the uk recommend a good insurance company.

Many Thanks
Pam