I am a newbie with a pacemaker. I bought a product on line and proceeded to put my credit card in my shirt pocket over my pacemaker. All of a sudden I was getting chest pains, really weird! Then I remembered that credit cards have a magnetic strip in it, when I removed it the pain went away. I guess I have to get a new way of looking at things! LOL

 

I know this is going to sound very odd to say the least.... Here is what happened.

I was in my garage working on some "Bird Houses" I was holding one of the houses close to my chest to so I could get a good grip to use the wood glue. As I was applying pressure to the side piece I heard very clearly a nice beeeeeeeeeeep. I swear it came from my pacemaker.

Now I could be crazy and it could have come from something else, but nothing else was on in the garage. It was the weirdest of sounds. I have a check up with cardio in June so I will wait to see what happens. I have the "MERLIN" running all the time and I feel fine.

My questions are "Has anyone actually heard their pacemaker beep"? and if so what did ...

 

Does anyone know if backpack type vacuums are OK to use?

Thanks,
CJ

 

Hi, I’m new here and think this site is great.  I had a pacemaker implanted in February of 2011.  I’m wondering if there are any dangers with driving my Harley.  Does anyone else drive motorcycles with a pacemaker and are there any mal effects?

Thank you, Harold1962

 

As a person who has just had a pacemaker fitted during the last couple of weeks, you will understand that I am a bit dazzled by all the information I have come across, regarding what equipment I can use as the magnetic field might upset my pacemaker, however, I am told that if shoplifters use a bag, which is lined with aluminum foil, it is impervious to the shop security when passing through the barriers, I know this as I am magistrate, in case anyone is worried about this comment!!

My question is, if you lined your chest with aluminum foil, will this prevent any interference to your pacemaker...!!!

 

I have petrol powered garden tools made Stihl, they German company, which I have not used since having a pacemaker implanted in February this year. I have read the Pacemaker Club FAQs on interferences and note that electric shearers will not interfere with the pacemaker. The equipment I have is: a chainsaw, a strimmer, a leaf blower, all of which are used on the right-hand side of my body with my pacemaker having been inserted on the left side.

Am I correct in assuming that the E M F of the sparkplugs of these tools will not interfere; on average they will be some 18 inches away from the pacemaker.

If the forum cannot reassure me on this particular question, I would appreciate any websites which may help me. I have be...

 

Surgery and diathermy

I have just returned from Adelaide where I had both my carpal tunnels released through arthroscopic surgery. As I have a bi-ventricular CRT pacemaker-ICD, I had a Medtronic magnet, which looks like a blue donut, placed over my device to protect the defibrillator component from possible affects arising from the surgeon’s use of diathermy; in this case, bi-polar diathermy which is, I believe, the lesser problem of the two types of diathermy. The magnet was put in place by the anesthetist during the procedure’s preparation and removed immediately following the surgery. My heart was, of course, monitored during the surgery. Although the magnet temporarily de-activated the ICD, the pacemaker was still able to co...

 

I am 1 hour new to PM Club, there are many questions.

Is there a way for contacting manufacturers to be a part of this forum to answer questions. Some answers I received are user advice, but the vendors of PM have surely done a lot of research with various interferences and have more information. My carpets at home create static....mundane ...should I worry, Wii games, razors, Holy Cow!!!! we are all surrounded by EMF’s from every source; perhaps a PM vendor can find a PM that runs on coal. I have to find a place 100 miles away from civilization to be safe !!!!

 

I am a pilot and tinkerer on a farm with alll kinds of power equipment

Does any one know of interferences to pacemakers from transponders or aircraft engines generating power /magnetos/

Ron

 

hi i am new to this site and very grateful for finding this site. Tons of info. I have a spinal cord stimulator (2009) for nerve injury to my legs and also have a pacemaker(2000). I was told by the dr that installed the scs that it would not interfere with my pm will he was wrong it interferes with ekgs and telemetry. was wondering if anyone else had this issue. thanks in advance for you response

 

I have had a pacemaker since I was 15 and got a replacement in May 2010 and I want to buy an exercise bike, but I’ve heard people saying don’t get a magnetic one, but most are magnetic and I wanted to know if it is true that people with pacemakers can’t use them.  (I’m sure you’re able to use them)?

 

i noticed that if i go near satellite dishes i start feeling weird like light headed any idea ? only if am like with 10 inches away from the dish .

 

Just found this site and I hope I can get an answer to this question. I am the caregiver for my Dad who received a pacemaker 4/2010. We just moved into a new home and he has since been getting shocked in the shower. Today his HHA was shocked when she touched his arm while he was in the shower. It only happens when he touches the showerhead or the handicap bar . I believe there is an electrical issue in the house, but I wanted to check with other patients to see if anyone has ever heard of the pacemaker causing this. It did NOT happen until we moved into the new home.

Thanks

 

Hi all, just wondering if anyone else feels sick around high voltage power lines? I had a pacermaker put in 5 weeks ago and live under powerlines. When I go upstairs I feel worse. Just wondering if I'm worrying myself sick or if it's something I should talk to my cardiologist about

 

There is a breaker box in my bedroom. Do I need to worry about any interference form it?

 

Hi everyone,
I have a question about some of the "gadgets" out there. Can a person with a pacemaker use an IPod? An IPad? Be near jukebox speakers? I know we are supposed to keep our cell phones at least 5 inches from the pacemaker, but wonder about these items I mentioned. I have looked at web sites and it seems like everybody has a different opinion. For example, I was told NOT to go through the new body scanners at the airport but went through one because the security person said it was OK. My pm beat three very rapid beats but was OK after that. Just wondering about your personal experiences. Thanks.

 

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience of the Siemens Tek device (used for wireless communication between hearing aids and equipment such as a mobile phone/mp3 player/tv etc)? It apparently uses the Siemens e2e (a type of near field magnetic induction) and bluetooth and the manual says it can't be used by people who have pacemakers. But does anyone know how far do you need to stay away from someone else who is using one? I have been told it is as much as 60cms (by a sales rep, so not sure how accurate that figure is), which seems like a long way to manage to stay away from someone sitting next to you on the bus/standing in a supermarket queue.

 

I have a Medtronic pacemaker. I am scheduled for knee surgery in two weeks. I visited the surgeon yesterday. They started to instruct me on the use of an electrical stimulation unit for post operative knee pain and recovery. The unit sends out little shocks. I reminded them I had a pacemaker. Whoops! The instruction stopped because the electrical stimulation system (TENS) and the pacemaker are incompatible. The doctor knew I had a pacemaker. Just a reminder that we're our best defense against bad medicine.

 

Has anyone had laser procedures done on/around the pacer site? I have had 4 procedures recently to primarily reduce scar tissue since my pocket has been opened 5 times in 9 years. If anyone has had this, have you ever had an interference with the device vs laser? My cardiologist thinks it is safe to do this kind of laser but it is causing the muscle around the pacer to be fatigued and is causing "weird" sensations and a blank feeling. Any suggestions?? Laser is needed to reduce the scar tissue as it has had to have been dug out twice and had a mass around the pec minor which caused wire issues.

 

Does anyone know if a overhead projector can interfere with my pacemaker?