bad day
Good morning. I am having what the doctor simply calls an expected bad day. Couldn't sleep much last night as the pacemaker going off kept waking me each time I dozed. Couldn't get comfortable due to the pain and the sling. Only 3 more weeks of sleeping with the sling and hopefully by then more of the pain will have subsided. Today makes week 4 since I received my pacemaker.
Doctor says the bad days are caused by how much the pacemaker actually goes off because the voltage is set so high on my pacemaker for the first 3 months. Bad days are extremely frustrating because mentally I am ready to go, but physically cannot as there is no energy. We will start dialing it back in January. I seem to be extremely sensitive to EMF and am hoping it is only because right now the voltage is set high. I hope once it is dialed back I won't be so sensitive. It causes a tremendous amount of pressure on my chest and eventually pain.
Doctor says to simply get away from anything that emits too much EMF if I feel discomfort or it sets off the pacemaker, but it is slowly limiting my life and that of my family. I cannot sit on the computer for very long and my family cannot use their cell phones around me.
The doctor did say having more leads causes one to be more sensitive to EMF as well. I have 2 leads.
6 Comments
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by LS - 2010-10-25 02:10:59
I have 2 leads & don't seem to be sensitive to any EMF? My cell is ALWAYS in my pocket & I'm ALWAYS on the computer.
Weird huh?
Liz
Puzzled
by Creaky - 2010-10-25 05:10:23
Well I'm no expert. I've just had my PM for 4 weeks also- a dual lead Medtronic. I don't seem to have any response to EMF. I'm on the laptop for many hours a day and also on portable and cell phones.
I'm puzzled about your restrictions. I only had to wear the sling for a couple of days and the PM check to customize the settings is scheduled for week 6.
I'm going to paraphrase the advice electricfrank gave me- be more demanding of your PM docs and nurses.
Appreciate it
by 6efrau - 2010-10-25 06:10:33
Creaky
I definitely appreciate this. Wonder why you have your setting check at 6 weeks and mine is at 3 months?!?! That is a huge difference.
as usual...............
by LS - 2010-10-25 07:10:16
Smitty is right on with his comments. Listen to him. He's a wealth of information.
JMO, but I don't see how a cell phone in the back seat could do anything, but again, that's JMO.
Go to the office for an interrogation. It's simple, quick & done in the Dr. office. They will be able to tell you every bump, tick or anything else that's gone on with your PM & what time they occured.
Liz
My Uneducated Guesses
by SMITTY - 2010-10-25 07:10:31
Before I say a word, let me point that I do not adhere to the belief that doctor always knows best when it comes to pacemaker. A pacemaker is a very complex electronic device. Some doctors that are implanting and trying to set them have not yet mastered the use of their TV remote, so the chances of their knowing what is going on with a pacemaker is very slim. With that said, I have several questions about your pacemaker.
For starters why are you having to sleep in a sling for 7 weeks? I'm on my second pacemaker in 10 years and I never slept in a sling for one night. With my first PM in 2000 I did wear one during my waking hours for two days. For the replacement 9 years later a sling was never mentioned. I should add arm movement is restricted mostly to protect the leads and I did keep my old leads when I got a replacement. But if I had to wear a sling as long as you are having to I would be concerned about "frozen shoulder" from lack of moving it.
Now the interference from an electromagnetic field (EMF) you are speaking of is really puzzling. Can I ask if you are possibly confusing arrhythmias as an EMF affecting your pacemaker. From all I have learned about EMF the person doesn't make that much difference in whether the pacemaker is affected by EMF or not. Sure if you are big, big and have your pacemaker covered by 3 or 4 inches of body tissue as opposed to my quarter-inch, or less, your pacemaker may get bombarded by a little more EMF, but I don't think it would be enough to make any difference. With EMF we are talking about an invisible energy field penetrating your body and then penetrating that pacemaker's titanium case with enough strength to affect the circuity in the pacemaker. It can happen but it does not seem reasonable that EMF could be causing you all the problems you mention. Strong EMF is not that frequently generated and the pacemaker case is designed to provide a shield of the internals from outside forces such as EMF.
I'm inclined to think that the settings on your pacemaker are totally out of kilter and that is why you are having so much trouble. Now if I haven't P'd you O you enough that you have quit reading (which I really hope I haven't'), may I suggest that you do some tests to confirm or deny that the problem is really EMF. You might try something like having a member of your family slip up behind you say within 3 or 4 feet with their cell phone off without telling you they are there and then repeat that with the cell phone on, or vice versa. Then let you to tell them which time they had the cell phone on. You might try these blind tests with several different items.
You tell us "Bad days are extremely frustrating because mentally I am ready to go, but physically cannot as there is no energy." That statement leads me to believe that medications you are taking may be playing a major role in your problem, If you are taking none, then that possibility is ruled out. If you are tell us what you are taking so we can tell you what effects they have had on other members.
Now, I'm going to pick on your doctor one more time. You say "The doctor did say having more leads causes one to be more sensitive to EMF as well." That is a bunch of crap. Leads will make no difference, It is the circuit boards, or components in the pacemaker that would be affected. The leads may transmit the impulse from the pacemaker to the heart, but the problem has to originate in the pacemaker and whether you have one, two or three leads will not make a measurable amount of difference.
Now I been critical enough so now I'll suggest you get another the opinion of another doctor if at all possible. If that is not possible get a manufacturers representative to check out your pacemaker. If all of your problems are originating in your that pacemaker then I would have to guess that you have a defective pacemaker. Which does happen about 1 out of several million units. But based on what I read in your message it most likely is settings or medications.
Last, but not least, if you find my comments offensive, I sincerely apologize.
I wish you the best,
Smitty
You know you're wired when...
You prefer rechargeable batteries.
Member Quotes
I, too, am feeling tons better since my implant.
interesting
by 6efrau - 2010-10-25 02:10:17
Liz
That is interesting that you do not find yourself sensitive to the EMF. This really has me puzzled and alarmed. I keep wondering if everything is ok with my pacemaker and leads. I would really like to somehow get some definitive answers. All the research I have found says the affects of EMF on each person vary due to manufacturer of pacemaker (but I see you are also a Medtronic like me), number of leads (we both have 2) and finally the size and build of a person. I do appreciate your response.
Take care.