airbags

driving

by Tracey_E - 2019-08-27 16:29:22

I've never heard of waiting due to airbag. Being in the passenger seat in an accident fresh after surgery wouldn't be fun either, but they don't tell us to stay out of the car. Some doctors want us to heal, for the body to get used to being paced, to be sure we aren't going to pass out, to not be taking any pain meds. My doctor's standard instructions say 30 days, longer if there's a history of passing out. I questioned it and he said a week was long enough.

Driving

by golfgirl - 2019-08-28 10:04:35

I had a horrendous car accident while passing out and hitting a hyrdo pole.  The Ministry of Transportation took away my license due to a medical condition.  It wasn't until a month later that they finally figured out that I needed a PM and I wasn't able to drive for 10 months.  They required a full health history and exam which cost me a small fortune in order to deem that I was medically sound to return to driving.  So be thankful you only have 4 weeks.  I agree with the comments that it is for your own safety.  Air Bags hurt like hell and getting smashed by one, especially where you PM is located would cause you some issues to be sure. 

Driving

by AgentX86 - 2019-08-28 13:50:02

But an airbag doesn't hurt any less if someone else is driving. It's not usual to suspend driving privileges just for a PM. My EP said a week but only because I was dependent. Otherwise it would have been 24hrs, like any sedation.

Airbag

by Vilpiz - 2019-08-29 10:16:33

I imagine it’s due to the fact that you are much closer to the steering wheel when you are driving. Therefore the impact is more direct to the area of the pacemaker.

Steering wheel

by AgentX86 - 2019-08-29 12:28:51

Not buying that one either. The whole purpose of the airbag is to keep you out of the steering wheel. A larger problem is the shoulder harness, which is on the left shoulder for the driver. However, the problem was stated as an airbag problem. Sorry, I'm with Swan and Tracy on this one.

airbag seatbelt etc

by new to pace.... - 2019-08-29 12:41:42

thanks all for your comments on the airbag.  Guess just best to drive and not think about airbag. Otherwise we would never drive.

  Seat belt is a problem i have not tested yet as have not drove.   Only becuase of my heavy door.  Did try getting the door closed with out the car running this morning.  Seemed to have worked will try putting the seat belt on this afternoon.  My sister gave me a pad to put on seat belt will try that also.  Have not really missed driving yet.  The longest have gone without driving is 6 weeks.

bad science

by dwelch - 2019-09-07 01:46:36

The airbag spreads out the force.  The seatbelt is the problem not the airbag, and thats if you drive on the side of the car in whatever country that puts the belt over your pacer.  (left side drive, left side pacer, in america for example).

I am on device number five, was ready/able to drive on day two, but I usually wait through the next weekend and go to work on monday after, unless I get stir crazy and then will just go out for a drive before then.  Number three I had a stick shift, so pacer side was handing the wheel for city driving, with an automatic you can do most of the work with your non pacer side (right hand drive I assume shifting is no less easy with a left side pacer for the first so many days).

Also I use a folded up sock (not rolled), just want a half an inch or so of padding, put it above the device by a bit or below the device, not on the device/incision, it will keep the belt from being right on the device, which isnt comfortable in any way with a new device.  wear a coat if it is the right time of year when you get your new device.  the other 119 months before the next device, I use a  fuzzy thick-ish seat belt cover that is adequate to keep the belt from rubbing on the implant site and corners of the device.  Might add a soft winter glove laying around in the car over the device, under the belt, if having a bad seat belt day.  Im sure it looks funny if I leave it there at a drive through or a stop light.

If you get in an accident being the first month or 50th month, the belt is going to do whatever damage it is going to do, to your skin basically not the device.  So the fear at best would be a new incision opening up because it has not healed, where 25, 50, 100 months in it is healed.  Working the wheel or stick shift will cause you some pain just like trying to get dressed or wash your hair or everything else the first week or two or few and maybe thats a driving distraction.  But just to get to the car you already dealth with all those fun pain jolts you get as you do stuff that moves the skin.  Like the device itself you just get used to it then before you know it its all gone, you dont know its there.

Try this, start the car turn the wheel back and forth a bunch, flip the turn signal, work the lights, run the stick shift through the gears as needed, and see how you feel about it.  If the belt hurts too much, if using your arm hurts to much, turn the car off and try again another day.