Magnet placed over Pacemaker??

I will be having surgery soon on my rotator cuff. It is the right side thank goodness....but I am only almost three weeks post op from the PM.
I had my PM implanted very deep in my under my breast. I still can not move my arm above my head for two reasons. Even though the doc says swing it around....I have seen on here all to often to try and get to that 4 week mark before using your arm above your shoulder. Also...I still have to much pain..I am still swollen and bruised. It's getting better everyday...but I'm still not there.
My rotator cuff surgery is a workmans comp injury....so they are in a hurry to operate.
I think it's to soon for a surgery that could wait another month until I have full use of my left arm without pain. But since the EP says it wont hurt the PM...they dont seem to think about me.

The surgeons anistesiologist says they will just put a MAGNET over my PM and all is good.
Makes me nervous since we all know to stay away from magnets,
I realize they are doing it so the tools the surgeon uses don't interfere with my pm....BUT should they have a St Jude Tech There to check my pm after surgery.? I mean..if they put a magnet over it to stop it from working or shield it...do they not need to make sure the settings are in tact after they remove the magnet?

Any help is much appreciated...............Holly

2 Comments

it's ok!

by Tracey_E - 2008-08-14 06:08:25

The white thing they put over it when they test it? That's a little magnet! It won't hurt you and it won't damage your pm or its settings.

There's a little valve/switch on our pacers. We have regular mode where it's fully responsive. We also have an emergency backup mode that is one steady rate. A magnet pulls that valve closed and puts it in backup mode. As soon as you take the magnet away, it immediately goes back to it's former settings. Or at least that's what I remember of how it was explained to me when I got my first one!

They gave me a small (2" x 1" bar) magnet when I got my first one. If it ever malfunctioned, I was to put the magnet over it and get myself to the hospital asap. I thought that sounded kinda dumb and obviously I never used it and they never mentioned it again when I got any of my replacements. My first was Siemens, they since got bought out by St Judes and I don't think they regularly hand out magnets now.

I'm sorry you need another surgery so soon! It would be nice if they'd let one heal before they work on the other.

Hi.....

by Bionic Beat - 2008-08-14 10:08:44

As far as I know, they have the "computer thingy" in the OR and the anaesthetist has the job of checking your pacemaker during and at the end of your operation.

They *do* know how to set it properly.....I'm also needing unrelated surgery and it was one of my first questions!

Scary but they do consult with either your cardiologist/EP beforehand.

Good luck, a rotator cuff is miserable, you'll feel better when you have the use of both arms back!


Bionic Beat

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