Sun exposure?

Quickie Question: I've been told that I will need to keep my pacer area covered when out in the sun next summer because it will got hot and essentially burn me from the inside out...? ?Sounds unlikely, but I thought I'd ask.

(I know that the scar will need extra sunscreen though.)

7 Comments

Sunburn and PM

by SMITTY - 2009-01-09 09:01:17


Hey J-M,

I've had a pacemaker 8 years and while I've not been in the sun without a shirt many times my PM area did not get any hotter than other body areas when I did venture out without it being covered.

However, I have learned the hard way to never say never when it comes to pacemakers, but I agree with you, that sounds unlikely. Frankly I cannot think of anyway enough heat could pass through the layer of body tissue, albeit a thin layer, to heat up a pacemaker case to cause it to burn you. Less than one-half a PM would be exposed to the heat of the sun as the edges and the bottom side are even more protected from the rays and any heat built up in the case near the skin would be distributed throughout the PM. That tells me there is no way your PM can get hot to the point of burning. I do agree the scar should have extra sunscreen, but I have never used sunscreen and my scar didn't even notice.

But you have come to the right place to ask your question because I feel sure if it has happened to anyone you will hear of it.

Smitty

strange

by Tracey_E - 2009-01-09 09:01:36

Never heard that and I can't imagine that if it *did* happen to get warm in the sun that you wouldn't notice pretty quickly, well before it could burn you. And metal gets hot when the sun reflects on it, that won't happen through a layer of skin! I could be wrong, but I just don't see it happening. You don't want sunburn on a fairly new scar, that's the only sun warning I've heard.

I have heard about cold...

by turboz24 - 2009-01-09 10:01:44

I do remember a post or something about extreme cold making the PM more uncomfortable (as in it cools down faster than skin and tends to stay cooler longer).

As mentioned, I doubt it would heat up enough just like most people say, even though it's only covered by maybe 1/16 to 1/8th an inch of tissue.

I keep my ICD covered at all times, so not an issue for me.....

my experience

by jessie - 2009-01-09 11:01:45

we have a pool which we have had now 2 years. i swim from may tiill sept and the days are very warm. i never wear a top in or out of the water. i am very often found floating around on an innertube enjoying a drink and reading my book. like i say i have never had a problem like is thought. if it is hot i don't feel it jessie

he he

by pacergirl - 2009-01-10 11:01:17

Jessie.... No top? in or out of the water???? he he ..... You make me laugh out loud.

What I think you were trying to say is that you don't wear a top over your bathing suit when lazing around in your pool. Then again you could be just another "wild woman"!
:-) lol

p.s. I have never felt any discomfort from the sun hitting my pacemaker while outdoors with the shoulder exposed. The scar is in good condition now, it appears to resemble a thick pencil line. A little sunscreen and all is well.

Now the extreme cold is an entirely different story. Elisa, I certainly feel for you and all our Canadian friends as well.

Sun exposure

by ElectricFrank - 2009-01-10 11:01:38

No problem. I live in the Calif desert and spend a lot of time in the sun without a shirt. This is even in the summer when temperatures can be over 100. he he.

If the pacemaker located under your skin got hot enough to affect it you would have long since died of heat stroke. Just think how hot your car radio gets with a car parked in the sun.

With the current paranoia over sun exposure some doc will use things like the pacer to try to get us to stay out of the sun. I have lived in the desert for over 40 yrs and rarely use sun screen. I'm 78, and have had no problems with skin cancer or other problems. I just make sure to avoid getting burned.

frank

Yep, Jessie...

by turboz24 - 2009-01-10 12:01:23

I was going to say something about the "shirtless" comment. she is just a wild and crazy gal........

I have no idea what my scar looks like, so no input on that one.

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