ereader

`Hi everyone. Looking for info. i read in bed. Have bad arthritis pain in both shoulders. Shoulders hurt a bunch after holding up a book for several minutes so my daughter bought me a Nook. When my shoulders get to hurting I park the reader on my chest to hold it up - Does anyone know if there is some electronic stuff in the reader that could hurt my implant from holding it so close on my chest? Thanks all. Mary

8 Comments

Reading in bed

by Fossil - 2014-03-25 06:03:53

Mary, from what I've read and heard, not a good idea. I think eReaders have to be treated with caution, like mobile phones.
Fossil

Not a problem

by Theknotguy - 2014-03-25 09:03:22

We've got people on this site working in power plants and a diesel-electric locomotive with no problems. Those are a lot stronger fields than what would be put out by an e-reader.

I jumped my daughter-in-law's car. Leaned over two engines while both of them were running. No problems.

I regularly rest my laptop on a pillow on my chest while replying to posts. No problems.

Have put one of those rare earth magnets used in name tags directly on my PM. No effect. The magnetic field put out by your e-reader isn't anywhere near that of the magnet.

There really isn't too much around the normal household that will bother a PM. Besides, resting it on your chest still keeps it more than six inches away from your PM. So it should be no problem.

Enjoy your e-reader.

Theknotguy

no problem for me

by Alma Annie - 2014-03-25 09:03:27

Oh dear, I have been reading my iPad reader for some time. My eyesight is not good at the moment so I can have the text in BIG. No one has told me that I should not do this, not that I ever asked. I also hold it close to my chest at times. I use a mobile phone too, but always have it in my right ear, I am deaf in my left anyway!! Anyway I am 100% paced, and have not had any problems. I would like to have comments from anyone else. Am I doing the wrong thing?!!
Alma Annie

Nook

by Bill T - 2014-03-25 09:03:30

Mary if you are concerned (although there is no reason too) just turn off the Wi-Fi feature and there is NO possibility that the Nook would interfere! I have 3 Nooks and have been reading for several years.

PS I have a CRT-D and before that I had a Dual lead PM. See my profile.

Bill T

it's fine

by Tracey_E - 2014-03-25 10:03:23

I read in bed with my ereader propped on my chest every night, either my kindle or ipad (complete with magnetic cover). There are very few things that affect the pm, and most things that do are commercial, not consumer electronics.

I use my iPad all the time

by NiceNiecey - 2014-03-25 10:03:41

Maybe I wouldn't notice if I were having a problem but I haven't noticed a thing interfering with my PM, not even my cell phone. I almost always hold my phone in my left hand and I was so worried about it the first few weeks. I accidentally held it near my device a couple times and realized it wasn't disrupting anything. I decided it was because it's in a soft plastic case. (I can even put electronic hotel keys next to it and they don't erase.) If it were me, I'd keep using it if you don't notice a problem. You might also trying calling Medtronics and see what they say. Please post what you learn!
Niecey

ereader

by Lifeisgood - 2014-03-26 03:03:57

Thanks so much you all. I feel better about reading in bed, now. It's wonderful to have input as it's not always easy to reach your doctor when you start to worry. Thanks again! Mary

Let's be real, folks. . .

by SteveE - 2014-03-26 09:03:30

e-readers and cell phones DO NOT interfere with pacemakers or ICD's. . . PERIOD. These devices have such low-powered transmitters that in order to be harmed by one we would have to eat it.

I regularly operate an amateur radio transmitter in my home. This transmitter that puts out probably 1,000 times the power of an iPad. No issues - ever. When I called tech support at Boston Scientific and spoke with their RF interference expert, he laughed when I asked if my transmitter would be any problem. He told me that I would need to transmit more than 1,000 times what my 100-watt rig puts out to be anywhere near the point of interference. These devices are that well shielded.

Enjoy your e-reader and enjoy your life. If anything interferes with your pacemaker, I mean REALLY interferes, you might be the first. The manufacturers have to cover themselves against any and all crazy lawsuits, so they tell us to be afraid of everything. Then they build devices that could survive anything short of a nuclear holocaust without issue.

Devices with huge magnetic fields (like some newer roller coasters) could mess with a pacemaker, but these would likely temporarily set your pacer to its default mode of 60 BPM with its optional features disabled. Then when you got out of range, it would just go back to its programmed settings and be fine.

The bottom line: Live your life. Your pacemaker won't be bothered by your life.

You know you're wired when...

You can hear your heartbeat in your cell phone.

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