Wand or not to wand?

Just a quick question i have a st jude pacemaker am i understanding you right that you should not let anyone use a wand on you .i on occasion have to do to the local courts and i either can walk thru the metal detector or use the wand i usually have them use the wand so i am a bit confused what is safe and what is not?

I read another post that i am questioning the wand I thought it was safe

3 Comments

Chicken or the egg

by Theknotguy - 2015-01-23 03:01:03

Per previous discussion. The newer PM's don't have any problems with wands or security devices.

Unfortunately we get so many reports on the forum that are mis-reported. The person says they have a problem, but we aren't able to do a closer inspection and find out what really happened. Just had a report a couple of days ago where the lady said she had a problem with machinery in the nursery at the hospital. Don't know what it was, don't know for sure she was having problems with the machinery or just panic attacks. Then, of course, the yellow journalism from Russia where the guy said his mother died when she went through a security device at the airport. Don't know if the machine caused a problem, don't know if the woman was near death, just don't know. The guy said it happened, the newspapers pick it up, no one really checks to see if that's what happened. I tried to do a follow up to the story and, of course, nothing has been reported.

Per the comments here, been through all sorts of security checks around the US and UK without any problems. I got my PM in 2013 so it's a "newer" model.

Hope this clears up the issue.

NOT a problem

by PJinSC - 2015-01-23 04:01:28

I have passed through many metal detectors with not a problem. I have a Boston Scientific. You are in greater danger if the person using the wand pauses over your device. I discussed this in depth with the security supervisor at the nuclear power plant I worked at. He said they are trained to not pause over the device, and they want to be told about it. However, I only had them wand me one time. I tried going through the detector after that, and felt nothing, so continued doing it for years. Airports, no problem, and even went through the x-ray at Portland. (Would like to see that picture.) Court hose detectors are not a problem either. Be aware of your surroundings, and if you feel something weird, back away. I was around big electrical generator and high voltage wiring and never had a bad experience from my PM.
Go here: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Arrhythmia/PreventionTreatmentofArrhythmia/Devices-that-may-Interfere-with-Pacemakers_UCM_302013_Article.jsp

below the waist

by Tracey_E - 2015-01-23 05:01:09

I was told wand is ok but only below the waist. It's the same technology as the metal detector but more concentrated. I've always been waived around the metal detectors in courthouses, concerts, museums. The only places that gave me a hard time federal buildings in DC.

Xrays are fine, they aren't metal detectors and don't use magnets.

It's perfectly safe for us to walk through a metal detector, however, we may set it off which can open a whole can of worms. I've never tried.

You know you're wired when...

You have an excuse for gaining an extra ounce or two.

Member Quotes

In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.