IT Guy, Wifi, Wireless Router, Multiple Servers

Hi, please help!!!

My father just had v tach along with bradyarythmia (slow heart beat). All of 3 doctors including a lung doctor have all advised him to put in a pacemaker but he's not sure.

What really concerns him is that hes an IT guy in his 50s, the place where he works has multiple servers, computers, wifi, wireless routers, and other things that I guess emit EM. I've read a bunch of stories where people's pacemakers have gone on the fritz and cause faster heart beats, headaches, fainting, etc. We have to decide whether or not to put in a pacemaker by today, PLEASE ANSWER ASAP.

11 Comments

I've not had any problems

by brucerob - 2011-07-16 03:07:00

I've had my St. Jude device for over three years. Remember the hospitals and clinics are loaded with electronics. I recommend calling device manufacturer and asking. They've always been very helpful when I've called.

Urban Legend

by donr - 2011-07-16 03:07:27

Tell him to get the PM. Poll the delegation here & they will probably agree w/ me that electronics as found where us normal mortals go WILL NOT affect a PM. There are scare stories about every issue under the sun affecting a PM. That's just what they are - unfounded scare stories.

Microwave ovens are supposed to affect the PM. I'll betcha that no one here avoids their microwave oven. I know I open ours at least once a day & load it w/ something, close the door & turn it on - no affect. Ditto for turning on our radio, TV, both computers, the chain saw, the weed whacker, power mower, nothing bothers me. I use an electric toothbrush; a bunch of battery powered drills, skilsaws, reciprocating saws - you name it. They are frequently close to my PM. Their brushes *& commutator spark like mad at tmes,generating all sorts of spurious electro magnetic fields. Nothing as far as my PM is concerned. BTW: the little book that came w/ my PM said to avoid al those things. The only part of their guidance I've never chanced is to climb the Channel 5 TV tower & hug the output for their broadcast signal. THAT one, I think, would bother my little friend. Oh, yes, one other thing I avoid - putting magnetic name tags over my PM. Why bother? I have a right lapel on my coats that works just as well!

In nearly 10 yrs w/ a PM,I've had one untoward event - about two wks after implant, I passed my PM w/i 2 nches of a 220V, 30 Amp cable feeding our water heater. The WH was on. I felt it momentarily affect my PM.

If you are lucky, you'll hear from Electric Frank & Smitty, who will give you chapter & verse about this unfounded fear.

Don

get it

by Tracey_E - 2011-07-16 08:07:17

If three drs said he needs it, then I'd be driving him to the hospital myself to make sure he gets it asap. Computer equipment does not affect a pm. I've had one since 1993 and am a computer geek for my job as well as a collector of electronic gadgets. I'm fully dependent on the pm and have never had a problem. New pm's are very well shielded.

Worst case he gets near something that interferes, it does not put them on the fritz, it simply puts them in the same mode they use to test it. It may not feel too good until he gets away from the source of interference, but it's harmless and very temporary.

v-tach, are they saying pacemaker or icd? Icd is like an insurance policy if the heart occasionally takes off in vtach. I'm no dr, but if I were having vtach I'd want an icd. All icd's have pm's built in.

Microwave ovens

by brucerob - 2011-07-16 08:07:17

I'll try this again, hope I don’t double post.

I didn't mention that I repair commercial microwave ovens, I've never had a problem with that either. I just keep my device away from the magnet(s). Of course, I also find it beneficial to keep my fingers away from the high voltage. :-)

Good Luck, Bruce

thanks

by LHPacemaker - 2011-07-16 10:07:08

any more testimonies would be more assuring, thank you guys for all helping out, we haven't decided today, but its most likely schedule for next week because of other factors. im gonna look into the icd, if it also has the PM this might save some him from some unnessesary surgery.

icd vs pm

by Tracey_E - 2011-07-16 10:07:33

A pm will add beats when the heart goes too slowly. An icd will shock the heart if it stops or gets into a dangerously fast rhythm. All icd's have a pm built in because sometimes the heart needs help getting regular again after a shock. Pm's do not come with icd. How fast/dangerous his vtach is will determine if he's a candidate for icd or not. Vtach could simply mean his heart was racing but I'd definitely ask to be sure before any decisions are made. Good luck!

IT Field

by Cthulhu - 2011-07-18 01:07:24

Hey there..

I'm 32 years old and am a recent recipient of an ICD due to a heart arythmia last year.

I've recently returned to work and am getting comfortable with the envionment I am working in. I am an IS Analyst on an Oilsands mine/refinery.

Tell your father to relax. The IT field is likely the safest spot for him! :) All IT equipment is sensitive to EMI, and as such it is designed to not emit unnessesary amounts of it. As I am trying to get back into the Wireless end of things, I just purchased a EMI monitor from Osun Tech. It should give me the piece of mind to allow me to traverse site without setting off the Health and Safety Department alarms.

I'll be posting a review on this site when I receive it in hand, and advise as to how our H&S department receives it into their environment.

IT guy with PM

by goshenPacer - 2011-07-18 08:07:12

Tell your dad to relax and get his PM. I have had a PM for 13 years - am now on my 2nd. I was an IT guy until I retired earlier this year. IMHO, the EM fields from IT equipment should not have an effect on his PM. He should be able to contact his PM supplier (e.g.: Medtronic) who can give him guidelines about EM fields from IT equipment. I agree with the previous poster. Most IT equipment is designed with strict FCC regs about EMI.

My kids are computer/video game junkies

by slarnerd - 2011-07-27 03:07:37

My kids are computer and video game junkies and everything in our home and their school and most everywhere we go is wireless - we live in Silicon Valley. The kids (6 & 5) both have epicardial pacemakers (in their belly) and rest their handheld video games on top of the their pacers when they play - hold the Wii remotes next to the pacers when they play that, ipad, cell phones, sit next to router, etc. We have taken many items over the past 5 years to the EP to have them checked and so far not a single item caused interference. I hope that helps! I remember being absolutely petrified when we started this adventure 5 years ago but very few things scare us now. :)

so?

by slarnerd - 2011-07-27 03:07:41

I just noticed your last posting was over a week ago. What did he decide? Best wishes!

We got the pacemaker thanks everyone!!!

by LHPacemaker - 2011-07-27 09:07:44

Hi everyone, we decided to get the pacemaker, (which is something we should've decided the first day). But in all fairness everything was very rushed and besides the doctors we had no idea what could happen. All of your replies all helped our decision to get one, I can't thank all of you enough, this website and all of you are all Godsends haha. Thanks!

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