DIY tools

My 90 year old father is going to be given a pacemaker for atrial fibrillation but he is very worried he won't be able to use his electric saw to cut logs and his electric drill. He's been a DIY man all his life and this means a lot to him. Is there anyone (over 80!) who has a PM and continues using electric tools?

3 Comments

Memory Loss?

by donb - 2014-01-06 01:01:02

As a 100% do it yourself person age 82 next week Monday, I also find it hard where I left my tool (chainsaw) !! In the near 22 years living with pacemakers I have found there is nothing that I can't do. Just arrange the timing of doing the intended job while the wife is gone !! How else am I going to clean leaves off my roof. Short term memory loss can get aggravating but I also realize that not having my pacemaker would have cut my memory to zero. So, it's also rewarding to have the long term memory of remembering all the things we have done in all the years.
So, what did I just type ? Oh, got to double check what I typed.
DonB

tools

by Tracey_E - 2014-01-06 09:01:28

I don't know anyone off the top of my head over 80 who uses power tools but they are perfectly safe for us. Arc welding is the only thing we need to avoid.

Tools OK

by Theknotguy - 2014-01-06 10:01:03

Sit next to an 88 year old in church. We both now have PM's - brother's under the skin and all that. He uses a chain saw all the time. No problem.

Met an electrician at the Mended Hearts group. Back to work after PM. No problem.

Couple of posts on this forum about members using arc welders. No problem. Just make everything is grounded before striking arc.

So unless your dad sticks his finger in the socket or stands in a pool of water before plugging it in, he should be OK.

He will however, have to do minimal work for at least the first six weeks. He doesn't want to damage the leads where they go into the vein under the collar bone. Minimal movement on PM side. Us opposite arm.

We also have at least one member on this forum who has done sky diving post PM. But I don't think your Dad wants to take up that hobby now. Why anyone wants to jump out of a perfectly good airplane I'll never know.

Come back and tell us how it's going for him. Us younger guys like to know what are limits are going (or not going) to be.

Theknotguy

You know you're wired when...

“Batteries not included” takes on a new meaning.

Member Quotes

I am just now 40 but have had these blackouts all my life. I am thrilled with the pacer and would do it all over again.