Is a Nook Simple Touch Reader safe?

• by idgie
• 2012-01-04 01:01:37
• Surgery & Recovery
• 1864 views
• 4 comments

Hi all,

First of all, a healthy, happy 2012 to you. Let's hope we all have a better year than the previous one. I'm 47 (soon to be 48) and had a pacemaker inserted this past Dec 9, when, during a hysterectomy, I had a cardiac arrest and was asystole for 16 secs. It seems that I have no heart block or anything specifically heart-related that's the problem. All the echos etc were clear. What I have seems to be a relatively rare (and perhaps congenital) condition that involves the Vegus nerve that basically slows down my HR during either an invasive surgery or if I take a narcotic drug that acts on my parasympathetic nervous system (I'm still researching this). I used to faint a lot when I was a kid when I had high fevers, stomach upsets or even vaccination. Apparently, my first fainting ep happened when I had a high fever when I was 2 yrs old (according to my parents). Those eps did lessen in frequency and haven't happened in over 15-20 years.

However, 11 years ago, I had a myomectomy and once the surgeon cut into my stomach, my HR and BP started falling. Treatment was atropine/epinephrine etc and I was fine and the myo was completed. I was told then that I needed a temporary pacemaker on me if I had any kind of invasive surgery. I did tell my doctor and anesthesiologist about it this time around but somehow they neglected to do this, hence, the asystolic episode.

Anyway, so, here I now sit with a Medtronic Surescan MRI-safe PM. After about three weeks, I'm beginning to feel a little better. They didn't break any of my ribs (don't know how! I met the dude who gave me the CPR and he was huge... an adorable child with HUGE hands) but my ribs etc were badly bruised so I still have a lot of pain in the rib area and back. Still finding it hard to find a good sleep position without experiencing quite a bit of pain. The PM site is still a bit "tight", not really sore, and the "glue" is peeling off. I also had an incision in my abdomen from the aborted hysterectomy that's healed okay. I do have some twinges of pain around the PM site at times. I noticed that if I hold the land line/cordless phone on my left hand (PM is on left), I can feel some twinges afterward. Anybody feel this?

I'm hoping to get back to work soon but my EP wants me a wait a bit. I go back to see him for the 2nd time on Feb 2.

I do have a quick question re the Nook Simple Touch. Is it safe to use? I've been told I can use my blackberry with no problem, to just not store it in a left breast pocket. I still err on the side of caution and hold it in my right ear and 6 inches from my PM area. I'd be grateful if someone here has any advice re their experience with e-readers like the Nook.

Also, what about my laptop? That okay?

Thanks so much in advance. I'm so glad to have found this place!!! Take care, all...

idgie.