working around interferences

thanks for your replies on my last post.it has been a great help.since i'm new to having a pacemaker i have a lot of questions.
how do you know if you are getting interference to the pacemaker?
is there a way i can monitor this interference and the effect it's
having on my pacemaker?my heart rate is 60,should it be higher
and can it be programed and changed in my pacemaker?
thanks again tom

2 Comments

nervous nilly

by 3030wyatt - 2014-03-12 08:03:19

i love your comment.that's what i am.thank you very
much for your help,i just need to hear it from someone
who has experience with pacemakers besides doctors.
i won't worry about it any more

interference

by Tracey_E - 2014-03-12 10:03:59

I've had a pm since 1994 and if you read through my past posts you will notice that caution is not my middle name. I have not once had anything interfere. A few times I thought maybe I had so I noted the day/time and had them check next time the pm was interrogated. The last time was in the generator room at the local water treatment plant. Nothing showed up on the report. When I bought a magnetic cover for my ipad, I wondered if that was pushing it a bit so I took it along to a check to see if it was strong enough to put the pm in test mode. It was not. I read in bed with it propped on my chest all the time. I also talk with my cellphone on the left side, run with my ipod clipped right over my pm, work next to my router, run the generator during hurricanes, jump start cars and lots of other things you might hear we're not supposed to do. Commercial engines and magnets are the only thing we need to be careful around. Anything in the house is fine.

If no one has explained it to you, interference is generally harmless. That white thing they put over your pm to test it? That's a magnet. Yes, the same kind of magnet we're warned to stay away from. There is a little switch in there and the magnet pulls it closed, putting it in test mode. In test mode, it paces at a steady rate so it doesn't feel good but it's perfectly safe. As soon as you remove the magnet, the switch opens and it returns to full function with no harm done. So, worst case you get near something that interferes and you feel funny until you step away from it. No big deal. And it will show up on the report, so if you ever suspect it's easy enough to confirm at your next appointment.

Trust can take time. I was cautious at first, too, but then as I felt better and better, I gradually forgot to be nervous. You'll get there!

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