Anyone feel strange around wi fi?

For a number of years now, when I'm in the vicinity of wifi or high levels of electromagnet frequency I feel like the frequency of my pacemaker is affected. Does anyone else feel that way? I have spoken to my electophysiologist who said that there should be no affect, however the technician I spoke to said frequencies can cause interference. I would appreciate any input.
Thanks in advance!

6 Comments

no issues

by Tracey_E - 2014-05-08 09:05:45

I've never heard of documented cases of people having trouble with wifi. I had wifi in my house before anyone knew what a router was and I work all day long in the same room. Pm's are very well shielded. In order for something to affect it, it needs to not only be strong enough but we need to be less than 6" from the source.

Remember what I said about the....

by donr - 2014-05-09 07:05:43

....psychological aspect - it is last on the list as an explanation for the problem.

Remember what I also said in the first three short paragraphs of my comment - that EMF's SHOULD not be the problem, but there are always exceptions.

If you do not test a spot till you feel bad & THEN see a high reading, you MAY be on track to a physical explanation of the problem. Unfortunately, that is NOT an adequate basis for assuming that the problem is purely physical. You stated correctly that we are swimming in a sea of ubiquitous EMF's.

Unfortunately, you cannot just "Add 'em all up" for a total. The distribution of uses across the RF energy spectrum is rigidly controlled to preclude all users from interfering w/ one another. There will be a relatively narrow band of frequencies that COULD affect your PM & there is no way of telling what they are.

What model device do you have? I'd like to explore its capabilities. Perhaps I can give you some suggestions as to how to use the device more effectively at figuring out what is going on.

KDK, you do not escape w/ a small anecdote. A lifetime ago, I worked on a special project w/ a bunch of US Navy scientists. They worked in a section concerned w/ just the sort of problem you face - EMI with all sorts of "Stuff" on aircraft carrier decks. Now that's a place about 1,000 ft long & about 150 ft wide w/ a deck of solid steel. The ship is crawling w/ antennae of all sorts - radios, radars walkie talkie's of all sorts, nearly 100 aircraft bristling w/ antennae; navigation systems, satellite antennae. They described it as the "Most RF energy rich environment known to man." And every system had to operate effectively in that sea of potential interference.

The men I worked with were concerned about just the sort of problems you have - RF energy leaking through potentially small cracks & openings in anything. They were especially worried about all the electronic fuzes on devices designed to go BOOOOOOOOM! and break other things up.

So there is potentially a true real physical basis for your problem. Those who look at you assume that all is well w/ your PM system - that MAY well be an invalid assumption.

Donr

There SHOULD be NO ......

by donr - 2014-05-09 09:05:36

.......affect from WiFi. The energy strengths are just way too low to cause any problems. And, the frequency of the signal is too high.

Now notice that I used the conditional word "Should."

There are always exceptions to any rule - very low probability, of course, but they exist.

You have had your PM for 16 yrs, now, so it is completely possible that a lead has developed a small crack (leak) in its insulation & is letting energy in to cause interference in the SENSING function the leads support.

This is NOT a simple problem to diagnose or determine the existence of. X-rays will probably not show it. It may not even be enough of a crack to show much of a lead resistance change. As an example, I had a lead completely break & the ends of the break point separated. It drove my Cardio & 4 others nutso trying to figure out why I was having problems. My EP finally figured it out before it was accidentally discovered in an X-Ray taken at a slightly different angle - totally by accident by my allergist (of all people).

Last - but NOT least- in the spirit of considering EVERY possible alternative, there is always the psychological possibility of this affecting you. It cannot be tested for easily, but is always the last resort. Rule out everything else & it will be left over as the only answer.

Even the evil, conspiracy theory corner of my mind, I cannot think up a simple way to test for this possibility. But do not just dismiss this possibility with a wave of your hand. The subconscious mind is extremely powerful & can latch onto this sort of a thing & drive you batty. Let me give you another example: My cell phone alarm clock is set up to crow like a rooster when it goes off (Trust me, THAT wakes you up). This morning I'd have sworn it was going off, but after lying there for a minute or so, in that land between asleep & awake, I really could not tell. Finally, my conscious mind threw back its covers, stretched its little arms, blinked a few times & told me to go back to sleep - false alarm.

So do not be surprised one way or the other at what it turns out to be.

Donr

thank you for your comment

by kdk@1 - 2014-05-09 11:05:38

good morning from the West Coast!

Thank you both for your comments re: my question of EMF and PC's. Baffling to say the least. It got to the point that last year I purchased an EMF reader (something that is used in measuring frequency, a legit device used in electrical jobs) and what I have found is rather curious.

When I'm feeling "off" the reading taken are very high. Of course readings are measured everywhere as there is no escaping EMF, but it is the high readings that are affecting me. I don't know when I'm in an area of high EMF as there are no signs saying that, but I do feel unwell, take a reading and bingo.

I've read about the controversy of wifi vs no wifi and that all the EMF is "harmless", and that each signal be they from smart meters, cell phone towers, microwaves etc. are all within acceptable range, however, perhaps by adding up each signal, affects can be felt by certain people who are sensitive to them. Such a pain in the butt for sure.

Anyway, the crack in the lead is an interesting option, as is your psychological one. Having said that, the psychological one not so convinced, as the highly tuned device I have would discredit that as I'm fine in many areas and unwell in others, confirmed by the readings I get.

Thanks again for both your posts and for your thoughts.

I my 7th Week

by Mywingman - 2014-05-12 11:05:27

I had my install March 19th. Sitting next to my wifi right now. Use of cell phone etc. No issues here. My Medtronic buddy is MRI compliant.

Victor

My EMF gizmo

by kdk@1 - 2014-05-13 12:05:04

Hello Donr,

Thank you for your email. The EMF reader I have is: EXTECH Instruments. Detecting a wide range of RF EMF from 10MHz to 8GHz. 3-channel triaxial measurement probe provides non-directional isotropic measurements.

JFYI regarding the psychological aspect, I do have some training there...10 years, so I get it that a person can "feel" even if it is a physiological issue.

As for the "adding 'em all up", I wasn't referring to adding frequencies, but instead, adding up the implications of high levels of EMF. Each frequency I would assume affects cells differently. If the cells are constantly being bombarded by many frequencies I was suggesting that, could make a person feel sick.

Thanks for your time and your feedback and I look forward to hearing any suggestions as to having some "fun" with my meter reader!

You know you're wired when...

Trade secrets can be smuggled inside your device.

Member Quotes

Hang in there; it does get better every day!