General Questions

Hi everyone. I know I will be getting a pacemaker at some point. It might be sooner rather than later. Does anyone work with a torch? Does that pose any issues? How about an oxygen concentrator? Soldering iron? I do lampworking. Any advice for scuba divers? Also, does anyone feel their pacemaker working? I had a temporary external pacer after my open heart surgery and the docs said I shouldn't be able to feel it working, but I could.

2 Comments

I Can Feel It

by NiceNiecey - 2014-06-16 10:06:27

Welcome to our unusual little club with over 22,000 members!

I cannot answer most of your questions but concerning the question about whether you can feel it working, I definitely can. There are days and weeks when I feel it all the time and then there are times when I don't notice it all. I'm less than 6 months into this experience so that may have something to do with it. Just know that it does take some getting use to. And BTW, I am pacing in the right atrium 80 or 85% of the time and about 20% in the right ventricle. You apparently don't have complete heart block at this time so you would only pace part of the time, too. Some people are paced very infrequently, others 100% of the time so it all depends.

All the best, Friend.
Niecey

currently 1st degree block

by dleach - 2014-06-16 11:06:17

I currently have a 1st degree AV block, but when they put in a pacer I believe the plan will be to fry my AV node, so I think I will be 100 percent paced. Appointment with the specialist (IP doc) on the 20th. I am only 42 years old so I am really not looking forward to this. Thanks for the info.

You know you're wired when...

You fondly named your implanted buddy.

Member Quotes

I consider my device to be so reliable, that I never think about a failure.