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Hello All

Its been two months since I've been "wired". My concern was how would I react when I return to work and other activities. Let me just say you guys were correct. I have had no issues with my pacemaker at work. My concern was would the stress and electronic devices interfere with my pacemaker. Thankfully I have had no issues or setbacks at work or elsewhere. I have not been thru airport security yet but now I am not afraid at all. I don't remember if it was someone on the blog or a medical person who said sometimes I would forget I have the pacemaker. I thought yea right. But now after the initial pain/discomfort from the procedure sometimes as I go throughout my day I do forget it. I am so comfortable with it now I am actually asking coworkers/ friends / family if they want to see my scar. I never thought I would be at that point.

There are times when i feel beats or pounding. I think that maybe that is when the pacemaker is working. I have kept my medical appointments and everything is looking good.

I hope this post helps someone.

5 Comments

For clarity

by 1965rich - 2014-11-15 01:11:06

With regards to the airport scanners, I understand that the scanners don't appear to impact upon the PM's but what I would really like to know is whether or not the PM's set the alarms off??? Can you please clarify if they don't why mention the fact that you have a scanner at all?

Congrats!

by Theknotguy - 2014-11-15 01:11:46

Glad you're having such a positive response!

As for security scans you won't have to worry. Went from the US to the UK and back. First airport I showed my PM card. They directed me through the one scanner where you hold your hands crossed over your head. No problems. For the other airports the attitude was, "We don't care. Go through the scanner." No problems. They actually gave me more grief over my CPAP machine.

Had a guy walk up behind me at the London Eye, ran the wand over my PM before I was even aware he was there. No problems, but figured out he was going to be a real pain - which he was. No problems with the PM. Kept my mouth shut so no up close and personal with the London Bobbies, but I can't repeat in church what I was thinking.

Got back to the US and had to go through one of the metal scanners they wouldn't let me walk through at the airport - this was, at all places, the State Fair. Told the State Highway Patrol trooper I'd really be upset if it did anything to my PM. Zilch, nada, nothing. No problems.

Just took down a 30 foot tree using an electrical chain saw. It had the label that said, "Do not use with pacemaker." No problems.

So, other than alerting the security people that you do have a PM, it probably will be as they say in the UK, "No worries."

Glad to read such a good report! Looking forward to hearing more!

They can set metal detectors off

by SaraTB - 2014-11-15 04:11:22

They can set them off, which is why I don't bother to go through the metal detectors - even though it's safe, if the alarm goes off, the TSA agents get tense, in case you're hiding something, and then scold you for not telling them you have a PM. In the end, for me, it's not worth getting them upset, so I just get the pat-down, or ask to go through the scanner. Anything I can do to keep the security agents calm makes the trip go smoother!
If I do go through the electronic scanner, I tell them up-front that I have a PM, so when they spot it, they know what they're looking at. They still, sometimes, need to feel it under your skin anyway.

Airport scanners

by WillieG - 2014-11-16 10:11:55

I have flown 4 times since my pacemaker was implanted last June. I have never told anyone that I had a pacemaker nor have I set of any metal detectors. Not a big deal!

Good luck!

Wilma

evia dr-t

by freebe - 2015-02-25 08:02:35

HI, I have a evia dr-t by biotronik pacemaker since may 2013 Anyone with input on same. Thanks.

You know you're wired when...

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