New Member

Hi, I'm a new member and found this site while looking on the net to see if welding and my pacemaker was compatible I restore old Beetles and they are held together with spot welds. It looks like the safest way to handle it is find a friend that can weld.

2 Comments

Check it out

by Theknotguy - 2014-11-15 03:11:31

Sparrow is correct (as she normally is) about prior posts. There is a lot of miscommunication out there which has been debunked on this forum.

My PM is Medtronics and I'll give you the link where they give their recommendations about your PM, RFI and electrical equipment. Medtronics is conservative on this report but since we're in the USA where we can sue anyone at any time for anything, I don't blame them for being conservative. Link is as follows:

http://www.medtronic.com/wcm/groups/mdtcom_sg/@mdt/@crdm/documents/documents/electromagnetic-compatibility.pdf

Electric chain saws are on the list. I just took down a 30 foot tree with an electric saw. The warning label on the saw said, "Don't use with a pacemaker." But if you read the Medtronics recommendation you'll see you would almost have to be hugging the chain saw while running it for it to be a problem with the PM. I had absolutely no problems with the PM while running the chain saw while working on the tree. Well, actually I did have problems - the safety trigger kept cutting out on me and I couldn't keep the damn thing running. But no problems with the PM.

I did have problems with a Sawzall saw. Picked up the thing, forgot about having the PM, started cutting some planks and bore down hard. The vibration from the saw went up my arm, started shaking my PM, woke up the accelerometer and kicked off my PM. Wow, what a rush! One of the other guys came over and asked me if I was OK. "You shoulda seen the look on your face!", he said. Told my EP about it and he said you have to watch out for jack hammers too. Same problem with vibration.

Moved 2500 pounds of wood last week with the pallet jack. Worked 10 hours Thursday. Was on my feet all day with at 20 minute lunch, and one potty break. Was tired, but no problems with the PM.

Hang in there. Life gets better.

welding

by manaman - 2014-11-16 06:11:13

Pacemakers do not act/respond the same way for everyone. I worked 20 years in a very high electrical/magnetic industry in the maintenance dept. I found that arms length from suspect items worked for me. A welder I could not get close to at all (but had a friend that it did not bother). Pay attention to your body!
If your pulse changes, your breathing changes, you get winded,tired or feel flushed just remove yourself from the area! It will not kill you but will put your PM in a test mode and it will reset saftly in a few minutes.
Sparky is the best friend you will ever have, use it to it's fullest.
Go for the gusto!
Cecil ( 20 year PM owner)

You know you're wired when...

You get your device tuned-up for hot dates.

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