Cell Phones

Hi all. Having my first PM implant on Tuesday. I'm actually looking forward to having it done as I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired ;). My question is cellphone related. I use my cell for work and am on it 6 hours a day. I hold it to my left ear and from what I've read, my implant will be on my left side since I'm right handed. That said, I've read conflicting news regarding cellphone use. Does a cell interfere with your pacemaker? If so, changing the ear I use to talk will definitely take getting used to.

Thanks!
Kelli

3 Comments

phones

by Tracey_E - 2014-11-16 08:11:06

Every once in a while you hear about someone told to use their phone on the opposite side but most of us haven't been precautioned, use it on whichever side we want, and never have a problem. I've been paced for 20 years now and have never found a gadget or appliance that affects my pm, not even the magnetic case on my ipad. I work next to my router, read in bed with my ipad propped on my chest, run with my ipod clipped right over my pm, my husband has amateur radio equipment all over the house. No issues!

They generally put it on the left because it's the closest to the heart. Sometimes they'll put it on the opposite side if someone is left handed but once we heal it doesn't really matter unless you play violin or shoot rifles, something like that.

No worries

by Theknotguy - 2014-11-16 08:11:35

Kelli:

You don't have to worry about cell phones.

There is a lot of misinformation out there about EMF and PM's. It gets repeated over and over. It seems very few people really bother to look at the facts and try to debunk the misinformation.

I'll attach a web link to Medtronics. They have a PDF on EMF and electrical fields. Basically you'd have to hug an electrical motor while it is running for it to interfere with the PM. Cell phones give off much smaller EMF and as such won't bother your PM. I have a Medtronic PM and have never had any problems with the cell phone. Worse case scenario would be to use a Bluetooth.

Having said that, you might want to check with AngrySparrow1. She's indicated she's had interference with her ICD and her cell phone. But I don't know the details. I don't know if she has a different cell phone. I don't know if she has an older ICD. Either or both could set up a situation where there was a problem. But if you aren't getting an ICD you shouldn't have to worry.

If you look over posts I've made you'll see I get into electrical fields a lot. I haven't had any problems with my PM. Consequently I have a tendency to be a lot more blase' about EMF and electrical fields.

Web link is as follows:

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

Hope your PM implant goes well.

I don't feel any interference

by SaraTB - 2014-11-16 08:11:38

Many people here have said that they feel no interference - our usual observation is to simply try it: if it interferes, it won't do you any harm, but it will feel a little strange. If you feel strange, simply move the phone to the other ear. Most of us have learned over the years that the warnings are to protect the manufacturers from legal action, rather than any other reason, and so we're more prepared to test things out. If there's interference, your pacemaker will go into a steady pacing mode, rather than all the flexible rates programmed for you - no harm. And if you move away from the thing that causes interference (or switch the phone to the other ear), it will return to the programmed settings.
Alternatively, you could use a Bluetooth earpiece!

Welcome to the Club, and good luck with your procedure.

You know you're wired when...

You invested in the Energizer battery company.

Member Quotes

To tell you the truth I never even give it a second thought. While growing up it never stopped me from doing anything and to this day my girlfriend or my kids need to remind me that I have one!