Dollywood and other parks

Hi,
Newbie Aussie Julie back - 42 years old and had my pacemaker inserted 11 days ago (amazing Australia health care system - heart stopped at lunchtime Saturday and pacemaker was in Sunday 11am).

Anyway, my wonderful friend, who has been through a terrible medical experience (much much worse than me) and I are of to the US in 4 weeks time for a holiday that we have had planned for over 12 months.

The 1st part to USVI and BVI (sailing and then a condo on St John) - then we go to Atlanta and drive to Dollywood. I love roller coaters and had seen the Wild Eagle on TV, plus a few other rides there and really wanted to go. So we decided to included that in our little road trip (then on to Nashville and Memphis).

I sent an email to Dollywood and the respond wasn't very helpful, basically if I have a heart condition, I can't go on anything. But my doctor, said I'm now bettter than I was pre-pacemaker (I also, of course have travel insurance for my pacemaker - would dare travel to the US without it). So as far as I'm concerned the 'heart condition' sign doesn't apply to me.

Anyway, my main concern is the magnetics and how they will affect me. The doctors said get back to your old life, but then they say, no driving for at least at month, no drinking for 3 months and if they say no roller coasters - well I may as well be 90 and I won't finish my sentence but I'm feeling somewhat less than positive.

I don't just want to go to Dollywood, in a few years I want to go to Orlando - my husband and I are big kids. Basically I want to keep living - isn't that why I got a pacemaker? Or am I now the Walking Dead?

5 Comments

Forever the optimist

by Jewels - 2015-03-11 03:03:06

I suppose I can't really understand how my Pacemaker can 'jingle' around. I am 5 foot 3 inches (although my husband thinks I'm shorter - meanie) and weigh about 54kgs (119 pounds), so I think they put it pretty deep into my muscle.
I have an appointment with my Cardiologist on Monday so I will find out what he thinks.
What I am wondering is what exactly does happen with the magnetics? I've read a lot about not going near them but they don't say why, what happens, do I win million dollars, do I blow up, lose my hair? Not much point saying don't do like - like to a child, but not telling me why.

Also unlike others, my Pacemaker is an insurance policy - I should only need it to kick in every 3 months or so when I faint (or not faint now hopefully). I don't need it all the time - 99.99% I'm great.

I think the idea of some padding for the ride is good, as most of the bars will come down on that area.

Has anyone ridden the Wild Eagle? That is the one I really want to go on.

Wild Eagle

by bluebowtye - 2015-03-11 04:03:59

No, I have never ridden it but I would sure like to! It looks awesome! I love those type of rides.

I'm not sure what can happen with magnetics. The roller coasters I went on last summer did not have them. I'm really hoping to go on some big ones this summer in Chicago.

It's hard to explain the jiggling. Mine is implanted pretty deep in my pectoral muscle too, but I could really feel it moving around in the pocket, especially towards the end of the day, and while not painful it was very uncomfortable for several days afterwards. Mine was even stitched down so I guess asking your doc would be the best thing. I think it just takes some time for it to really settle in your body and we are all different, so just because I felt mine moving around, doesn't mean you will have the same problem.

I sure hope you can go on it! Please come back and tell us about it afterwards!

~Sheila

coasters and magnets

by Tracey_E - 2015-03-11 05:03:20

Regular coasters are fine, but after you heal more! I would not do it this soon after placement. That's a lot of force to put on new leads and scar tissue. Best case, you end up sore. Worst case, you dislodge a lead. Give it a few more months, as much as a year, then ride all the coasters you want.

Never, ever ask the park! They are terrified of law suits so their answer to everything is NO.

The only thing we really need to be careful of long term is the magnetic brakes on the newer coasters. Older ones are fine. If you don't pace much, then I'd probably go on the magnetic ones also, but that's just me. If you read my other posts, you'll see I don't let many things slow me down. Most things they tell us to avoid are purely precaution with little documented fact behind it. How many patients even ask about coasters? Not many! So a lot of drs automatically say no but in reality, they don't really know.

The deal with magnets... That white thingy they put over the pm when they test it? That's a magnet. It pulls a little switch closed and puts it in test mode. Any time we get too close to a magnet- and 6" is the rule of thumb unless it's a really big magnet like the brakes on a coaster- it pulls the switch closed and changes the mode. I pace every beat so I'd feel it instantly and it would not feel good. However, it's harmless and as soon as we get away from the magnet, the switch opens and it's back to full function. If the magnet is too strong, it can possibly mess up your settings.

It Takes Time

by Artist - 2015-03-11 05:03:55

The advice I got was that it takes time for the leads to form the scar tissue to securely bond the leads to your heart walls. Allowing a minimum of 30 days for the formation of scar tissue is pretty standard procedure. My EP told me that the leads really continue the bonding process for up to 90 days. Everyone is different, but I was told I could drive two days following my PM surgery. I think the extreme jarring motions of some rides could cause problems. Your body will give some feed back as you begin to increase your activities so that you can judge the healing process and decide what activity is safe for you.

Rides

by bluebowtye - 2015-03-11 09:03:00

Hi,

My doc told me rides were fine. It was the first thing I asked when I found I needed the PM! I'm not sure about the big roller coasters with the magnetics though. I am planning a trip to Chicago this summer and one of our stops will be 6 Flags over Mid America. I see him next month and am going to ask about those.

Last year my company had their annual picnic at a small amusement park. I went on all the rides, but it had just been 6 months since my implant. I found that was a bit too soon. Some of them were really rough and jerky and my PM site was uncomfortable for a few days after. I did take a small pillow to protect me from anything bumping it, but I could still feel it jiggling around in there.

Your vacation sounds really fun, but I would be really cautious about going on too many rides so soon after your implant.

Good luck!
~Sheila

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