Electric Fence/ICD

Does anyone know if touching an electric fence can trigger a shock from a defibrillator?  I have gotten plenty of shocks from fences in the past, but not since recieving my ICD.  Was working (weedwacking) near the fence today, and suddenly, fell on my butt.  I thought I stepped in a hole, but there was no hole there.  Thought maybe I touched the fence.  Something similar happened last summer while working on the (live) fence.  I have had my ICD (Medtronic) for two yrs., and never gotten a shock from it, that I know of.  Everyone says "If you get the shock, you will know it.", so I have to assume I never got one.  Nothing ever showed up on the interrogation.

5 Comments

AFIB and electric fence

by BillH - 2017-05-28 22:40:52

A month ago there was a news story where someone with AFIB accidently contacted an electric fence and it cardio-verted him.

As to your question the ICD looks for a certain pattern that indicates a potential problem. Then it wait for set period of time to see if it resolves before "firing".

So, unless you keep holding on for several seconds, the ICD should not activate.

Electric fence/ICD

by Bernie65 - 2017-05-29 13:03:53

Thanks for the input.  I guess I am just clumsy.  I will have to wait on the remote, until appt. with new cardiologist.  The clinic I had been going to, tried to charge me $279 for a remote, have been fighting with them about it for over a year.

Interrogation cost

by Bernie65 - 2017-05-29 16:41:17

The charge for the remote interr. was originally $124,of which I only had to pay 50%, because I had no insurance at the time.  Later, when the clinic thought I was covered (mistakenly), by insurance, they refunded my $62 that I had already paid, and changed the charge to $279.  They cannot give me an explanation why, say "it is under review", and keep sending late notices.  The date of service was March, 2016.  According to Medtronics manual, the charge for a remote is as follows:  "Your cost for using the Medtronic Carelink Service will be the same as a normal clinic visit co-payment."

I called Medtronic, they said it was "between the clinic and your insurance company.  I have an appt. with a new cardiologist in July, who has no affiliation with current clinic.  If current (past) clinic expects to be paid at all, they are going to have to get their sh*** together, I am done with them.

Jesus jolt

by The real Patch - 2017-05-29 17:55:43

The fact it didn't show up on interrogation pretty much tells it all... you didn't enjoy a Jesus Jolt. 

Interrogation costs.

by Bernie65 - 2017-06-04 09:53:20

I am not charged for my Carelink, or for the monitoring, just for the device checks.  Whether by remote, or in the office.  An office visit device ck. was actually cheaper than a remote interrogation, so I told my clinic to cease remote checks, I would not pay for them.

I mention this, because it occurs to me that we recipients are "cash cows", for these clinics.  Can't help but wonder if some implants are done for financial reasons, rather than necessity.

By the way, I called Medtronics, they told me that touching a live electric fence could definitely trigger my device.  When I told the tech that I didn't experience the "jesus jolt", as described by others, he said that it affects everyone differently.  Will be interested in seeing my next device check, see what it says.  Tech also said it would not harm the device.

You know you're wired when...

Titanium is your favorite metal.

Member Quotes

Focus on the good and not the bad.