Generator

Generators - it depends

by LondonAndy - 2018-07-19 15:52:36

The Medtronic website says to keep a pacemaker at least 12" away from a small generator, say 2 to 3kW.  But if you are talking much larger then the safe distance will doubtless increase.

should be ok

by Tracey_E - 2018-07-19 18:09:32

Don't let your pacer get less than 6" from a generator, so practically that means don't lean over it when it's running. Anything else isn't going to affect it. Even if it does, it won't harm you. Magnets can pull a switch closed and put it in test mode so it'll feel like when it's interrogated with a flat rate. As soon as you move away from it, it'll go back to full function. Ify ou do happen to have a mode switch,it'll show up in the interrogation so when in doubt, ask to have it checked. 

It depends (but you knew that)

by AgentX86 - 2018-07-19 22:10:16

My EP told me (in front of SWMBO) that I'm not to even mow my lawn.  The issue is the alternator in the lawn tractor.  I'm pacemaker dependent and have no detected escape rhythm so he's quite concerned about interference.

In your case, you say that you aren't 100% paced, however you have a 3rd degree heart block.  To me, that means that your venricles are 100% paced, even though your atria apparently arent (i.e. your pacemaker replaces your AV node and LBB/RBB function).  I'd be pretty careful about interference too.  I'd stay well away from any large AC magnetic sources like motors, generators, and transformers.  If you didn't have the heart block, it would be much less of a problem.

interference

by Tracey_E - 2018-07-20 14:51:43

Interference puts it in test mode where it paces at a steady rate, like when they are interrogated. It does not turn it off. If we pace a lot, we won't feel good, but we won't be unsafe. 

Test mode

by AgentX86 - 2018-07-20 23:51:14

"Interference puts it in test mode where it paces at a steady rate, like when they are interrogated. It does not turn it off. If we pace a lot, we won't feel good, but we won't be unsafe."

That's not necessarily true.  A static magnetic field will put it in test mode but AC interference (particularly a regular rotating field, like a large motor) can fool the PM into thinking that your heart is provinging the pacing so it doesn't, potentially leaving you with no pacing or irregular pacing.