should i let others know

it should be fine

by Tracey_E - 2019-10-22 15:29:51

The only time I've had a problem with hugs is right after surgery when I'm still sore. Cell phones are rarely a problem, so the odds of someone having one that would cause a problem, having it in a position that can cause you a problem, and being close enough to you for long enough are super slim. Warning people of something highly unlikely to happen is just going to make people paranoid and draw unwanted attention to yourself. 

In order to put the pacer in test mode, it has to be very strong and less than 6" from our device. 

let others know

by new to pace.... - 2019-10-22 15:37:25

thanks, will not say anything.

no worries

by dwelch - 2019-10-24 00:55:15

In general you dont need to worry about phones, etc.  You dont need to tell folks about their phones in pockets that is not a real problem if there was a strong enough field it would only be for the duration of the hug and the device would go back to normal from 65bpm or whatever it was while in the field.  but a phone doesnt make a strong enough field to start with.  As with Tracey_E I still have my phone boxes with the big magnet used for the magnet test.  And all that does is put it in magnet test mode.

What you do need to worry about is if they are "rough" on your pacer site, which normally could be just a touch but right on the device/site can be quite painful.  Rough for us is gentle for others.  My wife and daughers heads are right at pacer height so with them or others at that height I have to make sure their head doesnt touch the device, even a light touch can hurt.  But again you dont need to warn folks, protecting the device is mostly on you and as time passes (I am 32 years into this journey) esp the first year, you learn to protect it without thinking about it.  

The countless number of users manuals that have some cheap ink about if you have a pacemaker consult your doctor before using this device.  its mostly just cheap ink from the legal department trying to warn off frivilous law suits.  Protecting your device.  How you choose to deal with metal detectors.  Etc. these are all things that you work through primarily your first year with a device, but as time changes (there werent MRIs when I started, cell phones were not a thing yet, the internet wasnt even a thing for the masses yet, was still schools and government, the new airport scanners vs metal detectors.  Post 9/11 side effects and other events) you adapt.  But for coffee makers, tooth brushes, cell phones, microwaves, etc many of those things you sort out your anxiety the first year, the first time you have to confront them and once comfortable you can live your life without anxiety for each of the applicances/devices you have conquered. 

We have all been through it, you are not alone with this.

Bottom line: biggest problem with hugs if there is even a problem is an uncomfortable touch/bump of the site and you simple learn how to hug without that happening.  You see a pocket with keys in it aim the hug to miss the site take the hit elsewhere where it doesnt hurt, or move so it doesnt hit at all...and from time to time you bump the thing, it happens, wont hurt the device, just hurts you for a bit.