Magnetic field

I am having my pacemaker surgery next week. 
am a little or a lot afraid of the unknown. 
Magnetic field is on my mind a lot. 
should I be afraid or not??

4 Comments

Afraid? No. Cautious? Maybe.

by AgentX86 - 2020-03-29 21:33:33

If you're going to be "pacemaker dependent" there is reason to be very careful about what you're around.  Otherwise, there is more latitude.  In either case,  arc welding isn't something you want to be doing.  What, specifically, are you concerned about?

Manual

by Jimmy Dinfla - 2020-03-29 23:50:57

Your pacemaker comes with an instruction manual that will be enlightening.

Jimmy

not really

by Tracey_E - 2020-03-30 15:56:51

Be aware of it, yes. Worry about it, no. A strong magnet less than 6" from the device can mess with it, tho it will not turn it off. Mostly we just have to worry about industrial magnets. Unlike Swangirl, I've done all sorts of things considered questionable and have never once had my pacer switch modes. I've paced every beat for 25 years. 

Once again...

by AgentX86 - 2020-03-30 23:28:22

The issue is NOT the magnetic sensor in the pacemaker.  The issue is induce currents in the leads fooling the PM to inhibit the PM's pulse.  Miss a couple of these and you may be in real trouble (if you're PM dependent) or may not even notice it (your PM isn't pacing your heart at that time).

<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3908865/>

<https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S188042761300104X>

 

 

 

You know you're wired when...

You have a little piece of high-tech in your chest.

Member Quotes

As for my pacemaker (almost 7 years old) I like to think of it in the terms of the old Timex commercial - takes a licking and keeps on ticking.