electric shock
- by kayakgirl
- 2013-08-15 03:08:13
- Complications
- 1699 views
- 6 comments
Hi all:
I am about 1,000 miles away from my cardiologist and also my pacemaker monitor. While doing laundry outside at our cottage. I changed the plug from the dryer to the washer. My fingers were wet and I was barefoot (hey it's a cottage) and I got a shock. I have monitored my heart and seem to be fine.. I have a pacemaker to correct my very low and skipping heartbeats.. My question is??? am I taking this all too lightly??
Sue
6 Comments
'Getting on with life'
by LuCas - 2013-08-15 04:08:54
If you have only electrical problems with your heart, then all the rest of you heart is healthy and there is no reason to avoid the everyday activities.
If you have a fixed heart rate, check you pulse and see if you have the set hr. My hr is set to 75, so, whenever I feel different, I check if my pulse is 75. If it is 75, it is ok and the pacemaker is working fine.
Maybe your most dangerous mistake was to touch electrical plugs with your hand wet and barefoot. Your body was working as 'ground'. Not only pacemaker recipients but everyone should avoid that situation.
But, if you feel fine now, just take the proper precautions and go on with your life.
Life exists to be enjoyed.
I hope I could express myself well.
Lucio Castro (LuCas)
from Brazil
thanks so much to all of you
by kayakgirl - 2013-08-16 10:08:41
Hey Yooper.. I do use my clothesline and only use the dryer to fluff after it has dried.. socks especially need the fluff..
Don.. yep stupidity is the right word for sure.. but thanks for your comments.
Really thanks to all of you for posting a comment... because I just needed a little reassurance being UP NORTH and a bit remote and there you all were... Most people find out you have a pacemaker and either give you a look like ahhhh you poor thing.. or volunteer to carry your socks..
yes I really promise to wear shoes.. but kayak girl spends a lot of time in bathing suit and barefoot.. but I do have some nice Merrills.. now if I can just stay away from the bear when I am hiking...
Hey - it's stupidity!
by donr - 2013-08-16 12:08:25
Sorry, but that's a harsh fact of life. Any time you mix water & electricity, you are making a BIG, BIG mistake. MOF, prepare to tell that to St Peter at the Pearly Gates "...hey, it's a cottage..."
I work w/ water & electricity all the time. That's done under water & the equipment is electrically driven. Everything is grounded, electrical stuff is sealed & is connected to a Ground Fault Interrupt device to protect me in the event there is an accidental short circuit w/ ME in the current path.
Now - if your appliances are on bare earth or bare concrete, get a Ground Fault Interrupt device to protect you against inadvertent shock. It will save your life some day.
Secondly, be smart - wear shoes & keep your hands dry when changing plugs. Even better - get a dual outlet so both can be plugged in at the same time & you will not have to do dumb things. Also get a GFCI device.
Third - I have taken 120 V shocks from hand to hand & hand to leg several times - dry hands, wearing rubber soled shoes. Accidentally got too close to something. Had no effect on PM, so your PM should be fine. It is well shielded & no current should pass through it.
But go fix your laundry station - it really needs it.
Don
You know you're wired when...
You can feel your fingers and toes again.
Member Quotes
My eight year old son had a pacemaker since he was 6 months old. He does very well, plays soccer, baseball, and rides his bike. I am so glad he is not ashamed of his pacemaker. He will proudly show his "battery" to anyone.
Lightly?
by cropduster - 2013-08-15 03:08:02
Best avoid electric shocks like that. but you're just getting on with life it seems. Good for you. I don't intend on letting a heart problem ruin my life or stop me doing anything I want to do.
My doc asked me last week how I felt about having a PM. I told her I just ignore having one & do whatever I like. She said "good for you".