Cordless Razors

[President2012]

Hi Folks, I received my pacemaker last week. After a couple of days I decided to shave. I use a Braun series 7 cordless rechargeable razor. As soon as I turned it on and started to shave my pacemaker went mad. I spoke with my EP who said not to use it any more. I moved from a safety razor a couple of years ago as I had cut myself badly a couple of times and had to go to hospital once. The Braun is quite a large and powerful razor so maybe If I got a smaller electric razor it would give me more distance though I doubt it would give a 6 inch gap from pacemaker to neck. Has this been a problem for anyone?

[bantam12]

My husband used an electric shaver for years but it never caused a problem with his pacemaker.

[President2012 in reply to bantam12]

thanks.

[BobD Volunteer]

That is ridiculous . I know I am not allowed to do any Tig or Mig welding or lean over an induction hob but a small razor??? Try wrapping it in kitchen foil.

[President2012 in reply to BobD]

that’s a thought. Thanks.

[DueNorth in reply to President2012]

...or you could wrap yourself in kitchen foil, leaving just your chin exposed 😉I use a Braun rechargeable with no problem, and shave my neck and head with a rechargeable Philips hair clipper without a problem. I do set off theft alarms in shops, but, thankfully, usually on the way in...

Would it be worth talking to someone in the pacemaker monitoring/ support team, who might be able to make an adjustment of some kind, or at least offer advice? They might be better qualified than the EP in this respect.

[President2012 in reply to DueNorth]

thanks. Your first suggestion would be very costly given my size - think I’ll skip it. Talking to the support team us a good idea. Thank you

[DawnTX in reply to BobD]

I didn’t know foil would work for that. I know if you make a hat of it the aliens can’t get to you. 😹😹👀😵‍💫

[President2012 in reply to DawnTX]

Good to know.

[Murdy1 in reply to DawnTX]

😂😂😂 Made me laugh, thanks Dawn

[DawnTX in reply to Murdy1]

😊

[Ppiman]

I don't have a PM, but I know that all electric motors generate electromagnetic fields, and these should be shielded well enough in their design but, under certain circumstances, might not be. If I were you, I would try a borrowed shaver, and maybe a Philishave, just to see if it's your particular make and model. I suspect it is.

This article might help:

leesrazors.com/can-you-use-...

Steve

[President2012 in reply to Ppiman]

thanks. That is very good advice. I shall check it out.

[momist]

I've just read through the leesrazors article. I found it quite interesting. I assume your Braun razor is a mains powered unit? I myself don't have a pacemaker or use an electric razor, although I do use a rechargeable beard clipper. I had poor service from a couple of cheap rechargeable ones before my some gave me a present of my current Lithium Ion battery version which so far has given very good service and runs for many uses before needing a charge.

If you are looking at a battery powered replacement, I suggest you avoid the NiCad versions, and look for a Li-Ion version. A good alternative would be ordinary dry cells (AA) with which rechargeable batteries could be a very good solution.

[President2012 in reply to momist]

thanks for your reply. My razor is a cordless rechargeable. On a full charge it can last for 3 or 4 days so maybe it is too powerful. I have been hunting for a dry cell razor and have not come up with one yet other than small travel razors which are not very efficient.

[Stentrunner]

the Braun are very good shavers, it would be a shame to abandon it. Try searching for a Faraday pouch (used to protect car keys or isolate mobile phones). You could start the shaver, then slip the handle part into the pouch while you shave. Or just try a few layers of kitchen foil first. The motor is in the handle and must be quite near your PM when you shave, especially on the neck.

Good luck!

[President2012 in reply to Stentrunner]

many thanks. Bob suggested kitchen foil also. I have not tried it yet but I will. I was not aware of Fariday pouches. I’ll look them up too.

[DawnTX in reply to Stentrunner]

I just found material on Amazon. It is about $20 or less. I found one for 13 actually. It is to protect from magnets, cell phones, etc. I was thinking of trying to create a patch to put over the area of my pacemaker. I wish they made something like that that we could wear, and protect us all of the time. I am picturing like a 3 x 3 Band-Aid may be larger. I searched by putting protective patch or something like that. Just a thought.

[President2012 in reply to DawnTX]

thanks

[Rosemaryb1349]

What about cordless rechargeable tooth brushes? I have a pacemaker ad use an Oral B one and never had a problem.

[President2012 in reply to Rosemaryb1349]

the advice seems to be to keep things like razors and electric toothbrushes 6 inches away from the PM. No problem for a toothbrush but don’t know how you could shave. Your face would be ok but not your neck.

[2learn]

Hi I got pacemaker in dec 2021. what medics say about gadgets and effecting pacemaker can be sparse. I've found out beware of electric cars. Iphones, laptops etc and any battery operated thing on same side as your pacemaker. Dentist won't use certain equipment with me cos of pacemaker, all security checking equipment, airports and shops. as you said induction hobs don't go near if on. My hospital won't use MRI with me even though consultant who inserted pacemaker says its MRI compatible. I keep on finding out more things that are a no go. It seems you need to keep on asking and if people don't know don't risk.

[President2012 in reply to 2learn]

thanks for your reply. Not only is information sparse but as you read through various papers, as I am doing now, you can find contradictory advice. I have now managed to locate the advice given for my PM (Abbott). Regarding electric razors it says they can be used but don’t place directly over the PM. Others say keep 6 inches apart. My razor is a very big and long machine so I may be ok with a more compact model.

[DawnTX in reply to 2learn]

my new pacemaker has MRI right on it but on my card whoever wants to do an MRI must speak with my doctor first. It is not the pacemaker. It is the equipment that they are using. If it’s very old, it will cause a problem.

[President2012 in reply to DawnTX]

so unfortunate there are so many do’s and don’ts but the job the PM does for us is the most important consideration. Stay well

[DawnTX in reply to President2012]

thank you you as well

[Murdy1 in reply to 2learn]

My dentist places a lead shield over my pacemaker, no problem. Stay safe, Tom x

[President2012 in reply to Murdy1]

I went to my dentist before I went into hospital for a checkup. They told me they would be able to perform most dental procedures with some care requirements. That must be what he meant. Take care.

[Qualipop]

Why don't you contact Braun?

[President2012 in reply to Qualipop]

thanks for your reply. I am going to contact them on Monday.

[DawnTX]

that is interesting because from what I have been told cordless is the way to go with things. I use my hairdryer, but I think the cord is about 3 feet. That’s awful to know that you had a problem with this. Thank you for posting as a warning.

[President2012 in reply to DawnTX]

hairdryers seem to be OK as in general it will be 6 inches or more away from the PM. Keep well

[DawnTX in reply to President2012]

you as well

[cindyrella]

I have had a pace maker for two years. I have called Medtronic many times to ask if I could use certain items. They're really good about answering. I do know that many items need to be kept 6" away from your pacemaker. Good luck!

[President2012 in reply to cindyrella]

many thanks. Keep well

[Tomred]

As Bobd says, i was thinking the same , maybe try some tin foil.

[President2012 in reply to Tomred]

many thanks. I now have a statement from the PM manufacturer which says do not place it directly over the PM. When I use my razor on my left neck the base of the razor is directly over the razor site. So tin foil over that area should work if I find nothing more sophisticated. Thanks to the many people who responded to me. Good health to all.

[Tomred in reply to President2012]

love braun , great shaver, good luck.

[President2012 in reply to Tomred]

many thanks

[Dr-Gohan]

I have a shirt with magnetic fasteners. Tiny, little itsy bitsy sewn in the pockets and pacemaker went into a prolonged state of beeping for three hours, before a rep from medtronic told me to check the shirt.Sure enough , magnets I had no idea were there.

[President2012 in reply to Dr-Gohan]

that’s very interesting. I was told fridge magnets would be a problem. My wife and I have traveled extensively over the years and our fridge is covered in magnets. I have had no problems with them. I spoke with Braun support who had no clue what I was talking about but she has sent the query on to tech services. Mine is an old model and I am wondering if EMF shielding is better on the newer ones. Take care.

[Dr-Gohan]

Thanks for sharing the frig magnet story. Lucky for me the magnet was causing the beeping of nine beeps in a row , which is code for everything is working properly. Turns out that the model I have is designed to use three different beep patterns to signal pacemaker status.In fact a very large blue magnet is used to shut the pacemaker down entirely.

I'm pretty certain that a refrigerator magnet would activate it, if held against my skin right over the Pace Maker.

Again thanks for your short and interesting story.

[President2012 in reply to Dr-Gohan]

glad your code was a positive one