Help with pacemaker

[Knavesmire27]

Hi all, I have a question about the possibility of disruption to a pacemaker. I understand that modern pacemakers are much more resilient but as an anxious person I do worry. So my question is, if you go near something that may cause interfere or disruption to your pacemaker, does it readjust back when you move away from the interference? And how long would that take? I have had my pacemaker about 16 weeks now as well as having open heart surgery and am trying to get back to normal and get my anxiety under control. I am also still waiting for more investigation into the multiple Tachycardia that I have so do worry when I get the “flutters” (is it the tachycardia or could it be I have somehow “upset” my pacemaker). Any advice would be very gratefully received as always 😊

[fantasyfanuk]

hi, I’ve had a pacemaker for 7 years and to the best of my knowledge have never had any interference or disruption. From what I was told, there are only a few external influences that affect pacemakers and if anything did, the advice given is to just move away from whatever has affected it and it should be ok straight away. I sympathise with the worry that your flutters are a result of you having upset your pacemaker and that was one of my initial concerns too. A few weeks after having my first pacemaker implanted, I had been having episodes of palpitations and what felt like missed beats, and was diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and once I understood that was causing my flutters, it helped me to be less anxious about it. There’s no doubt that this can be a scary situation and I certainly found it so at the beginning. Things feel very different now though 7 years on and as interference/disruption doesn’t seem to be a common occurrence, I don’t worry about it. And once your tachycardia investigations are concluded, hopefully you can put the uncertainty behind you. I ring my pacemaker clinic with any queries I have and they are very helpful so you could try them if you need professional advice or the BHF nurse helpline. Hope all goes well for you.

[Knavesmire27 in reply to fantasyfanuk]

Thank you, really good advice and really does help me feel better

[Minogue]

hi - wow you are going through a lot I would be anxious too. I have had a pacemaker for 9 years now . I rarely feel anything . I also have AF- when I do get flutters it’s very very slight and no other symptoms. I don’t go through normal security arches ever only the big scanners at airports and I never use a conduction hob. At concerts I never sit anywhere near big loudspeakers either all of these have magnets . I think if you have other symptoms- sweating - chest pain - syncope - I would say go straight to hospital just to be safe . None of us are experts here or medically trained so I can only speak from experience . I’m sure the hospital is looking after you given the recent illness’s and procedures . I would ask for hospital/ gp for some support / therapy ? It took me a long time to trust my pacemaker and I was very frightened for months . Once I slipped in the bath and really knocked it . I ended up very bruised but they checked it and it was still in situ and working well ! But I’ve accepted I can’t live without it and my hospital checks are very rigorous. You will learn to trust it eventually I’m sure . Wishing you all the best

[Knavesmire27 in reply to Minogue]

Thank you 😊

[Deejay62]

Hi I’ve had a CRT-P for 8 yrs and a CRT-D for 6 yrs and I’ve never had an issue. Mine is checked every 6 months in person, at the clinic, and 6 months through the home monitor.

I did ask that question and I was told if there was a problem with my device they would call me in as they regularly check them anyway. I’ve travelled a lot in the pass and had no issues I just show my card and they always know what to do, some security machines I can go through, like scanners and some I can’t I have to be manually checked using a wand.

It takes a lot to affect a pacemaker I often forget I even have one. And I’m sure the newer ones now can cope even better. They can even be switched on and off for MRI scanning.

All the best.

[L8Again]

‘Magnets

Magnetic fields in magnets within devices and machinery can inhibit pulse generators for ICDs and pacemakers. In ICDs in particular, magnets can activate a switch prohibiting the ICD from delivering vital signals such as lifesaving shocks.

If you have an ICD or pacemaker, avoid close or prolonged contact with magnets or their magnetic fields. Keep magnets at least 6 inches from where your device is implanted.

Of course, you may not always know if you have come into proximity with machinery that uses a magnet. It’s best to err on the safe side. If you feel any interference, move away from the source or turn it off if possible.

Avoid magnet therapy that may call for you to wear magnetic bracelets or necklaces near your implantation site. Also, avoid magnetic pillows and magnetic mattress pads, which can be found in some adjustable or smart beds. These may interfere with your ICD or pacemaker.’ Source: Heart.org

The device should revert back to its previous settings when the magnetic source is removed.

FWiW, my wife’s cardiologist said that she could lie on top of an induction hob and, at worst, she might feel a little strange when the device reverted to its factory settings whilst it was in close proximity to a magnet. Neither she nor the device would be harmed. He feels that present advice on magnets is overly cautious.

Finally, despite what some people think it is safe to use a defibrillator on a patient with a pacemaker/ICD:

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

But not a TENS machine or a smart watch with bioimpedance.

[Eeee13]

hi

I was concerned about having a pacemaker last year and how it would effect me as I have a very manual physical job.

While in hospital I saw a surgeon who fits pacemakers and she spent 1 1/4 hours going through everything.

I had been advised previously to read the NHS heart website and British heart foundation website and I was in pieces and my life /work had gone.

So this is what she said.

It’s the size of an old 50p piece fits just under the left collar bone. Depending weather you have 1,2 or 3 leads you need to restrict left arm movement for first 6 weeks and not lift arm above shoulder so your body has time to recover, grow round everything and the cables aren’t pulled out while you grow round it and heal. It can be either linked via a phone app or a box under your bed at night via Wi-Fi.

The websites are worst cinario

Dos and don'ts you can use your mobile phone but use right ear. You can use microwave oven. Induction hob as long as you don’t lye on it. Stand alittle away with your left side. Avoid magnetic fields like walking under pylons. Going in and out of shops go through middle of security detectors don’t stop or hang around. Carry your implant card with you at all times. Airport security are used to dealing with it. Venues that have body scanners are used to it ( I have been to concerts and they will just check your bag or hand frisk don’t use hand scanners ) seat belt restrictors you can get a pack of 4 for a few pounds so the belt does not sit over and rub the implant. Small enough to carry a spare in pocket if your in some one else’s car/ transport.

I only have a wireless cardiac monitor injected into my chest at the moment for last 8 months. It takes a little getting used to so you don’t knock it when carrying, lifting things. Leaning over things. You soon get used to it

She left me feeling yes I can live with it it’s not as horrific as it’s made out to be.

There are currently 2 types of wireless pace makers recently coming on the market.

One is made by Medtronic same as my wireless cardiac monitor implant which is the worlds smallest wireless most accurate implant the length of a AAA battery and 1/3 diameter.

The wireless pace makers are inserted via a catheter into the heart and you can have more than one if needed they talk to each other and linked via phone app. They are about the size of a small bullet.

Have a look at the Medtronic website. It’s American mine implant works for me at the present time until they can fix my issues .

Good luck

[Knavesmire27 in reply to Eeee13]

Thank you for all the advice. It's always good to know someone is listening and willing to share their experiences ☺️