OT pacemaker

pat sublett · Jun 15, 2016

Anybody got a pacemaker implant? Any tips; anybody had experience or advise on welding with one?

4520BW · Jun 15, 2016

Not sure about welding but I know for a fact a magna flux will lay you out!

Gchase24 · Jun 15, 2016

My Dad has one. It is a defibrolator / pacemaker. The doctors were asked this very question. He was told not to be within 50 ft. of any welding. He was told a enclosed metal building with welding inside would be absolutely the worst situation.

RogerinIowa · Jun 15, 2016

Chainsaws are bad also. Buddy got hit 38 times with his defib before he got to the hospital.

wilson ind · Jun 15, 2016

be careful with DC I do ok with AC just dont set on top on the welder or any transformer for that matter. Watch about leaning over alternators or Magnatoes. On my second one,the newer ones are much better. I sure they get better as the years go on. Go you also have the built in defibrillator? Be very careful about getting bumped over the leads , especially first year. I will not wear a seat belt over my left shoulder no matter what law says. Many doctors will give you a script to have the seat belt under your arm pit. Im tall so that way to were a seat belt is natural. I really wish you would call me. My email is open. how the voltage is set is more complex than you might think. I had an experience with improper setting I will not discuss here.

Billy C. · Jun 15, 2016

Have had a Medtronics for the last five years with no problems. I have not done any electric welding and run chainsaw a total of about 10 minutes. I still can't understand why a chainsaw is a no-no, but gas string trimmer made by same company as my chainsaw is OK. Both are Sthil and probably same or nearly so ignition systems, but Medtronics says trimmers and push lawnmowers are OK to use. Do not have defiblirator--just pacemaker. It did pick up some atril fibrillation over a year ago, but that disappeared with no apparent cause or explanation as why it started then stopped. Dr. has no idea why. I was not aware of the afib when it happened.

504 · Jun 15, 2016

The thing to remember is the pacemaker is adjusted and calibrated with a magnet. Welding leads with electricity will make a magnet.(wife is on #3)

george md · Jun 15, 2016

Pat,

Medtronics website says you are good to 140 amps,

St Jude website says 400 amp limit . I have a 2 wire

St Jude and have welded with 120 amps , both say do

not get wrapped in the cables .

The one they will not talk about is TIG welding .

I am going to see a fellow that has a tig shop in

Carlisle ,pa , I think he is wearing a lead vest to

shield the high frequency from the arc stabilizer .

george

Bob · Jun 16, 2016

INTERESTING that LEAD would be needed to filter out RFI.

He might want to look into "faraday cage" AKA a chainmail vest.

Roger in Wisconsin · Jun 16, 2016

My dad got one. When he went in for surgery he was in bad shape. After he came out of recovery he looked like a new man. He was back to 100 percent. Good luck with yours.

pat sublett · Jun 16, 2016

Would be interested to know about a wire welder/ TIG if you learn anything.

RayP(MI) · Jun 16, 2016

Both my son and I have one. Both set to defibrillation only. He has several years experience, I have about 6 months. I find mine uncomfortable at times.

As far as the "Don't do's," welding, chain saw, generators, ignition systems, cell phones, radio transmitters, etc, think we've done them all, with the exception of large generators. Best advice I have been able to get is to avoid close contact with interference sources and your appliance. Keep chain saws down from your chest, cell phone not in left shirt pocket, (do use mine at left ear - can't hear as reliably with right.), weld away from yourself, not close to instrument. Both of us are ham radio operators, and problems there. In fact, who've had no problems at all with our units.

Last time I had my device check, I questioned the technician very carefully, and asked who wrote the "do not do" list,
doctors, technicians/engineers, experienced users, or lawyers.... He admitted, lawyers. Nuff said.

HALGETIT · Jun 16, 2016

If you need to weld. contact your pacemaker tech. ST Jude can teach you how to weld to best preserve battery life. EMI interferes with the signal from heart to pacer. EMI on defib picks up on signals and tries to shock back into normal rhythm. keep EMI 3 feet away if you have to be in the area. EMI fades fast at about 6 feet.

1948CaseVAI · Jun 16, 2016

My best friend's son is a technical trainer for Medtronic as well as a registered nurse. He trains the doctors how to implant and program them using the computerized wand. He is often in the operating room for the first several that a doctor instqalls so he can catch any technical errors the doc makes.

My friend's old man neighbor has a Medtronic defib-pacemaker and is constantly complaining about it. I don't know what his problems are but every time he sees Tony at my friend's house he comes over just to rant and threaten to sue Medtronic.

Tony finally had his fill of the old man and told him "I have a wand in the truck. Let me get it and we will just turn the SOB off if you want." The old man has left him alone since.

BTW - don't weld with it!

OT pacemaker

pat sublett

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4520BW

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Gchase24

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RogerinIowa

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wilson ind

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Billy C.

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504

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george md

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Bob

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Roger in Wisconsin

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pat sublett

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RayP(MI)

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HALGETIT

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1948CaseVAI

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