Florida Trip

I am off to Florida in November but on the 3rd August im having a ICD fitted and i wondered if there will be a problem for me going on most of the rides in the parks, im going to Universal, magic kingdom etc?

Is it best to check before i queue and show my pacemaker card that i will be given at the hospital before i leave?

Thanks Sharon

Im a new member & i would like to thank the people that have replied to posts i have already submitted!

13 Comments

have fun!

by Tracey_E - 2010-07-26 06:07:24

November is a wonderful time to visit Florida!! You won't have any problems. Keep your card with you in case you have problems at security (probably will not, I have not, but better have it and not need it than need it and not have it!).

The only thing to watch out for is newer coasters that have magnets. The main one I can think of off the top of my head is the Manta at SeaWorld. Those are a bad idea. Since your device will be less than 6 months old, you might want to avoid the coasters and things with a lot of spinning (centrifugal force). Next year you can do them, but they might not be a good idea this year.

Have a wonderful trip!!

Welcome ~ ~

by Carolyn65 - 2010-07-26 07:07:47

So good to know you joined your new PM Club and will meet so many wonderful newest, bestest Friends. TraceyE is one of the most knowledgable ones on site.

There are always people on this site who have been 'down the road' you will be going or know of what to expect when having a procedure. When you can't get to your Dr. immediately, this is a good site to bring your 'posts/comments', 'questions/answers' or just to talk.

Keep us updated on that vacation in November.

Bear Hugs to All,
Carolyn G. in TEXAS ~ Big Ol' TEXAS Smiles/Good Meds ~

Florida Trip

by shazlou456 - 2010-07-27 01:07:35

Rate Response? Can you alter your PM once you have it fitted or do the docs do all that for you and then you can get things altered later? I dont know how these things work yet, i guess the docs will tell me next week?
The american hospitals i imagine are much better than ours in England or do you wish you had the NHS?
Sometimes i think i would rather pay & have a private room and pick my appointment times!
Sharon x

Rides

by ElectricFrank - 2010-07-27 01:07:50

I can't tell from your post how much time will be between your implant and visiting the parks. You really need a minimum of a couple of months between the implant and riding a roller coaster.

In the first couple of weeks it could not only be risky as far as dislodging a lead, but you would likely find the bouncing around uncomfortable or painful. There is also the issue of allowing enough time for them to get the pacer adjusted properly. Particularly with an ICD there is always the possibility of it firing in response to your heart beats reaction to the excitement.

frank

Another thing to consider

by sln - 2010-07-27 02:07:14

...is how bumpy the ride is. Especially that soon after the procedure, it might be uncomfortable to go on bumpy rides (the Indiana Jones ride comes to mind).

Another Sharon

rate response

by Tracey_E - 2010-07-27 03:07:03

Sharon, we can't alter the settings, but the drs can. They can make changes when they check it with their computer. Rate response is primarily for people who pace atrial, conditions such as sick sinus where the sinus node goes too slowly. I have an av block and pace ventricle, my sinus node keeps up just fine but the message never gets to the ventricle so I don't need RR to keep my rate up.

I don't know much about NHS aside from members here talking about their experience. When it's time to write a big check, I like yours better. When I get to pick my drs and get fast appointments, I like mine better. :o)

Jan, that's just weird!! I wonder what's different between MIB and Buzz?? My first thought was the strobes but you were fine before the pm and a pm has nothing to do with our eyes and the strobes. Very odd!

Tracey

by sputnick - 2010-07-27 03:07:50

I do have rate response on but didn't have a problem with Buzz Lightyear ( apart from my 8 year old grandson getting about 10x more points)! I was ok on all the bumpy parts of rides it was just when it started spinning round really fast!
Sharon- I am from lancs and have nothing but praise for all the nhs staff I have been involved with. I have had my settings changed a few times since my pm implant in Jan 09. The most recent was when they picked up that i had been having really bad palps and my tech realised that I was having pacemaker mediated tachycardia. Once my settings were changed I have hardly had any flip-flop feelings and feel soooo much better.
Have a great time Jan

M.I.B.

by sputnick - 2010-07-27 04:07:22

I went last year. Didn't go on big roller coasters so can't comment on those. Will just say though that when I went on men In Black ride at Universal studios I nearly passed out twice in a part of the ride that spins you round really fast! I had been on it before pre- implant and had no problems. It was a horrible feeling and I personally would keep off it in the future.
Have a wonderful time!
Jan

Florida Rides

by shazlou456 - 2010-07-27 04:07:35

Hi thanks for your replies, my op is Aug 3rd Next Tue! and i go to Florida on Nov 15th. 9 hour flight as im from Wolverhampton England.
So hopefully i will be ok & healed up by then!
Im having this done as i have a benign cardiac tumour growing between the chambers of my heart its called a fibroma. Im 40 & its normally found in children!
i went to cyprus 4 years ago and ended up in hospital with pneumonia and to cut a long story short after being on heart monitor & coming back to England they discovered this! I feel fine, im working etc but they fitting ICD because last 2 times this year i had heart moitor they noticed i having extra hear beats and tumour is interfering with my heart so they fitting it before i start feeling dizzy & blacking out!

Tracey

by sputnick - 2010-07-27 05:07:58

I don't know enough about pm's yet to understand why I felt so bad. If the ride hadn't stopped spinning when it did I know I would have been spark out! It was really scary.Maybe for some reason the fast spinning made my heartrate go really slow or stopped it working for a short while. It was the same feeling I used to get when my heart stopped for a few secs b4 the implant. I do know that wild horses wouldn't get me back on it! LOL1
Jan

MIB

by Tracey_E - 2010-07-27 12:07:35

Just a guess, but MIB could be a problem if you have your rate response on, it'll make the pm think you're working out and raise your hr. I don't use rr and haven't had a problem on MIB. Well, the kids always get a much better score than me, but that's not the kind of problem you mean ;oP Anyway, if it makes you feel bad, stay off it, but generally that ride is not one of the ones that causes problems.

p.s. Magic Kingdom has a nearly identical ride, so you might want to stay off that one if MIB is problematic. Buzz Lightyear in Tomorrowland.

rides

by saintseanlee - 2010-07-28 06:07:47

stay away from the roller coaster's with the bar that comes over the chest i will tell you it hurts trust me other then that have a great time andwhen it comes to airport security you can walk around all the people in line show your card they will pat you down and let you through no waiting

Spinning

by ElectricFrank - 2010-07-30 12:07:41

Spinning or falling affects some people who don't have pacers or heart problems for that matter. I remember years ago being on an elevator in a high rise with a friend. It was one of those that had an operator who controlled the speed with a handle. We were the only passengers in the elevator and were going all the way down from a high floor. He cranked in full speed and the bottom dropped out. Next thing I knew my friend was passed out on the floor. Didn't last long and she had no idea what happened.

I always was careful about wild maneuvers with my airplane when I had passengers with me.

frank

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