Real Life Update on Welding

Just perusing the recent messages today and had to add this. I have posted and commented many times (as have others) about how I have exposed myself and my CRT-P to electromagnetic fields (EMF) in many conditions, from huge power generators all the way down to how I hold my cell phone. I always inserted the disclaimer that I did not do welding. My brother-in-law was recently told he needed an ICD due to a-fib and prior damage from two heart attacks. His EP originally wanted to implant one of the new Boston Scientific S-ICDs. My brother is a professional welder using all of the common methods, so he and I discussed what they had planned. After some research of my own, I recommended that he tell his doctor about the welding up front. The doctor did some research (imagine that?) and decided to implant a Boston Scientific CRT-D because he felt it would be least affected by EMF. That was three weeks ago and my brother decided he was feeling recovered enough to find out, so he went out and fired off his arc welder, did some passes holding at his normal 16-18 inches, and felt nothing. He called me afterwards, so I know he is still alive.

So, to all that are worried about EMF affecting your PM, if a 60 amp arc welder didn't make his PM act up, a laptop, Wi-Fi router, smartphone, Apple watch, electric watch, keyless entry fob, hybrid car, airport metal detector, or most any other electrical device, other than the one your device nurse places over it to put it in test mode, is not going to affect your PM either.

I still am looking at issues about MRI procedures. (This from an earlier post). It seems there are some US hospitals getting on board and figuring out what has to be done with PMs that are not specifically MRI compliant like the one Boston Scientific has put out but is getting poor response from doctors and hospitals because it is so new (Read this on CNBC website).

Good Luck and Good Life. PJ

2 Comments

Thanks!

by Theknotguy - 2015-06-22 01:06:36

We need to keep you and your brother around. That's really good news and I'm sure will put some doubters to rest.

I'll want to do some research between 60 amp arc welding and TIG welding, but electrical welding is welding.

Based upon the EMF thrown off by arc welding, it probably means you don't have to worry about car alternators either.

Opens up a whole lot of possibilities for other things too.

Thanks for giving us the info. Great job!

Just Trying to Help

by PJinSC - 2015-06-23 04:06:28

Theknotguy, thanks. Like me and yourself, my brother does not want to hide under his bed and never experience life just because he has this gizmo in his body. This is a second lease; go out and enjoy it.

He also does TIG and MIG welding. You deal with different frequencies and voltages with them. I will update the Club on his experiences. His business is restoring horse trailers out in Oregon. He welds all sorts of metals and techniques. That is why he got concerned and we had many long talks over the phone. I was around a lot of MIG, TIG and arc welding at the nuclear power plant and at the shipyard. Quite fascinating. Most of the welders I watched were true artists.

I was working inside my running Expedition the other day, and felt no effect.

PJ

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