Kindle Cover and Android Phone

I have a Samsung GalaxyS4 smartphone and a Kindle with a Kindle cover (magnet closure that puts the Kindle into sleep mode)

I had my first pacemaker implanted April 7 (26 days ago) on right side. I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation last June. My heart rate was slow (as low as 29 at night with daily avg of 55) While my incision looks great, I have had continuing pain at the site and extreme sensitivity (burning feeling) in the chest area below it and to the center of my chest. It seems to be lessening, but still there. I have difficulty lying on my left side (pacemaker on my right). It seems the weight of the pacemaker causes pain in that position.

I am concerned that my smartphone and the cover(magnetic) for my Kindle might be causing a problem. I am very nearsighted and almost always take my glasses off and read both my phone and my Kindle close to my face for prolonged periods. Since I hold both the phone and the Kindle directly in front of my face (few inches away), that places them about 6-7 inches from my pacemaker for long periods of time. The last few days I have been experiencing lots of dizziness and slight nausea, increased episodes of atrial fibrillation (or some other type of arrhythmia). It seems to occur more in the afternoon and evening (the time I am most likely to be reading my Kindle and heavily using my phone for email, Facebook, family history research, etc.

I am wondering if there is interference from my phone and Kindle cover or if there is an actual cardiac issue. I have not yet had my first pacemaker clinic check-up/adjustment. It is scheduled for June 2. I was told that the first pacemaker clinic appointment is usually scheduled about 8 weeks after implantation.

I also wonder about my laptop, which I actually use on my lap...are there any magnets in my Toshiba laptop that might be causing a problem? I am a heavy user of these gadgets. I do lots of genealogy research for myself and others, do photo editing, search out sound files for the old time band I play in, etc. So on a regular afternoon and evening, I might have my cell phone, Kindle, laptop, cordless home phone, tv remote all close by. Or is this just newbie worry? I do wonder about the dizziness, changes in heart rate/rhythm, slight nausea I have felt lately mostly in the afternoon and evening. I read my Kindle every night until I fall asleep usually around 11pm. However, last night I was uncomfortable due to the arrhythmia and could not sleep, so I read my Kindle. My phone was about 6-8 feet away charging so I don't think that was an issue.

Just wondering what is an actual risk, what might be a tell-tale sign I need to see the cardiologist, and what might be unnecessary worry....

Thanks!

5 Comments

magnetic covers

by Tracey_E - 2015-05-03 09:05:02

When I got my first magnetic cover for an ipad, I took it along to a pm check to see if we could make it interfere. We could not. I regularly read with it propped on my chest. You'd be hard pressed to find anything in the home that will affect a pm.

Not a problem

by Theknotguy - 2015-05-03 12:05:48

Laptop and cell phone not a problem. Regularly use my laptop while balancing on my chest with no problems.

Any magnets that are going to cause an interference need to be the size they use for reading the PM. None that size around most typical homes.

Cell phone, kindle, laptop, cordless phone, tv remote, car remote, refrigerator magnets - none of those things cause any problems with PM.

You also don't have to worry about TV towers, short wave radios, airport security, store security, security wands.

I carry my card and show it when going through airports but nothing has happened. Also had to go through one of the non-approved security devices at, of all places, the entrance to the State Fair. No problem. Guy came up behind me, ran a wand over my PM before I even knew about it. No problem.

We even have a guy on the forum who works in a power plant. No problems. You won't run into anything that big or that powerful around the typical home. So if he isn't having any problems, you won't either.

Mostly your note was unnecessary worry. Take a deep breath, then get on with your life. It's a big world out there and it's nice to be able to explore it with a piece of equipment that will keep your heart going.

Hope everything else goes well for you.

Thanks for comments

by Riverglade - 2015-05-04 09:05:38

Thanks for the comments. Helpful. Relaxing. Will see someone tomorrow to have pacemaker checked. Not sure what is causing increased arrhythmia (afib).

afib

by Tracey_E - 2015-05-04 09:05:38

If you are too close to a magnet that is strong enough to interfere, it will put it in test mode so you will go slower, not faster. There is a switch inside, a magnet pulls it closed. That's what the thingy is they put over it when they test it, a magnet.

Magnetic & Electrical Devices

by Rusty19422 - 2015-05-09 02:05:55

I am pacemaker and have found that using most light magnetic or electrical devices is fine. I have however been warned about using tools which use a power pack can sometimes be advisable, but come with a warning on the packaging. Tools which use a power pack can sometimes be advisable, but come with a warning on the packaging. The only absolute warning from my doctor was to not fall asleep with an iPad, Kindle or anything like it
The only absolute warning from my doctor was to not fall asleep with an iPad, Kindle, phone, remote control,or anything like them lying on my chest. He claims cases have been reported where the items caused the pacemaker to quit. Of course for someone like me that could be deadly,as mine is not intermittent. I'm sure just using common sense, you will be fine.

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