Apple Watches or Fit Bit Watches

FitBit/Apple Watch

by KBCLARK28 - 2017-04-12 13:38:20

Hello!  I wear one or the other everyday! I've never had a problem.  :)

Fitbit

by Mcd - 2017-04-12 22:19:32

I wear a Fitbit every day.  I had ordered a band that uses a magnet that can interfere with my PM.  As long as I keep my Fitbit 6 inches away from my PM I'm  good to go they told me. I just had my PM 3 month check up and afterwards I couldn't remember which hand I held the smart link with!  Everything read good so I'm not a bit concerned about it now!  I'm just going on with life like I did before the PM.  They did tell me I can't use my chain saw anymore though!  

magnets

by dwelch - 2017-04-13 01:21:30

If I understand your question the problem with magnets is putting it right over the device, like when they put the mouse like thing over it when you are in the office.  If a magnet on your wrist is a problem then a magnet on the fridge would be too when you get close to it, or the field from pretty much anything that plugs in the wall...

if you do phone checks using the older boxes at least with two wrist straps and a big round magnet in the box.  The magnet pulls a switch called a relay (but a relay without a magnet in it) which tells the software/hardware in the pacemaker to do a battery test in that it forces your heart rate to beat at a rate that indicates the battery voltage.  There is a chart they can look up and see that 79 beats a minute means 3.6 volts or whatever.  This way they can check your battery without you coming in and using the more expensive equipment.  they do a baseline without which also helps them to just get a recording of your ekg.  they you put the magnet over your device, which can be tricky to find the sweet spot, the noise the box makes may change to a double beat sound.  then they ahve you remove it and record some more (to make sure the switch let go and you are not stuck in that mode).  

so dont put magnets right on the device, and I have not tried but I bet most refridgerator magnets much less something in a compass or fitbit or other is strong enough to matter.  Dont climb a power pole and hug a transformer, dont walk through a substation and hug the transformers there, and dont walk through a power plant and get too close to the generators,  those fields are strong enough to affect your pacers ability to detect your pulse or control it.  they are not the magnet problem but are a list of things that can affect your pacer.  your microwave, tv, cell phone, etc not a problem.  wearing socks on the carpet in the winter and getting a static zap on the light switch, not a problem...I was told the metal detectors at the airport are not a problem but the TSA doesnt like it when you mess with them.  The passive xray one, that one I dont know a year or two they were still trying to understand if those affected us (despite what the TSA agent says).  You can ge out o fthe metal detectors if you want, the security guards and TSA generally assume you cant go through and want to know where your device is if they used the wand on you to avoid it...

sorry so long, just covering the things you might want to worry about.  Oh, for many of us MRIs are a problem but not xrays nor CAT scans...your fitbit is most definitely not something to worry about unless you try to jam a sharp corner of it (if there even is one) into your body to dig out your device...interestingly I wonder if the ones that check your pulse even work right with pacers...

Apple Watch

by Sarbear - 2017-04-14 11:24:26

I have an apple watch and a pacemaker (no icd) and have never had an issue.

Have used both

by Lurch - 2017-04-14 14:18:07

I have used both the FitBit (Surge) and an  Watch.  Neither have ever created any problems.  I use sleep tracking in both (had the FitBit for a little over a year and swtiched to the  Watch about 7 months ago).  I would often lay my arm across my chest while sleeping which would put the device almost directly on top on my ICD.  During each interrogation I ask if my device has shown any disruption in service and the answer has always been "no." 

And, BTW, I agree with dwlech, don't hug transformers... not sure why you would want to, but don't...

interferenceB I U

by jillc - 2017-04-15 06:15:01

No way could I use my beloved fitbit - totally interfered with my sleep

Re fit bit wearing

by Gailae - 2017-04-15 10:22:59

i wear a Fitbit 24x7 without a problem. I have never thought about it and the pacemaker clinic were not concerned.