External defibrillator

My husband had a pacemaker (no ICD) inserted in March with his ventricle being 100% dependent. He's doing well but tires more easily and seems to be more affected by the heat this summer(??). My question......If he has a heart attack, and an external defibrillator is used, how will that affect the pacemaker?

This site has helped us both alot and I thank you all for sharing your experiences!



4 Comments

External Defib

by gaby - 2007-06-27 01:06:29

As long as the paddles are not placed on top of the pacemaker it will not damage it at all. I have been shocked a few times with an external defib since Ihave had my pacer put in.

Comment about the heat.

by bowlrbob - 2007-06-27 01:06:39

I don't know about the defibrillator but I do know something about the heat of summer. My EP told me I would feel worse in the summer. I hoped he would be wrong as I love summer. He was right however it is because of the heat and the possibility of dehydration. I was told to keep hydrated as much as possible. I found out it is not easy it is hard to tell if you are getting enough fluids and once you get behind it is hard to catch up. He also told me to drink sports drinks more than just water. Water is fine but it washes out the salt and electrolytes. Sports drinks replenish them. I can always tell when i get behind on fluids and I can also tell when I catch up. I can also tell you I am beginning to like winter better than summer. I hope this helps!! Bowlrbob

interesting

by valerie - 2007-06-27 05:06:52

This is a good question. I never really thought about that. I am now compelled to do some research on this topic since my curiosity always gets the best of me (kind of a bad habit sometimes though, lol).
Bob's comment is great advice. The sport drinks do help with hydration.
I hope you can enjoy your summer and that your husband wont have to find the answer from a first hand experience!
take care,
~valerie

AED

by winelover - 2007-06-27 12:06:39

It is mandatory at my workplace every other year to go through the training to be able to use an AED and I have gone through it 3 times now with 3 different instructors. At first I didn't want to go near the thing being afraid of it shocking my pm, but the instructors assured me that I could use it if someone should need it but also receive it if I should ever need it. I am not sure if it will "ruin" the pm but if you are in need of being shocked, a pm that is working is not going to keep you alive anyway, and you can get a new pm if needed when you have been brought back. The AED will only shock if it does not read a pulse and will recognize the pm and still shock if your heart has stopped beating.
Hope this helps.

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