roller coasters

Interesting to Know

by Marybird - 2021-08-02 15:14:41

I've been leery of rollercoasters since I tossed my cookies on a ride when I was a young adult ( motion sickness), so I'm not likely to embark on a rollercoaster ride in my old age. But it's interesting to know that being able to ride on a rollercoaster ( or any ride) with high power magnets might be possible for someone with an implanted device, should they desire.

Just wondering if these rides have warnings against people with various medical conditions, such as cardiac conditions, implanted devices, high blood pressure, pregnant women, getting on those rides? It's been a while since I have been to Universal or any of the Central FL attractions, but I recall seeing those warnings on many of the rides, even the virtual rides ( which never made sense to me) years ago.

Reminds me of a rather obscure article I ran across several years ago during an internet search I did to answer a question I had about " does sick sinus syndrome ever EVER get better or at least not get worse" ( I wanted to believe it might get better). Well, the article was about a man with a pacemaker who had ridden one of those super-duper rollercoasters ( think this was in Japan, the article was reported in a Japanese journal, IIRC) and apparently broke one of his leads. He had not had regular checkups or followups for his pacemaker, and no pacer checks for many years ( I think they said something like 17 yrs), and was not aware of anything being amiss. After all that time he decided it was time to see a cardiologist, get onboard with a pacemaker clinic, and it was when he had a pacer check that they found the pacemaker not functioning, and an x-ray revealed a broken lead. When they asked him about his activities, he stated the only incident he could have had leading to a broken lead was that rollercoaster ride- so it's hard to tell if that caused the break or not.

The thing is, they found though the pacemaker was nonfunctioning, he was in normal sinus rhythm at a heart rate in the low 60's, and he reported no problems or symptoms associated with SSS. I guess on review of his available history, the clinic docs concluded he had SSS but apparently it had not progressed. If I recall, the article said they left the pacemaker in place, did not replace it.

Hmmm

by ROBO Pop - 2021-08-02 16:08:45

For those somewhat new to the club allow me to educate you somewhat.

TraceyE has been a member of the PM club for a long time, don't let her youth fool you, and in fact she was one of the ring leaders of 'ladies' who called themselves the Pacer Chicks and terrorized everyone. Tracey was so wild, she had a reputation for trying everything and anything to  stress test her pacemaker. Her escapades are legend around here. That being said, she is extraordinarily well versed in the do's and don'ts of what you can do with a PM and survive from personal experience, so my point...listen to her, she's usually right, well except when she disagrees with me. 

So as she said do as your Dr. advises but most things including roller coasters (and cell phones) are safe for pacemakers and defibrillators. The real limiting factor is your medical condition. 

Whilst I'm providing a sermon, Over the years we've had tons of anecdotal stories about disasters with pacemakers that even when proven wrong just won't die. It's frustrating. An example someone claims to have gotten a severe jolt from another person's defibrillator when they touched them...doesn't happen. At most you'd feel a slight tingle. The leads are buried too deep and your body ain't a great conductor. Another example is the broken lead story above...nope. the lead would yank out of the heart muscle before a metal lead would break. Further, there is excess wire looped inside do that when our arms move around and stretch there is no stress on the leads. I don't know where my copy of the study is but a university study proved dislodged and broken lead had nothing to do with patient activity. Causes are improper insertion and defective leads or stresses induced during handling and insertion. 

So plesse follow your Dr advice or listen to TraceyE but also use common sense. These things are pretty durable and reliable. Stop worrying and get back to living. 

Oh yeah...don't let me hear another person spout the nonsense that a Jesus Jolt feels like a horse kicking you in the chest. Not one person making that claim has ever been kicked by a horse, and most never got s Jesus Jolt. I've enjoyed both and they ain't the same. 

ROBO Pop I disagree with last paragraph....

by BOBTHOM - 2021-08-02 17:43:33

Robo Pop, I too have experienced both, and yes sir, the best way I can describe the ICD shock to someone is like getting kicked in the chest by a horse/mule with the added bonus of the great white flash of light.  It aint a pretty experience!

Different people feel it differently.  I also feel a sharp pain from some PVC's since having the ICD implanted.  Before that it was just a fluttering sensation, now it's a guy with a toothpick poking at my heart!

But I agree to listen to your doctor and then use common sense.  Research and learn, don't be afraid to live, but as Clint Eastwood said "a man has got to know his limitations", so, do you feel lucky punk?

Marybird

by Tracey_E - 2021-08-02 17:54:07

Leads can break simply because they're old, that's much more likely than a roller coaster. Average lead life is 15 years.  

Newer leads can be knocked out of position from the centrifugal force, mine are not new. It won't break them, it would be much more likely to move them if they aren't grown into place.  Magnetic brakes are why I stayed off of some coasters, not fear of breaking a lead. A very strong magnet too close to the pacer can put it in test mode. I wasn't worried about it damaging the pacer or stopping it, worst case would be feeling bad until I got away from the magnet. 

Yes there are signs on anything bigger/faster than a carousel stating anyone with a heart condition should not ride. I listen to my doctor, not the sign written by the lawyers. I'm open with my doctor about the things I do and I breezed through my last stress test, he actively encourages me to live my life. He's rolled his eyes a few times but never said no. I have a collection of pictures of myself in front of cardiac warning signs :o)  If you look in the gallery, there is a picture of me next to the cardiac warning sign at the top of Uncle Tom's Trail in Yellowstone. I'd just finished the hike when we took the picture.   

ROBO, Pacer Chicks are more covert now and have gotten much better at staying out of the news. Spoke to Loopy this morning, we were hoping she would be able to come to my daughter's wedding but covid thwarted us. Dammit. She always asks if I've heard from you, I will tell her you resurfaced again. 

Whoa

by ROBO Pop - 2021-08-02 20:39:43

Whoa wait, how could you possibly allow your 14 year old child to get married? I am stunned. Did you move to a 3rd world country like, I dunno Ohio ? (No ugly cards or letters please it's a frickin joke and I'm originally from Ohio). Shouldn't Mr. Tracey Law-enforcement be arresting the groom? 

Tell Loopy, Angelie, Pookie, et el I'd love to see them but my wedding invitation was apparently lost in the mail.

Congratulations to the bride and groom.

I’ve ALWAYS loved coasters!

by arent80 - 2021-08-03 01:16:34

So jealous! I may ride one day but for now I'll just watch YouTube videos and IG reels of them. Enjoy!!

Tracey

by Marybird - 2021-08-03 09:18:01

I have to say many many thumbs up for your adventurous spirit,  I'm laughing at the thoughts of your pictures next to the cardiac warning signs next to the rollercoasters and other "bumpy" rides. I know you'll have many more years of such adventures, some of them "testing the envelope"  There's still lots to do!

I've read reports of broken leads, I'd think it'd more likely to be from wearing out from age rather than trauma. Regarding the article I referenced, think it was from a Japanese journal some years ago, I think the authors were purely speculating about how their patient's lead had broken. He hadn't had any followup care or pacemaker monitoring for something like 17 years after implantation, and when asked about it, the patient stated he'd been on that rollercoaster. So it seems the docs glommed onto the rollercoaster ride as a possible explanation because there wasn't a better one. They seem to do that sometimes.  I'd go for wear and tear, but the take home message from that article was that the patient apparently suffered no ill effects from his pacemaker's non-functioning status, his sick sinus syndrome seemed not to have progressed, or something. But that's another whole topic. 

Here's to the Pacer Chicks, and to Robocop, who's resurfaced. I used to read some of your posts back when my daughter got her pacemaker in 2012, when I was just a bewildered and sometimes worried mom ( her first several years post- pacemaker were stormy ones between her incessant tachycardia and medication reactions, thank goodness she's better now). And Tracey, congratulations on becoming a Mother-in- Law!.

Mary

ROBO

by Tracey_E - 2021-08-03 13:24:53

I blinked and she turned 24. Yikes. 

Go Tracey!

by Gotrhythm - 2021-08-03 14:11:33

You are an example to us all in seeing the pacemaker, not as something that limits us, but as something that allows us to live life as fully as possible.

A roller coaster such as you describe is on my bucket list. Though these days, I'm less worried about the device than about my crumbling spine, it's still good to know the pacemaker can handle it.