Interference from house electrics

This is a mystery

by Gotrhythm - 2022-07-07 12:48:22

I'm going to start by admitting total ignorance. The only thing I can offer is some questions.

My first question is How do they know the drain is caused by interference specifically and not some other kind of problem? Is it just an opinion or a hypothesis, or do they have specific evidence of interference?

Don't make the mistake of assuming that coincidence is the same thing as causation. Just because two things happen at the same time, doesn't neccessarily mean one caused the other. Yes the interference started the day you moved,and being able to pinpoint the time it started is good information to have, but it doesn't mean the place you moved to is the cause.

The fact is, almost anything that could be found in or around a home is safe and won't harm your pacemaker in any way. And even anything that could, maybe, pose a problem, like arc-welders or a car battery, you'd have to be really close to--like less than 12 inches.

A certain degree of anxiety would be normal in a situation like this, but do your best to keep your cool, and work through this problem one step at a time. A move is expensive--and still might not solve the problem.

The situation seems bad, but it's not a life-or-death emergency today. Today, the pacemaker is working and you're fine.

BS

by AgentX86 - 2022-07-07 13:45:05

Your husband is right (aren't we always? ;-). There is no way interferrence could cause a battery to fail. In fact, there is no way anything about your electrical system could do anything to your pacemaker.  Not going to happen. If anyone uses this as an excuse, find someone who takes your health seriously.

You may have a broken lead which, in the right circumstances could cause an unexpected battery depletion. Usually the capture threshold/margin is set by the EP/device tech so they would know if they set the output voltage higher but the pacemaker could be set to automatic capture threshold mode. Your EP tech should know how to deal with this but someone here is blowing smoke so I'd look at everyone.

It's also possible that your pacemaker has failed.  There are a number of pacemakers that have been recalled because of a capacitor failure causing battery depletion.  It's very rare but not impossible. Anyway, find someone who doesn't just blow you off as a nutjob.  It is not the electrical system in your house.

BTW, what is their remedy?

Hmm

by ROBO Pop - 2022-07-07 16:06:36

My suspicion goes back to your initial statement that you've had your PM since 2014 and still had 11years battery life...pretty darn good since avg life of them is 10 years. I suspect somebody doesn't know what they're talking about. Get a second opinion.

makes no sense

by dwelch - 2022-07-09 07:29:25

As with AgentX86.  It makes no sense what they are saying.  There is no electrical interference that would make sense here.  Did you break a lead carrying boxes when you moved?  that would make sense.  But that would not be categorized as electrical interference.  Maybe you should consider a different doctor.

I'm with Robo Pop!

by LondonAndy - 2022-07-11 00:11:00

Struggling to believe it is some sort of interference, and suspect erroneous battery readings saying 11 years life was left.

One possibility

by ki4biy - 2022-07-12 17:33:15

Some pacemakers have a very low wattage transmitter to communicate with a home monitor if this has malfunctioned and is transmitting constantly it could drain batteries, but I highly doubt it.