magnetic scanners

it's fine

by Tracey_E - 2024-02-14 19:18:43

If you are experiencing more pvc's the timing is a coincidence. PVC's are extra little half beats the heart does on its own, and the pacer can't prevent or cause them them. 

Metal detectors are perfectly safe. The pacer won't set them off, and they won't affect the pacer. As a safeguard, don't linger. If by some odd chance it were to affect it, it would be temporary and would go back to normal function as soon as you walk away from it. Magnets are what they use to cause a mode switch when they interrogate. A magnet has to be very strong and less than 6" from the device in order to affect it so it's virtually impossible to cause a switch in a metal detector. 

Any time something causes a mode switch, yes it will show up in the next interrogation. In 29 years of being paced, and not being particularly careful, I have never once caused a mode switch. 

Ditto what Tracey Said

by Good Dog - 2024-02-15 08:24:25

Yes, I can tell you that you have little or really nothing to worry about with the potential for interference with your PM. As Tracey said, even if the magnet rate is energized (very, very rare), it simply returns to normal functioning when you are clear from it.

It is also import to understand that PVC's are very common and generally harmless. They are often caused by my PM forcing a beat, but then a natural beat occurs at almost the same time. You get kinda like a double-beat. Sometimes there is no explanation. Although, certainly they can be troubling, especially if you worry about them being something more. I did that when I first got my PM. I was hypervigilant and I noticed everything out of the ordinary, but now I don't even give them a second thought.

I wish you the best!

Sincerely,

Dave

Scanner

by Lavender - 2024-02-15 18:34:31

I was told not to walk through the scanner at the hospital. I tell the security guard that I have a pacemaker. Sometimes they then do a quick handheld scan of my lower body but avoid the pacemaker area and sometimes they just let me walk through. 

I do walk through the scanners at department stores but you're not to linger by them-just walk right through. 

Dave

by piglet22 - 2024-02-16 05:29:45

It's important to remember that the pacemaker both senses and outputs.

Problems arise when the PM senses an ectopic, interprets it as a "natural" beat and doesn't provide a corresponding output

I don't think the PM is causing my ventricular ectopy but rather failing to correct for it.

DAVE!!

by PacedNRunning - 2024-02-24 01:33:09

Exactly what Dave said! I've seen it on my PM reports.  

For the OP, yes metal detectors are fine. I walk through all the time. Just don't linger around it on in it