Lawn Mowers

Well, we found out that a John Deere Zero turn riding mower is a big no no! Monday hubby went out to cut some grass, figured a riding mower was nice and easy, no problems.

He was on that thing from about 9 am to 2 pm, got lots of grass cut. Got off, felt bad. Figured it was the heat.

Had a check up the next day. They asked him what he did yesterday from 9 am to 2 pm. He played dumb for some reason. Oh nothing, just tinkering around. They replied with;
Well whatever you were tinkering around with shut your pacemaker down from 9 to 2. And then they went back over the past few weeks and sure enough everytime he cut the grass you could see where it shut down, went into safety mode or whatever its called.
After he finally confessed what it was they said it was the interference from the mower.

Also found out a weed-wacker and leaf blower are bad too. Unless he can actually manage to hold them at arms length to do the job.

On a side note, I find this part funny...kinda...but scarey...kinda.
When he used the mower he would carry a walkie talkie in case he needed me or I needed him.

He would be out there cutting, and hear a beeping noise and thinking it was me calling him, stop mowing, call me and ask what I wanted. I'd reply nothing. He would go back to mowing. A bit later he'd hear the beeping again. Again he'd call me.

Come to find out it was his pacemaker beeping...trying to warn him or whatever that it was going into safety or shut down mode.

7 Comments

Pacemaker Problems

by SMITTY - 2009-08-07 11:08:09

Hi Lama,

You are having a problem from doing something that many of us do using the same equipment and have no problem. All of the devices you named generate an electromagnetic field. However it would be a very weak EMF and I think it should be too weak to affect a pacemaker that is not defective, or one that has the proper settings. Now before anyone asks I don't know if there are settings to prevent such as this from happening, but to quote Gibbs on NCIS, that is my gut feeling.

Obviously the people that check your pacemaker do not know of anything that can be done to prevent this problem so I woud suggest that you try to get a manufacturers Rep to take a look at your pacemaker. That is an awfully weak EMF that is giving you problems and you are likely to find them much stronger anytime, anywhere. Since you do have some ill effects from an EMF when you may run into real big problems when you are least expecting them. One other thing, an EMF, if it is strong enough to affect a pacemaker should make the pacemaker go into the magnet mode. This is the mode they put it in during checkups when they put the magnet over the pacemaker. In that mode it should not quit working but should start giving you a constant heart rate. For example when mine is in magnet mode my heart rate will be 90, yet the low setting on mine is 80. I see it as having the a potential to be a bigger problem than you have incurred so far.

I wish you good luck,

Smitty

What type

by Blueaustralia - 2009-08-07 11:08:40

I find your posting interesting as we have an Ariens rider mower. I have often ridden it without any adverse effect. What type of pacemaker do you have? Cheers from Oz

Its your decision

by ElectricFrank - 2009-08-08 11:08:35

The important thing is to first decide what you are comfortable with. If you are only comfortable with the warnings in the User Guide then by all means follow them. The same goes with with the doctors instructions.

As you have probably noticed there a number of us on this forum that are more comfortable with evaluating the official information ourselves plus listening to the docs.

I see it this way: in the end when our heart stops beating and we have 10-15 seconds to reflect on our decisions, we may think "I followed all the instructions, took all the meds, and was a good patient so this isn't my fault". Or we may think "I did a bunch of things against prudent medical advice, and I had a heck of a good time while it lasted".

No matter what we do, we all have the same risk of dying..100%.

cheers,

frank

John Deere Machines

by ElectricFrank - 2009-08-08 12:08:37

Strange. I just returned from a trip to the mid west area where I visited relatives on a farm. During my stay I drove a number of John Deer machines including a mower, a mini truck, and a large tractor. It had no effect on my Medtronic Kappa 701 pacer.
Here at home I run a weed whacker and leaf blower regularly and never give it a thought about having the engine near me. I have 100% A/V block so a problem with the pacer gets my attention and I haven't had any.

I'm wondering if they have the pacemaker lead mode set to Unipolar. That leaves the sensing lead much more vulnerable to interference. I have let the Medtronics rep know that I need a heads up if he ever changes mine to Unipolar. I let him know I work around engines and electronics and his response is "no problem".

frank

Cub Cadet

by Duke Heart Patient - 2012-01-06 10:01:43

I just had a pacemaker implanted Dec 16, 2011. I also inherited a 1 year old cub cadet zero turn mower. So based off your information I will NOT be able to use this mower ?

What kind of pacer does your husband have ? How long ?

Thanks

SEAR RIDING MOWER

by SUPERSALE - 2013-08-11 07:08:41

I have sear riding mower i have no effect on my Medtronic

when i use murry push mower it is bad on pacemaker
after i get done with murry push mower i check my heart rate it was 84 next day i check my heart rate it was 79


John Deere Service Writer

by Betts1963 - 2014-06-08 03:06:47

Sorry I know this is an older post but Wow, this post makes so much sense. I was a full time / 6 days a week service writer for the local John Deere dealer in my hometown. I had my PM implant in June of 2013 but after the implant even though I felt better I had days that I just couldn't handle being at work. It was maddening because I love my job. When I didn't feel well, I was not very good with the customer service. The guys always let me know when the welder was about to be used so that I could get away from the office for a bit. I just couldn't take the 6 days a week or a full 8 hours. So I went part time - I hate part time. I feel better now, except some of the days I work. I am constantly walking past riding mowers, push mowers and hand held equipment like string trimmers, blowers, chain saws etc..... The more equipment that is running the worse I feel. I can't be there when they charge one of the battery operated forklifts. We later purchased a Z655 and I tried to use it, but I tire to easily on the zero turn, it's fun to use and drive but I'm happier on my compact tractor. I tried it without my ipod thinking I had too much electronics with it but I guess not. I see more research in my future. This may explain fainting when I on my way home from work, and how bad I feel on the days I work. :(

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