I spent 14 years working for a medical device company before I myself became a defibrillator patient at the age of 40. Now I advocate for and educate other patients so they can live their lives free of device related stress and anxiety. I’ve made these videos to help answer some of the more common questions new and old patients ask from magnets and airport security to how devices and leads work. When I don’t know an answer myself I tap into my network of former colleagues so I can share the most accurate info possible. Even so, please remember I’m not a medical professional giving medical advice, I’m just some guy on the Internet. My hope is that you take the information you learn here to your next appointment so you can have a more knowledgeable discussion with your health care team. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you’ll consider subscribing.
@@nicholasgarratt5646 the activator itself doesn’t store any information. The activator tells your device to save the data, then your device sends the data to the bedside monitor while you’re sleeping. You won’t know that it happens, but you can call your clinic and ask if they received your device transmission.
Thanks for the video. One question, you say the icd is looking for a "fast heart rate" but isn't it, rather, looking for an "irregular" heart rythym? This is how my physiologist explained it to me, at least. Thanks again.
I got my device a week ago and haven't driven yet. I gotta say, it never occurred to me that my seat belt could hurt when I drive. Thanks for the heads up and potential solutions.
Thank you so much for your great explanation on magnets on pacemakers, I had mine for 4 years now and I always get panic attacks when I get closed to magnets, Are we ok to go on electric escalators on shopping centres?
@@juanitacouceiro3414 thanks for watching! Yes, escalators are fine, as are elevators. And those ramps that use magnets to lock the wheels of shopping carts as they go up a floor (I’m not sure what they’re called). As long as we’re not hugging magnets we will be okay.
I might get an ICD and going through the questions asked, it is amazing, lots of them. One question I do not see is there any tool that we can buy that will measure the electromagnetic force that an item puts out? That way we could test to see what to stay away from. Thanks for the videos.
@@keithjohnson5190 thanks for watching! There is a tool. I don’t remember what it is called, but last time I looked they were $400-500. However, just 6-12 inches of distance between an implanted device and an item that we’re using is more than enough to be safe. I’d love a tool like that, but other than it being interesting I don’t really have a need to own one.
Great video, Doug. I believe you're a good guy but I don't believe there is nothing to worry about when it comes to hacking. I feel there is a risk, a very real threat of these things being hacked.
@@donnyclark4056 it is certainly possible, but near impossible on a grand scale. I’ve met the people who monitor the security of my device, and a very good long time friend of nearly 30 years is the CFO of a company that designs security measures for implanted devices. I just enjoyed an afternoon at his pool last weekend and asked again about security issues. He said there still hasn’t been a successful hack of a device or remote monitor in the wild, and he hasn’t seen anything out there that he’s worried about right now. Also, the hacker’s convention is coming up in a few weeks (I think in Las Vegas) and he said they’re making implanted devices available for the hackers to attempt to hack, but he felt quite confident they wouldn’t be able to do it. So, for me, it’s just not something I worry about.
@@DouglasRachac Thanks, Doug. I wish the EP who implanted this device in my chest was as responsive as you are. Unfortunately, she's not. Nor is the NP who works for her or the device rep who works for Medtronic. They really don't answer any questions. But, that's a whole 'nuther story. Thanks again, Doug! 🙂👍
@@bidkarsalazar626 I have had both and very much prefer the placement under the muscle. I feel it’s more secure, more protected, and less visible to the naked eye. I will warn, though, that they have to cut through muscle to get it in the right place, so the post-implant pain is higher, and so felt the recovery was a week to 10 days longer. But, once I was all healed up it has been oh so worth it!
@@bidkarsalazar626 yes, sorry, I wrote that way too fast. Thanks for catching that. I’ve corrected it in my response. Under the muscle is far better for me.
@DouglasRachac all good. Thank you for your quick response. Your channel has helped me with a lot of questions I had. I sincerely appreciate your help.
Hi Tony, yes drones are safe to use. It's best to not hug it while it's running, and keep the controller at least 6 inches away from your device. Basically, if you're using a drone normally you'll have no problems. Thanks for watching!
When you say that it is only an issue with the "older" devices .... what do mean by "older", as in what time frame are we talking here? My defib device was implanted in 2014.
Hi David, thanks for watching! The switch over to the redesigned devices took place around 2008-2010. If your device was implanted after 2010 you have a device with the Hall Effect sensor and won't have to worry about the old problem that was causing device failures.
When I first got a defib (2014) I got two of those Soft Touch doodads. I wore one for about two weeks or less, then skuttled it. I've not looked back. It was more trouble than it was worth .... for me. However, I do still have the 2nd one that was never used, which I will take to the hospital, so it can be given away to someone that would really benefit from it. They are supposedly good for mastectomies, chemotherapy ports, and other medical conditions. Take care👍🏻👍🏻✌🏻✌🏻
Hi Debra, thanks for watching. After your 6-8 week healing period, yes you should be able to do all of the things you mentioned and more. At least, your implanted device won't be the reason you can't do these things. My EP says I am not allowed to use my device as a reason why I can't do something I want to do. I road bike, kayak, paddle board, jet ski, scuba dive, play basketball.... anything I want all with my doctor's approval because my heart is healthy enough for those activities and there's no reason you can't be physically active just because you have an implanted device. It's there to enable you to do these things, not restrict you from doing them. I hope that helps!
Hello from New Orleans, June 2024: This is great info to know! Someone very dear to us in our volunteer community cat feeding group just had a defib device implanted. We always meet up at cat colony sites and he is such a wonderful guy, lifting heavy bags of crunchy/dry pet food. His wife says, "No more of that for at least a month, and then maybe in the future? Not much of THAT at all.." Now we understand what to expect and how to help keep our friend on track, so he recovers as needed. Of course, he is stubborn as a mule: loves to be active. But that's for another day!
I am a singer and speaker. Recently when I used a microphone for my speech I got 5 times shocks and I experienced severe pain. I did not get any alarm. I have an ICD MEDTRONIC. I don't want to have the same problems in the future, I would like to hear from you.
The ICD won’t alarm before a shock. Only when it is close to a magnet, or when the device detects a problem and trips an alert. What did your doctor say after they interrogated your device? Did he/she say what the recording showed was happening with your heart when you received your shocks?
@@DouglasRachac Thanks for your reply. Immediately after the shock, I was taken to the hospital. They were telling me my heartbeat went by 200. 2006 I had my first attack while I was speaking on the stage. at that time I did not have an ICD. After implanting ICD I had the second sock in 2012 while singing for a song recording. The third shock was in 2018 when I was exerting myself at a resort swimming. The recent one I already explained. I am now scared to sing or speak with microphones. I am not sure whether I could still use the microphone. Please give me some advice. The doctors are not concerned about the microphones' effect.
@@vairamuttuthiviyarajah5617 microphones are listed in the “safe to use” category because they do not emit enough energy to affect an implanted device. Even wireless microphones are safe to use. The advice your doctors are giving about microphones is correct. Your device data for one shock showed your heart rate over 200. This would lead me to believe that your device reacted appropriately to a dangerous rhythm by shocking you. It’s not likely the microphone was affecting your device, or your heart. But adrenaline is known to cause dangerous rhythms. And sometimes anxiety can cause dangerous heart rhythms as well. It’s more likely that something like adrenaline or anxiety caused your heart to go into a fatal rhythm and your device reacted appropriately. But you would need to talk to your doctor to explore that possibility a bit more. I’m not a doctor and am only suggesting some possibilities.
Yes you can! The med-device companies recommend you keep your smart phone at least 6 inches from your device, and there are no restrictions while using AirPods. I have an iPhone and AirPods myself and use them daily.
My mother is 93 and having a replacement in 2 weeks. She’s on eliquis (blood thinner) and will need to be off that a few days before. Has anyone here had experience with going back on blood thinners after the surgery? When she first had her pacemaker inserted, she was bruised dark purple from her chest to her waist and in a lot of pain. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
took my son to cardiologist today .he told him the defibulator wouldnt help him breath better.just shock him if his heart stops.now what is the difference in the one you are talking about..really need to know.son sees no need to get it now. .hes just 46 .im not ready to watch him die .please tell me what the difference is..
An ICD’s main job is to protect against sudden cardiac death. It does this by either pacing or shocking the heart when there is a dangerous rhythm. Sometimes people also need pacemaker support because their heart rate dips too low. Most ICDs also have a built in pacemaker, so those people are also paced, and that can sometimes help a person feel better and have fewer symptoms. When a person is in heart failure they will sometimes need an ICD with a 3rd lead. This is called Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy, or CRT. A CRT paces the bottom 2 chambers of the heart 100% of the time, and often will help a person feel better. It may be that your son is at risk of a cardiac arrest, so an ICD is needed, but he’s not far enough along in his heart failure to warrant a CRT device. But, if his doctor thinks he should get an ICD, then he should probably get it. Survival rates of a cardiac arrest without an ICD are around 10%. With an ICD it’s around 98%. If his doctor thinks he’s at a high enough risk for him to suggest an ICD, then he should seriously consider it, and should probably get it. That’s why I have one, anyway.
Hi Dalton, thanks for watching! The med-device companies recommend a safe distance of 12 inches when using a chain saw, and this is what they recommend with a saftey margin built in. If its confirmed that your chainsaw was able to interfere with your device at 18 inches I would recommend contacting the device company. They may be interested in testing your device and your chainsaw to see if they can determine why this interaction happened, as it is not supposed to at that distance.
Hi Doug , excellently presented video and super-clear communication of your knowledge, experience and concerns for those of you who watch your videos. Unsure if you can help, I had a Boston Scientific ICD fitted 7 weeks ago and I wish to get back training and cycling (had CA while cycling and training for a 194 mile race, so quite a surprise). I’m 60 in December, in good physical condition visceral fat <10%, 67kg and have trained/ tan / cycled since 8 years old, cycled at a high/ serious level since 2003 and have zero other health issues or concerns. I want to get back training in correct heart zones, and I want to use my Garmin Heart Rate strap to measure my HR and HR zones, but nobody’s prepared to commit to say yes or no! Do you have any insight/ suggestions? COROS HR strap is designed for arm attachment - good idea? TIA from 🏴
Hi Jamie, thanks for the note! I also like to cycle, though you have me beat in mileage by a long shot. I think 35 miles is my longest ride to date. While I ride I am monitored by both my Apple Watch and my Polar watch/chest strap HR monitor combo. It’s safe to use a chest strap with a Bluetooth monitor, so a HR monitor attached to your arm will be no problem at all. Be sure to check with your doctor to ensure they do not have any concerns. My doc said that at 8 weeks post implant I could start to ease back into my training regimen, and by week 12 I could be back at 100 % pushing myself to the limits. He told me my device is there to protect me, not prevent me from doing anything. Good luck getting back in the saddle, and good luck on your race in December!
Excellent video! I'm scheduled for my replacement in 3 weeks. Everything you said was to a T, what the MD and tech explained to me. You put it all in one great 5-minute video! Thanks
I was just switched from a normal ICD with basic pacer function over to an ICD with full bi-pace feature (hard to describe) I'm having a he** of a time getting the arterial heart lead to stay in the right position. The initial install went well, had to move to my right chest area due to scar tissue on the left side. Within maybe a few hours of my getting home I started getting a wicked bad 'twitch' in my right side. Found out that one lead kicked loose and it was sending pacing signals into my diaphragm. So the doctor did a re-attachment and found two leads out of the 3 kicked loose. Went back in a few days ago and had those leads re-done..... And I went to take a nap that afternoon after the surgery. Same thing happened. Scheduled an emergency office call the next day and the medtronic rep took the readings and was relaying all the findings to the doctor- The arterial lead registered 'suspect' (on my home monitor) and sure enough- The lead was 'sensing' but not 'capturing'. The rep worked it out with the doctor and reduced the pace function to almost zero so I got ride of the twitch. Had the chest X-ray done on Friday and the doctor will compare it with the one as I was leaving the hospital after the procedure. I'll know the game plan on Tuesday when they reach out. The only thing of interest is when the doctor mentioned they only use 1 of 2 connectors. The small screw type- And the hook type. So my heart tissue in that region has now rejected 2 heart lead placements.... Should be fun when we figure out how to resolve this. (I used to work with magnets/speakers... I know that tell tail sound very well)
I’m sorry to hear you’re going through all this. It’s unusual for leads to dislodge that often. I hope your doc is able to find a good placement that works for you. Best of luck.
Hi there Doug, first of all ,thank you for doing these videos! I have a questions related to use of a ride on lawn mower. I have a John Deer. The battery is in the front so it is far away from the 6 inch marker. I have been told yes and I have been told no. What have you heard? I appreciate your time. Thanks!
Hi Paula, thanks for watching! A riding mower isn’t going to be a problem. The engine and battery is far enough away that you won’t have any problems. My favorite rule is the “don’t hug it” rule. As long as you aren’t laying across the engine, you’ll be okay. I hope that helps.
I have a Medtronic icd fitted September 2015 and recently had a TIA had to have CT scan as the icd was not MRI compatible the leads were MRI safe but not the icd something about serial numbers your video helped understand Thankyou
What would happen to the device with an EMP event? Would it not short out and become useless? Or would it spike and shock the patient before it shuts off?
A device engineer once told me that our devices are shielded, and our bodies are an excellent vessel that protects our devices even further. And, if we were close enough to an EMP strong enough to damage our devices, then we would have a whole host of other problems to deal with far more concerning than if our implanted device was working or not. It’s just not a scenario I spend any time worrying about. I hope that’s helpful info.
Thanks for all the practical information across all your videos. As someone who just had an ICD implanted, it is very helpful. Wondering if you would have any insight into sound equipment, specifically speakers and amplifiers. I work part time as a sound engineer and was wondering where they fall on the distance list (my guess is a couple feet). Is there a giuideline on the emf field reading for a device and the distance required? Also, you mention bench grinder. I have only one arm and need to get a little closer than most to sharpen mower blades, etc. Is there a way to shield or measure the EMF from these devices to add additional protection for the ICD? Again, thanks for all the great information,.
Hi Paul, thanks for watching! The sound equipment won’t be a problem. Speakers contain large magnets, but magnetic strength dissipates quickly over a short distance, so as long as you aren’t hugging speakers you’ll be fine. Same goes for sound boards and such. If you’re using them normally you won’t have a problem. The recommendation for a bench grinder is 2 feet, but the medical device industry is very, very conservative and risk averse. That means that any recommendation they give you will have a huge margin for error built in. And that’s usually at least 2X what is really needed. So, while the recommendation is 2 feet, you are very likely to be safe at 1 foot, maybe less. Generally speaking I follow the “Don’t Hug It” rule. If at anytime you feel odd or off, back away from the item you’re using and everything should go back to normal. Then start up again with a few extra inches of distance added in to see how it goes. I hope that helps.
Hi Rick, thanks for watching! It's not harmful to the device, but there's a small chance that the iphone's MagSafe magnets could interfere with the device, or that the EMI emitted by the iphone could confuse the device. It's best to keep the phone at least 6 inches from your device just to be safe. This means no carrying your iphone in the breast pocket right over your device. A breat pocket on the side opposite your device, or in any other pocket would be fine.
I have heard a range of descriptions when it comes to shocks. Some people describe it as "being kicked in the chest by a horse", but others say it isn't like that at all. Its more startling than anything. Some say there is sometimes pain, but it's over in an instant and then there's no lingering pain. And others say the shock is like a bright flash of white in their vision. Everyone is different. :-)
They do, but it’s a really insignificant amount. Each time a device tones it takes about 1 hour of battery life off the device. I have made my device tone several times for my videos and even with all of those I have lost maybe a day and a half of battery life total. I hope that helps.
Had my CRT with defibrillator implanted about 1 1/2 years ago. Last Wednesday entered a Rudy's BBQ house and within just a few minutes my defibrillator fired. It felt like an explosion going off. A few minutes later in line to order food it fired again. We left immediately to go to the doctor. I was confused as I had no symptoms. No dizziness, no lightheadedness. Checking my pulse, it was regular but was probably about 120-125. That evening Medtronic rep after the 2 events were downloaded from bedside monitor said my HR was about 250. Was immediately placed on other medication. Following morning after MD reviewed, he called and said it was double counting my HR. Made sense as I had no symptoms. Immediately had Medtronic make adjustments. Long story, short who knows why? I just know I would not wish that on my worst enemy.
I’ve been there that’s how I always describe it a bomb going off in your chest happen to at Benihana felt kinda embarrassed there was a nurse at our table who was very helpful God bless her
I've had a Medtronic CRT Defibrillator since January 2, 2024. This is the best information! Thank you so much for making this all crystal clear. I'm so grateful to have this device.
No worries. Our devices are designed to allow for outside electrical impulses to pass through them without harming the device. If you get zapped your device will be okay. I made a video about it on TikTok, if you’re a user: www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRw9kdxs/
Implant on 5/24, DVT on 5/28 - they say it’s rare but now I’m on Eliquis for three months because the blood clot is too close to the pace wire. The clot comes loose = pulmonary embolism - and that could be real trouble. Lead in atrial chamber is now loose but still in contact with atrial tissue and I’m pacing correctly. The lead will have to be “re”placed after the clot/emb. Has diminished… I stretched my arm while I was sleeping and it dislodged. So I am gonna have to do this again… eventually.
I also had a lead dislodgement along with a second surgery. It stinks, but it happens in about 2% of all lead implants. It’s something that happens, but isn’t likely due to anything you did. In 2021 four of the largest heart rhythm societies in the world issued a consensus statement which included a recommendation to remove the movement and lifting restrictions post implant because there hasn’t been any clinical evidence that patients are causing lead dislodgements in the weeks after their implant. For now the reason why dislodgements happen is unknown, so don’t blame yourself because your arm ended up above your head.
What if the patient with a leadless pacemaker wants to use an EMF Mat to keep him warm when sleeping? Is it gonna interfere with his pacemaker? Is it safe? The patient is 3 weeks old from Pacemaker procedure, and he is 95 years old, He is always cold, I lend him my Ceragem EMF Mat, also before his surgery, I do use Bemer on him, its another EMF, but i stopped, don't know if it will interfere Thanks for discussing this, I'm a caregiver,
Hi @rebeccayeo3585 I'm sorry I missed this comment earlier. I have not been able to find any device company that has information regarding an EMF mat. From what I understand these are plugged into a wall socket giving them access to a "ground" for the house. If these use energy similar to an electric blanket then they wouldn't pose a threat. Electric blankets and mattress pads are listed in the "safe to use" category by all companies. But, I haven't seen any studies that look into EMF mats specifically. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help.
My pacemaker is a St Jude model. There was an occasion that I needed an MRI. This MRI was coordinated with a representative from St Jude to put my pacemaker device in a delay mode for the duration of the procedure. After it was completed, my pacemaker was put back into normal operation.
Hi David, thanks for watching! That sounds like the current process, but I heard at least one company has a device that will automatically revert back to its normal programming after the MRI (so the rep doesn’t need to stick around). I have also heard “they” are trying to develop technology that will detect an MRI environment and automatically switch the device into the MRI safe mode without the need for a device tech to even be present. We’re going to see some cool technology in the next 5-10 years.
