[TheForge] Electric welding and pacemakers

[JERRY FROST]

A few months ago my wife Deb had a reverse shoulder replacement and then she noticed having sort of fuzzy spells, sometimes disorientation, etc. so she scheduled a check up and was given a heart monitor. After wearing it 24/7 for less than two weeks she got a hone call around 7am telling her to get a ride to the local ER. Besides an arrythmia her heart had stopped for 8 seconds that morning. An alarm alerted the fellow keeping an eye on monitors, he ran it by the on call cardiologist and they called, offering her an ambulance ride. I was already up and took her in, picked her up the next day after spending a night for observation and adjustments. 

I have to tell you, she's WAY better now, energy, alert, good color, etc. 

Pace makers are improving all the time and are pretty well shielded from EM and can still be read and programmed wirelessly. 

I offer a toast to modern medicine!

Frosty

----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles" <xlch58 at swbell.net>
To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2025 6:48:18 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Electric welding and pacemakers

Ten years ago I had a severe heart attack that significantly damaged my heart.   I had a pacemaker (actually an ICD) installed a couple of years ago as once in a while the Dr thought I was experience atrial fibrillation added to the fact that due to the damage, there is always a chance my heart could just stop.  I got the same warnings, as well as to avoid standing to close to generators, alternators, etc.  The one I got was MRI safe, as well as metal detector safe, so the warnings seemed odd to me.  I have mostly ignored them and have continued mig/tig and arc welding, working on generators and living my life the same way.  If I get close to a strong magnetic field my unit will start emiting a tone.   This is because the way they disable the unit for surgery is to place a magnet over it.  So basically, if I get near a strong magnet it could disable the unit.   I am regularly backpacking mountains, welding, smithing and I work in power plants.  My Dr connects to my device remotely on a regular basis and dumps a report.  So far no issues from all of my contraindicated activities.  It barely ever kicks in, like once every three months or so some light pacing.   Make your own decisions, but if you get an MRI safe unit you should be fine,
Charles