Pacemakers

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I just recently had a pacemaker implanted.  what can i use to shield it while I Tig weld? Is there something I can wear?Thanks,Jac
Reply:Have you asked your Dr? It would be a bad idea to take guesses from people on the internet.Why not just use lift arc starts to be safe? Works on ac and dc. And the new esab 281i has a featured called "live tig" that lets you do AC without HF. I'm guessing it's like a lift arc, but i haven't a clue to be honest.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:I definitely would talk to your doctor first!  I doubt any of the welders here are cardiac specialists.  There are several types of pacemakers and different limitations on use around welding, EMF, magnetism, etc.I have a friend with a pacemaker and he cannot be around welding, electric motors, microwaves, EMF emitting electronics...the list goes on.  Your case may be different.
Reply:Originally Posted by shortfuseI definitely would talk to your doctor first!  I doubt any of the welders here are cardiac specialists.  There are several types of pacemakers and different limitations on use around welding, EMF, magnetism, etc.I have a friend with a pacemaker and he cannot be around welding, electric motors, microwaves, EMF emitting electronics...the list goes on.  Your case may be different.
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleSo he can't drive a prius, can't be around garage door openers, can't cook his food, wtf can he do?
Reply:Dang, that would suck!Miller trailblazer301gLincoln sa200Miller251Miller spectrum 625Victor oxy-acc2002 Chevy duramax 3500 dually 4x4
Reply:Just add a tin foil jacket to your wardrobe, you'll be fine.
Reply:Probably cardiologists are not going to recommend any type of electric welding due to the CYA factor in our litigious America.  It would not surprise me to one day see a commercial on TV saying "Do you or a loved one have a pacemaker and have you arc welded on the advice of a physician?  If so, call the law offices of Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe.Are welder machines now required to bear a warning decal about pacemakers?There is always the option of Oxy/Acetylene.
Reply:Over at another site there is a long discussion about this - some kind of EMI shielding jacket?Here is the link:http://forum.weldingtipsandtricks.co...t=Faraday+cageDave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Actually registered rather than lurking to give some feedback on this question,I have a combined implanted Defib/pacemaker although the pacemaker function is not currently needed and still weld.I talked to both my Cardiologist and even had the rep from Boston Scientific come visit before deciding to go ahead with the surgery. I explained to both of them what sort of welding I did, what my usual max amps were and where my welding cables normally are when in use. I initially put surgery off for a couple of years due to concerns about welding and loss of employment if it proved I was unable to weld. While both were 99% sure that I wouldn't have any issues with what I did, the couldn't be 100% sure that there wouldn't be a problem. Their reasoning was they didn't know where the devices wires would be laying in the chest cavity until they actually did the surgery. If the wires are close to the surface then there is more likely to be an issue than if the wires are deeper in the chest. I had surgery early last year, took 8 weeks to recover and approached welding with some trepidation and lots of people watching. First set of welds were Tig, 75 amps, the smallest, easiest job run we have. Everything went well and over the next few weeks I had to try and find where my welding limits (if any) were going to show. My device was remotely monitored carefully by my Cardiologist for the first two weeks back at work so they could see if I was setting off the functions. Some of the things to be very sure of is where your ground and torch cables lay, ground cable as short as possible without any loops if possible but especially near your left side. No wrapping of cables around any portion of your body, including Tig torch around wrist/forearm. Right now we have failed to find any setting which causes my device to function when it shouldn't, topping out at 200 amps on aluminum with the Tig, 3/4" steel on the Mig and 1/2" steel with flux core. Most of my work welding is small military/medical equipment now and I have not set my device off once (even with an inadvertent shock here and there). One of the very important things I do have to be careful of is spot welding, we have industrial spot welders close to my welding area and I stay at least 10 feet clear of those.Best advice I can give you is work closely with your Cardiologist, if he's ok with you welding, start off with very low amps, and have somebody watching you until you prove you can or cannot weld. Good luckStu
Reply:Stu, thanks for posting that. I'm sure your words may give hope and peace of mind to folks who would shun a pacemaker or defibrillator out of fear of hampering their vocation.Maybe that's why the ambulance chasers have not jumped on the podium..........yet.
Reply:Originally Posted by shortfuse I doubt any of the welders here are cardiac specialists.
Reply:Cardiologists have a license to steal.I spent a fortune with those clowns dealing with chronic super ventricular tachycardia. I met all of them from Methodist in Chitcago, to Buffalo to the U of Miami at Jackson Memorial to Baptist to Houston to Atlanta.I was "cured" by a 24 year old doctora de farmacia in Rivas Nicaragua at a hotel owned by my buddy Dennis Martinez.Baseball fans will know who Denny is.Consult the manufacturer as to potential frequency interference. The thief with the white coat is clueless and will NOT comment without first consulting with his attorney. If it's a Boston unit see if you can get the model #, PM me and I'll ask at the factory here--- which ( wisely) left Miami and moved here in 2007.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)