OP
BobRip
Elite Member
Right. Check with your pacemaker manufacturer.
No more arc welding
- Thread starter BobRip
- Start date
Right. Check with your pacemaker manufacturer.
weldermike
Platinum Member
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One of my old partners got put off the job, and started collecting social security dissability after he got a pacemaker. That was probably a liability issue, but if there willing to pay out money early, its definately for a reason.
OP
BobRip
Elite Member
Yeah, it really limits me. I got real tired on our vacation last year when we were walking six to ten miles a day. Especially when carrying a backpack. Also when I do black smithing I get tired quickly.
. Seriously though it really depends on why you have a pacemaker. I don't have any restrictions except no welding and that is from the doctor, not the pacemaker company. I was on a mission trip a few weeks ago and we worked on a house where the owner only had 5 percent heart capacity (normal is 50 to 70%). He could barely walk to the mail box. A great guy to work for though. I feel very fortunate in that pacemakers are available. My thanks to the medical profession and the electronics industry.I have a St. Jude pacemaker and have asked the electro-physiologist about arc welding. He suggested staying arm's length from the arc, not draping the leads over my shoulders, and using the lowest arc setting possible. He also said in order of probably interference with the pacemaker: stick, MIG, TIG as the arc gets progressively smaller with each type of welding process.
For my own edification, I tried two types of arc welding. I setup the TIG at 150 Amps and welded for about 5 minutes and felt no problems. Then I setup the MIG for 3/16-inch steel and welded three small welds about 2.5-inches in length. There was a noticable effect on the pacemaker with my heart rythms and pulse rate changing....so... I guess no MIG / stick welding for me.
For my own edification, I tried two types of arc welding. I setup the TIG at 150 Amps and welded for about 5 minutes and felt no problems. Then I setup the MIG for 3/16-inch steel and welded three small welds about 2.5-inches in length. There was a noticable effect on the pacemaker with my heart rythms and pulse rate changing....so... I guess no MIG / stick welding for me.
greasemonkeyok
Veteran Member
:thumbsup:Now there is a man at peace with his maker. Guess there are some things worse than being dead - not being able to weld is one.
Naah...I've had this discussion with the electro-physiologist who said it won't affect the programming but might cause some disruption in pacing. His comment was to try it & find out what happens...so, I did!
The reason I need the pacemaker is because I've had radiation therapy for cancer about 30 years ago when more was better and they treated me with about 4x the amount of radiation they would use today. This caused some heart damage - valves, arteries, and electrical conduction.
I have a bundle branch block and a left rear fascicular block - meaning the natural electrical signals are not conducted properly because of the blocks in the conduction paths. Sometimes the heart will naturally reroute signals as they are conducted on the surface of the heart muscles. This worked fine until....
They put in the new valve and did two bypasses. After that the heart would not pace afterward - so a week later they put in the pacemaker.
I only use the pacemaker about 9% of the time (according to its onboard log), so the device is not used a lot.
My wife, however, was not thrilled with my expirement....