Affects of a Heart Pacemaker on Model Railroad Operations and Activities

I have had one installed since 2004 and no trouble at all. I too was like you and ask around here at the forum and several guys spoke up and encouraged me. They replaced my original one last November with a newer one.

Go for it and have fun with this hobby.

Thanks Roger very much.   Very encouraging!     Skip Penney

What does your doctor say about this? Wouldn't he or she be a better person from whom to get medical advice?

I am fairly certain that the pacemaker will not harm your ZW.

Chris Sheldon

Im  sure the medical device company has solved all the issues with erroneous EM fields interfering with reliable operations of your pacemaker

One REALLY BAD thing....I (you) cannot lean over a car engine that is running. 

Skip,

I've had one for almost 10 years now and I have never experienced any problems with it effecting anything or being effected by any electronics or drills, etc.

The only train related thing that does cause it to flutter a little is when the new catalogues come out each year and I see the prices.  

Seriously You will be fine doing any train work and such.   Of course you do know that you will forever more be subjected to body searches when you fly.  

Ed

Mr. Penny----- There are several minor annoyances you will encounter with your pacemaker.  The first and possibly the main one is not to carry your cellphone in your breast pocket as it could cause the pacemaker to lose its settings.  If you go to a motel that uses cards for keys don"t carry them in your breast pocket.  We had the pacemaker erase the setting on the key and the desk clerk had to reset it.  You can't have an MRI scan because the MRI is run with powerful magnets.  When going through the boarding checkout you must tell them about your pacemaker because they can't put you through the booth.  They advance you to the front and check you with a paddle. As the years go by you will have your own experiences to tell about.  Good luck.  Odd-d

I was told when I had mine that I should not have any problems going thru the check in booths at the airport but should it show them your card and ask them to scan over it as quickly as they can. ( after 10 years and it never going off ( mine was a defibrillator/Pacemaker ) they decided I didn't need it. ( it was removed because I got a infection where the leads connected to my heart)  and I also had a new valve put in.  

When I had a layout I had two ZW hooked up with no problems.) the only time I had a problem was when I used a cordless drill and I held it against my chest one time when drilling. 

I have one and i don't have any problems with mine they  told me to watch with cell phone and gas generator has high current. 

Some time ago, they were considering implanting a defibrillator in me. It never happened, but this chart is at the manufacturer's website.

Keeping 6 inches away from a drill was one item. (And. as Roger mentioned, 12 inches from an ignition system)

Best wishes. 

MEDTRONIC GUIDE

I have a defibrillator and I never have had any problems. Just don't weld on your running car engine with your cell phone in your chest pocket and use your ZW, only use a TMCC hand controller.    I did not think about it, will my defibrillator smoke all the boards in my TMCC engines if goes off??? 

Arthur P. Bloom posted:

What does your doctor say about this? Wouldn't he or she be a better person from whom to get medical advice?

Doctor does not seem to have specif

Arthur P. Bloom posted:

What does your doctor say about this? Wouldn't he or she be a better person from whom to get medical advice?

Doctor did not have specific knowledge regarding model railroad equipment.

Skip

Arthur P. Bloom posted:

What does your doctor say about this? Wouldn't he or she be a better person from whom to get medical advice?

Matt Makens posted:

Im  sure the medical device company has solved all the issues with erroneous EM fields interfering with reliable operations of your pacemaker

I think that is right.  Just wanted to survey some folks with hands on experience.

Skip Penney

Roger Wasson posted:

One REALLY BAD thing....I (you) cannot lean over a car engine that is running. 

Got it.  Thanks,

Skip Penney

Ed Walsh posted:

Skip,

I've had one for almost 10 years now and I have never experienced any problems with it effecting anything or being effected by any electronics or drills, etc.

The only train related thing that does cause it to flutter a little is when the new catalogues come out each year and I see the prices.  

Seriously You will be fine doing any train work and such.   Of course you do know that you will forever more be subjected to body searches when you fly.  

Ed

Thanks for your comment.

Skip Penney

rtraincollector posted:

I was told when I had mine that I should not have any problems going thru the check in booths at the airport but should it show them your card and ask them to scan over it as quickly as they can. ( after 10 years and it never going off ( mine was a defibrillator/Pacemaker ) they decided I didn't need it. ( it was removed because I got a infection where the leads connected to my heart)  and I also had a new valve put in.  

When I had a layout I had two ZW hooked up with no problems.) the only time I had a problem was when I used a cordless drill and I held it against my chest one time when drilling. 

Thanks for the info. 

Skip Penney

Odd-d posted:

Mr. Penny----- There are several minor annoyances you will encounter with your pacemaker.  The first and possibly the main one is not to carry your cellphone in your breast pocket as it could cause the pacemaker to lose its settings.  If you go to a motel that uses cards for keys don"t carry them in your breast pocket.  We had the pacemaker erase the setting on the key and the desk clerk had to reset it.  You can't have an MRI scan because the MRI is run with powerful magnets.  When going through the boarding checkout you must tell them about your pacemaker because they can't put you through the booth.  They advance you to the front and check you with a paddle. As the years go by you will have your own experiences to tell about.  Good luck.  Odd-d

have had mri with pacemaker, still alive, i think?

apparently all new pacemakers are now mri ok and most older also. 

do not know about defibrillator.

always let them (all) know before procedure, just to be safe.