Tool Talk
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: fflintstone on September 14, 2013, 05:55:17 PM
-
After a recent surgery I have been told I have bradycardia, apparently a dozen different doctors didn’t notice my pulse rate of 45 beats per minute. I finally see a cardiologist on Monday.
The consensus at the hospital was I will need a pacemaker. after some reassuring words here I thought nothing much of it until I found some stuff online that said you should not weld with a pacemaker.
I did a fair amount of Google searching and found a lot of different stuff. Nothing newer than 2011 though and very little of people that actually had a pacemaker.
I read that you need to wrap the ground and the MIG torch lead, keep amps below 120, and keep the arc 2 feet away from your heart, ETC ETC ETC.
Although I am going to thoroughly discuss this with my cardiologist I anticipate having to educate a person with a doctorate degree.
I was wondering if anyone here had any REAL, ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE about the subject.
FWIW they say you are not supposed to operate a chainsaw either. I live in the frickin woods for crying out loud.
-
Welding I can understand, but why not a chainsaw??
-
Maybe its the vibration.
-
>why not a chainsaw??
The magneto and spark plug wires emit radio interference that looks like the electrical signal the heart makes during a heart attack fooling it into doing things it isn't supposed to. The hazard isn't so much damaging the pacemaker as the possibility you will pass out while holding a running chainsaw..(so I read)
>REAL, ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE
On the internet? LOL!
Seriously, do not trust your life to opinions of unknown people on the internet, talk to the cardiologist, and if he doesn't know the answers, ask him who does. If you have to talk to 20 doctors to get an answer, DO SO!
>I live in the frickin woods for crying out loud.
Yes...the magic word is *live*
-
Let's begin with the reality 99% of Cardios ain't got a hint of a clue what welding is, let alone how it's done. Factor in that half of Cardios are primarily concerned with your dollar value to their pocket and the other half were in the bottom half of their class.
Fortunately, mine is in his 80s, owns a Lincoln SA 200, and knows how to weld. He also doesn't need money, so I consider him pretty honest. He's the one out of 4 cardios who told me I didn't need any damn electronic box.
The origin of no welding for people with pacemakers is derived from the habit of many ship and structural weldors to bring the stinger or TIG lead across their back, over their shoulder and down the arm to minimize the weight on the stinger or torch. This practice could induce sufficient magnetism into early pacemakers to change program or shut the happy box down. Ergo, no welding if you have a pacemaker!
Like all medical information and rules, once something gets started floating through the system there is no way in hell to stop it.
How many hospitals have you walked into and seen a sign No Cell Phone Use? How many times have you been assaulted by a hospital employee for using a cell phone. They don't need any reason, there is a rule. Guess what, most hospitals have given the cell phone rule up because people simply won't obey it..
As far as finding information on welding with a pacemaker, there is no manufacturer of welding equipment or pacemakers who will go on record. Both groups look to their insurance carrier who tells them to spew crap and stay off the hook.
Any pacemaker made in the last 10 years requires a specific instruction delivered via what can best be nomenclatured a transformer relationship between the coil in the device and the coil held against your chest. Chances of a welding machine duplicating that message may be impossible to calculate. Of course should you decide to take a couple wraps of 4/0 stinger lead around your body directly over the device, and run 800 amps to a 1/2" rod, you might be able to mess the device up.
-
<shakes head>
My advise to my father was this simple - if the Cardiologist says you shouldn't weld - DO NOT weld. My father (not some free medical insurance program) pays him (significantly) for his medical expertise and advise. If he doesn't trust him, why use him - get another Cardiologist, or another opinion. Yes, I understand the Miller cost about 3k - use it as a generator, sell it, or give it to me. "Welders" are a dime a dozen here. No patting myself on the back but I could teach my 8 year old to weld, and he would gladly do it to see me alive and well. Not welding isn't the end of the world. Not having blood flowing through your body is.
-
Let's begin with the reality 99% of Cardios ain't got a hint of a clue what welding is, let alone how it's done. Factor in that half of Cardios are primarily concerned with your dollar value to their pocket and the other half were in the bottom half of their class.
As far as finding information on welding with a pacemaker, there is no manufacturer of welding equipment or pacemakers who will go on record. Both groups look to their insurance carrier who tells them to spew crap and stay off the hook.
This is the problem. liability, period.
-
<shakes head>
My advise to my father was this simple - if the Cardiologist says you shouldn't weld - DO NOT weld. My father (not some free medical insurance program) pays him (significantly) for his medical expertise and advise. If he doesn't trust him, why use him - get another Cardiologist, or another opinion. Yes, I understand the Miller cost about 3k - use it as a generator, sell it, or give it to me. "Welders" are a dime a dozen here. No patting myself on the back but I could teach my 8 year old to weld, and he would gladly do it to see me alive and well. Not welding isn't the end of the world. Not having blood flowing through your body is.
FACT #1; The quack, regardless of area of practice is your employee, not your master.
You don't like him, you don't trust him, FIRE the sumbeach!
Hell, I fired one who was barely competent in English, and proved he didn't unnrstnd by offering to throw him out the window. Dr Dummy stands there and says "winrow no open". I walked out, and the screeching witch from the desk chased me clear to the elevator bellowing I didn't pay. I told her he didn't do anything to be paid for.
That crap settled up fast when I filed a complaint on his license with the State.
I would have been better off being ignored by Indian Health Service.
-
good news! no pacemaker at this time! Cardio wants me to lose weight and cut meds as I drop pounds and revauate in 6 months.
-
I can tell you a couple things, as a man who meets NONE of the 5 criteria for heart problems on that poster in the Cardio office.
Fact 1, if you're carrying extra weight around, you're a damn fool!
Fact 2, if you're eating salt, shaken on your food, you're a damn fool.
Fact 3, Fully HALF of all doctors ought not to be in the doctoring business. They're worse than damn fools.