Show notes about this episode: heartwarriorproject.com/all-about-icds-douglas-rachac/ ____ 📰A Newsletter for Heart Warriors📰 This newsletter has zero intention of spamming you every week or so. This is simply a newsletter if you’d like to get notified about any upcoming events (in-person and online), when there is a new podcast episode released, or when there is a health professional appearing soon on the podcast that you can ask a question to. If that’s something you’d like, then sign up: heartwarriorproject.com/newsletter/ ____ 🧡Get Involved - Support The Heart Warrior Project🧡 Note that The Heart Warrior Project is run by one guy, which is yes, me (Jellis Vaes). In between work, studies at university, and just life, I try to squeeze in some time almost every day to work on this project. This project takes a lot of work, as I genuinely want to deliver high-quality and helpful content for survivors here. And I do it with a lot of love every day. However, help is always appreciated. If you have found any insights, lessons, or support from this or any other episode, and you’d like to support the project, we have a couple of ways to do so. We offer some awesome-looking merch, such as T-shirts, hoodies, and mugs, with different designs that I personally love wearing/using myself. If you aren’t interested in any merch but still want to support the project, we also accept donations. You can find more information here: heartwarriorproject.com/getinvolved/
Doug is a gem in the ICD/pacemaker world ! Once again, thank you for your knowledge and insight ! There’s soooo much valuable information in this video. ❤️
Thank you for this video, very informative. There is 1 point though that I think would help people. There is an activity sensor in the Medtronic ICD (accelerometer) and yes my device will pace me on an extremely bumpy road, construction as well. My normal heart rate driving is 50-55 and I have seen it go over 100 when on a rough road. Also I have had my ICD since 2016 and worked in a power plant. My employer had an EMI test done and determined several areas of the plant where I was restricted from entering so this is an option as well.
Another great podcast, Jellis! A brilliant idea to have an ICD expert with lived-experience. So informative. I had no idea just how clever our ICDs are! It’s helping me to warm to mine a bit more. Thank you as always 😊
Great Q/I. I noticed Douglas mentioned he exercise and uses wearables including smart watch and chest strap. Are those not recommended to use if you have an ICD because of the EMI specially with wearables that read biometrics. example. Body composition, body fat, etc? hope you can answer my question. thank you.
Great question! Your wearables are safe to use as they were designed to be used. The EMI they emit is not strong enough to cause any problems. This includes FItBits, Apple Watches, Garmins, the chest strap heart rate monitors, and more. The med device companies do recommend against using wearables that include biometric sensors for measuring body fat. Those send a small electrical signal through the body for 10-20 seconds. While there isn’t a huge concern, there is a small possibility that signal could temporarily interfere with an implanted device, so the recommendation is to not use biometric sensors until further testing can be done. One last recommendation for wearables is to refrain from using wrist straps with magnetic clasps. Those would be fine during normal use, but if you sleep with your wearable there’s a small chance you could lay your arm across your device causing it to switch into the magnet mode, and it’s best to avoid that, especially while sleeping. I hope that helps
No thank you. I had a very small chance of having a stroke during an ablation and I ended up having 3 of them. I've been shocked by a high powered cow fence in the late 70's... Knocked the wind out of me and threw me about 5 feet. Serious fear of electrical shock. And my anxiety about when it's gonna crack me would be off the charts. I also know two people personally who have them and from what they told me, there's no way
Recently learned that these devices are somewhat adjustable. Does anyone know if they can detect and interpret that a patient has actually become unconscious? Because I would only submit to a device like this if it had that capability. Stay well all
Show notes about this episode: heartwarriorproject.com/all-about-icds-douglas-rachac/
____
📰A Newsletter for Heart Warriors📰
This newsletter has zero intention of spamming you every week or so. This is simply a newsletter if you’d like to get notified about any upcoming events (in-person and online), when there is a new podcast episode released, or when there is a health professional appearing soon on the podcast that you can ask a question to.
If that’s something you’d like, then sign up: heartwarriorproject.com/newsletter/
____
🧡Get Involved - Support The Heart Warrior Project🧡
Note that The Heart Warrior Project is run by one guy, which is yes, me (Jellis Vaes).
In between work, studies at university, and just life, I try to squeeze in some time almost every day to work on this project. This project takes a lot of work, as I genuinely want to deliver high-quality and helpful content for survivors here. And I do it with a lot of love every day.
However, help is always appreciated. If you have found any insights, lessons, or support from this or any other episode, and you’d like to support the project, we have a couple of ways to do so.
We offer some awesome-looking merch, such as T-shirts, hoodies, and mugs, with different designs that I personally love wearing/using myself.
If you aren’t interested in any merch but still want to support the project, we also accept donations.
You can find more information here: heartwarriorproject.com/getinvolved/
Doug is a gem in the ICD/pacemaker world !
Once again, thank you for your knowledge and insight ! There’s soooo much valuable information in this video. ❤️
Hey Lynchito! Thanks for the comment. And really glad to read you found the video helpful :).
Thank you for this video Sir!
Lots of useful informations for me as a SCA survivor. Much appreciated.
My pleasure. Really glad to read you found the info useful :).
Thank you for this episode! Much needed. Subscribed and following.
Really happy to read you liked the episode! :) And thank you for subscribing! More interesting content is coming ;).
Fantastic. Thank you so much.
Thank-you so much for your thorough answers and your reassuring outlook. It was endlessly helpful!
Hey Kim, very happy to read the episode was helpful! :) You just received an ICD?
Thank you for this video, very informative. There is 1 point though that I think would help people. There is an activity sensor in the Medtronic ICD (accelerometer) and yes my device will pace me on an extremely bumpy road, construction as well. My normal heart rate driving is 50-55 and I have seen it go over 100 when on a rough road.
Also I have had my ICD since 2016 and worked in a power plant. My employer had an EMI test done and determined several areas of the plant where I was restricted from entering so this is an option as well.
Hey! Happy to read the episode was informative. Thank you for sharing additional information!
Very informative. I love understanding everything I can about living with my ICD.
Hey! Really good to read the episode was informative :).
Another great podcast, Jellis! A brilliant idea to have an ICD expert with lived-experience. So informative. I had no idea just how clever our ICDs are! It’s helping me to warm to mine a bit more. Thank you as always 😊
You are more than welcome Karen. And thank you for sending in a question! Doing this episode definitely made me appreciate my own ICD a lot more too.
Great Q/I. I noticed Douglas mentioned he exercise and uses wearables including smart watch and chest strap. Are those not recommended to use if you have an ICD because of the EMI specially with wearables that read biometrics. example. Body composition, body fat, etc? hope you can answer my question. thank you.
I'll pass the question to Doug and come back to you with an answer.
Great question! Your wearables are safe to use as they were designed to be used. The EMI they emit is not strong enough to cause any problems. This includes FItBits, Apple Watches, Garmins, the chest strap heart rate monitors, and more.
The med device companies do recommend against using wearables that include biometric sensors for measuring body fat. Those send a small electrical signal through the body for 10-20 seconds. While there isn’t a huge concern, there is a small possibility that signal could temporarily interfere with an implanted device, so the recommendation is to not use biometric sensors until further testing can be done.
One last recommendation for wearables is to refrain from using wrist straps with magnetic clasps. Those would be fine during normal use, but if you sleep with your wearable there’s a small chance you could lay your arm across your device causing it to switch into the magnet mode, and it’s best to avoid that, especially while sleeping. I hope that helps
As always, thank you Doug for the in-depth info!
Thank you for these videos! Any comments or advice on the Medtronic recalls on ICDs and CRTDs?
What's the warranty period of Medtronic icd MRI S?
Is the patient given a warranty document for the device upon implantation?
No thank you. I had a very small chance of having a stroke during an ablation and I ended up having 3 of them. I've been shocked by a high powered cow fence in the late 70's... Knocked the wind out of me and threw me about 5 feet. Serious fear of electrical shock. And my anxiety about when it's gonna crack me would be off the charts. I also know two people personally who have them and from what they told me, there's no way
Recently learned that these devices are somewhat adjustable. Does anyone know if they can detect and interpret that a patient has actually become unconscious? Because I would only submit to a device like this if it had that capability. Stay well all
I am very afraid my defibrillator will fire again.
Yeah, I can get that. When was the first time it had to fire?
@@heartwarriorproject Mine has only fired twice and the second time was not as bad because I knew what to expect I guess