Double Bass Pacemaker/defibrillator, ICD, yeah, I just got one

[nachodaddy]

After a few days in Emergency and Intensive Care, I was fitted with a pacenmaker/defibrillator yesterday. Well on my way to becoming the 6 Million Dollar Man, I suppose. From what I can tell so far, it seems that the sole instrument that may be impossible or highly dangerous to my health is the DB due to left arm being virtually continuously above the left shoulder. Doc doesn't even want me playing electric bass or guitar for at least two weeks. So, any DB players fitted with one of these contraptions? Looking forward to all helpful replies, my thanks in advance.

 

[rust_preacher]

I know some people who have found great help with pacemakers. In some cases the defibrillator function has saved their lives. It's interesting sometimes you can hear the click when they talk on a mobile phone or a walkie-talkie. Maybe your band can keep steady time now!

I hope it all turns for the best for you.

 

[nachodaddy]

ROFL, thanx rust. I KNOW that there has to be some DB players who've had these contraptions installed in their bodies. I am tapping my foot(in time) until I hear from at least a couple of them.

 

[nachodaddy]

Well, I can't believe no one else has a pacemaker, but, the doc assuaged my trepidation and gave me the go ahead to play it last week, and, there doesn't seem to be a problem. He just said to not try golf til October, like I'd play in July thru mid-September down here, anyway,lol. At any rate, I'm glad I don't have to give up my new love.

 

[KStewart]

Hi Nacho, sorry for the late reply.... you're already well into your recovery.

I have a pacemaker/defrillator.... actually on my 3rd one now! I'm 34 years old, and still VERY active. I capitalize 'very' because I surf everyday, and am a career bassist, both electric and upright bass (mainly upright bass). The implant has never affected me in any negative way. The only downer is you should not get too close to speakers and such with magnetics.

The initial implanting takes the longest to heal. That's due to the 'leads' needing to implant and heal right. After that, you're in the clear. The latest replacement I had was last summer. I was in the hospital for one day and at my theater gig the next night. I left for a 3 week tour one week later with a rockabilly group. Healed up on the road. It was painless (except for the fact that I couldn't go in any swimming pools on that trip).

Hope all is going well for you!

 

[NickMarinelli]

Hey, Nacho. I received an ICD in June of this year. Although I don't play DB (just electric for 35 plus years), I can understand your concerns. I was told to not raise my arm at all for two complete weeks, lest the wires which were connected to the tissue in my heart come undone. A real pain in the backside, but when I went in for my follow up, x-rays showed all was well and working as needed.

In fact, they have a machine which can read the device's settings through RF transmissions, as well as control it. While I was in the office, they turned it off, slowed it down, and sped it up to test the device. Speeding up the heart rate felt a little strange.

Good luck.

 

[nachodaddy]

Hi Nacho, sorry for the late reply.... you're already well into your recovery.

I have a pacemaker/defrillator.... actually on my 3rd one now! I'm 34 years old, and still VERY active. I capitalize 'very' because I surf everyday, and am a career bassist, both electric and upright bass (mainly upright bass). The implant has never affected me in any negative way. The only downer is you should not get too close to speakers and such with magnetics.

The initial implanting takes the longest to heal. That's due to the 'leads' needing to implant and heal right. After that, you're in the clear. The latest replacement I had was last summer. I was in the hospital for one day and at my theater gig the next night. I left for a 3 week tour one week later with a rockabilly group. Healed up on the road. It was painless (except for the fact that I couldn't go in any swimming pools on that trip).

Hope all is going well for you!

Thanx for the reply, KS. On your 3rd ICD? Yowie, I guess your trouble started as a teen? The DB playing has been no bother, yippeee! My strangest experince, so far, was at a restaurant when a guy in a high-powered wheelchair sat next to me. A coupla minutes later, I realized something was terribly wrong,lol.
Yeah, mentioning amps & speakers was ironic. I have more than you can shake a stick at. I think my house IS a giant magnet. It made me nervous for the first coupla weeks, but, I guess everything's OK.
And, one of my great loves is swimming in rivers or lakes. Furthermore, I've gone alone way more than I've gone with other people. The doc said I should NEVER go alone anymore. So, this appears to be my biggest peeve, by far. And it's made me think about just puttin' in an above ground poo(yecch!) at the house next year.
Hmm, should we start an ICD members club? Since you're on your third, I'd say you go ahead & claim Member #1.

 

[nachodaddy]

Hey, Nacho. I received an ICD in June of this year. Although I don't play DB (just electric for 35 plus years), I can understand your concerns. I was told to not raise my arm at all for two complete weeks, lest the wires which were connected to the tissue in my heart come undone. A real pain in the backside, but when I went in for my follow up, x-rays showed all was well and working as needed.

In fact, they have a machine which can read the device's settings through RF transmissions, as well as control it. While I was in the office, they turned it off, slowed it down, and sped it up to test the device. Speeding up the heart rate felt a little strange.

Good luck.

Howdy Nick. Thanx for reply. Yep, sounds like we were all warned about the same stuff. When they tested out the device it was a trip, wasn't it? I suggested an ICD club to KS, are you game, too?

 

[NickMarinelli]

Howdy Nick. Thanx for reply. Yep, sounds like we were all warned about the same stuff. When they tested out the device it was a trip, wasn't it? I suggested an ICD club to KS, are you game, too?

Sure, why not? BTW, who made you're ICD? Mine is a St. Jude.

 

[KStewart]

Club? Sure. haha

Glad to hear you're doing ok with your implant device Nacho (and Nick)! An above ground pool isn't a bad idea for you.... if you don't feel comfortable swimming by yourself. But, docs are usually a bit more careful than they have to be sometimes. But, we do need our exercise, right?

I would talk to him/her about all of the ampage in your house. I know I'm supposed to stay away from heavy magnetic forces or electrical currents and such. Pretty sure as long as you're 12in or more away from them you'll be fine.

My first 2 pacers were Guidant. This one is Boston Scientific. I absolutely hate when they check individual chambers one at a time. Feels so creepy. They tried to give me one of those home check devices. I absolutely won't use it. I insist on going in to Hoag hospital in person to have mine checked (I call it a tune-up).

 

[nachodaddy]

Sure, why not? BTW, who made you're ICD? Mine is a St. Jude.

Mine is Boston Scientific.

 

[nachodaddy]

Club? Sure. haha

Glad to hear you're doing ok with your implant device Nacho (and Nick)! An above ground pool isn't a bad idea for you.... if you don't feel comfortable swimming by yourself. But, docs are usually a bit more careful than they have to be sometimes. But, we do need our exercise, right?

I would talk to him/her about all of the ampage in your house. I know I'm supposed to stay away from heavy magnetic forces or electrical currents and such. Pretty sure as long as you're 12in or more away from them you'll be fine.

My first 2 pacers were Guidant. This one is Boston Scientific. I absolutely hate when they check individual chambers one at a time. Feels so creepy. They tried to give me one of those home check devices. I absolutely won't use it. I insist on going in to Hoag hospital in person to have mine checked (I call it a tune-up).

Alrighty, then! What shall we call it? A nice, simple ICD Club?

My friend(he's also a music buddy) that is most likely to go river swimmin' with me is epileptic, thus, he's also under strict orders not to go alone. It's always been me to monitor him. We just talked about this a coupla days ago and now, who's gona watch out for who?ROFL. Isn't life strange?

I seriously probably have 300 or more speakers in the house, so, I'm tryin' to be careful.

So far, they've not mentioned anything about a home check device, so, that's a decision I ain't had to make, yet.

 

[sound of bass]

I deal with folks with ICD's / pacemakers everyday (Paramedic) and I work in a very busy e.r. and after your initial healing, there really is no GIANT limitation except for strong magnetic forces and very high electrical outputs that you'd seldom come by in everyday kinda life. Ive seen these devices save countless lives and they're worth their weight in gold! One other thing you may want to consider is a "Medical Alert" bracelet / necklace, should you be home alone and need 911 in case it fires. Thats another device worth the same weight in gold. The best to you, rock on!

 

[nachodaddy]

Club? Sure. haha

Glad to hear you're doing ok with your implant device Nacho (and Nick)! An above ground pool isn't a bad idea for you.... if you don't feel comfortable swimming by yourself. But, docs are usually a bit more careful than they have to be sometimes. But, we do need our exercise, right?

I would talk to him/her about all of the ampage in your house. I know I'm supposed to stay away from heavy magnetic forces or electrical currents and such. Pretty sure as long as you're 12in or more away from them you'll be fine.

My first 2 pacers were Guidant. This one is Boston Scientific. I absolutely hate when they check individual chambers one at a time. Feels so creepy. They tried to give me one of those home check devices. I absolutely won't use it. I insist on going in to Hoag hospital in person to have mine checked (I call it a tune-up).

Alrighty, then! What shall we call it? A nice, simple ICD Club?

My friend(he's also a music buddy) that is most likely to go river swimmin' with me is epileptic, thus, he's also under strict orders not to go alone. It's always been me to monitor him. We just talked about this a coupla days ago and now, who's gona watch out for who?ROFL. Isn't life strange?

I seriously probably have 300 or more speakers in the house, so, I'm tryin' to be careful.

So far, they've not mentioned anything about a home check device, so, that's a decision I ain't had to make, yet.

 

[sound of bass]

Alrighty, then! What shall we call it? A nice, simple ICD Club?

My friend(he's also a music buddy) that is most likely to go river swimmin' with me is epileptic, thus, he's also under strict orders not to go alone. It's always been me to monitor him. We just talked about this a coupla days ago and now, who's gona watch out for who?ROFL. Isn't life strange?

I seriously probably have 300 or more speakers in the house, so, I'm tryin' to be careful.

So far, they've not mentioned anything about a home check device, so, that's a decision I ain't had to make, yet.

They can be evaluated over your home phone landline. I believe a routine check is done every 6 months.

 

[KStewart]

They can be evaluated over your home phone landline. I believe a routine check is done every 6 months.

Yes, that is correct. The unit connects via your home phone line. I just don't trust, but that's me personally. I usually go in for check up every 3-4 months, which is totally easy and painless.

 

[nachodaddy]

They can be evaluated over your home phone landline. I believe a routine check is done every 6 months.

Thanx for chimin' in, SOB.ROFL. I see my last post here miraculously got duplicated while I was responding to another thread. Weird. Yep, gettin' a bracelet or dog tags(maybe both) is definitely on my agenda.
They had to pop me once with the defibrilator while I was in ER, piror to the ICD implant. Wow! That brought backs two old deja vus. Once knocked across the room back in early 70's by a 59 Bassman. In late 70's, I lived in an old farmhouse in Waco,Ga(affectionately called, wacko, of course). It had the old screw-in type breakers. I got knocked across the room three times changin' out fuses while living there. The defib felt exactly like that. I am NOT lookin' forward to this thing goin' off. I hope I avoid that, needless to say.

 

[nachodaddy]

They can be evaluated over your home phone landline. I believe a routine check is done every 6 months.

Thanx for chimin' in, SOB.ROFL. I see my last post here miraculously got duplicated while I was responding to another thread. Weird. Yep, gettin' a bracelet or dog tags(maybe both) is definitely on my agenda.
They had to pop me once with the defibrilator while I was in ER, piror to the ICD implant. Wow! That brought backs two old deja vus. Once knocked across the room back in early 70's by a 59 Bassman. In late 70's, I lived in an old farmhouse in Waco,Ga(affectionately called, wacko, of course). It had the old screw-in type breakers. I got knocked across the room three times changin' out fuses while living there. The defib felt exactly like that. I am NOT lookin' forward to this thing goin' off. I hope I avoid that, needless to say.

 

[nachodaddy]

Drum roll, please...

And the name of the club shall be....

Cyborg Club.

KS, are ye claimin' member #1? If not, I will.

 

[jmlee]

I'm a biomedical engineering professor in my real life and have 35 years experience dealing with cardiovascular implantable devices. If I can be of help, feel free to PM me or ask a question here. I'll answer what I can.