Pacemaker and ICD patients

Common questions

Home monitors

How to use - we currently use four different manufacturers for home monitoring. Please see your manufacturer’s specific information sheet for guidance.

Power cuts - don’t worry. We advise that you check that it powers back up when your power is restored.

Holidays and moving - let us know if you’re going away for more than two weeks and keep it plugged in.

Flashing, beeping or it's not working - firstly switch off and on again. If this hasn't solved your issue, contact customer care helpline relevant to your device.

Concerned that your home monitor isn’t working — if it hasn't been connected with your device for a few weeks, it will notify us. We will then contact you to check the connections and that it's still switched on. If these seem okay, we will ask you to contact the manufacturer who will be able to investigate further.

I’m having problems setting my monitor up

Don’t panic or worry — your device will still work. Please call your manufacturer who will help guide you through the setup.

Manufacturer contact numbers are:

Medtronic Directo - 0330 1232112
Boston Scientific Latitude - 0800 6781644
Abbott Medical Merlin - 0800 3892714
Sorin Microport – 01516 032810

My device fired

If your ICD fires once and you feel:

okay
haven’t collapsed
do not continue to experience symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath and light-headedness

If you have home monitoring, we may ask for a download from your device or ask you to come to an appointment to check your device.

Call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance if you:

have more than one shock in one day
collapse
continue to experience symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath and light-headedness.

The paramedics should assess you, carry out vital checks and if necessary take you to your local hospital for treatment. If they decide that you need specialist treatment, you will be referred to our Essex Cardiothoracic centre.

Driving

The DVLA have strict and complex guidelines on driving once you have an implanted cardiac device and can vary from patient to patient. You can find out more at https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving/disability-health-condition.

I’ve been feeling unwell winter illness

If you have a cold, flu, chest infections, or shortness of breath, it's unlikely to be a faulty device. If you are uncomfortable, please speak to your GP first who will be able to assess your condition.

I have a pacemaker and my heart is racing, is my device okay?

Pacemakers only stop your heart rate going too slow so this should not be causing your heart to race.

If you feel unwell you should seek emergency medical help by calling 111 or 999. If you feel okay, contact your GP.

I have been advised to contact my heart failure team but I don’t have their details.

Basildon - 0300 300 1582.
Chelmsford - 0300 131 0111.
Colchester - 01206 588016.
Southend - 01702 482841.
Epping locality - 01992 561666 using extension 5554.
Harlow and North Uttlesford - 01279 621925.

I’m not sure if my device is infected and it looks funny

Sometimes, devices can become infected.

If your device shows any signs of infection such as redness, new bruising, becomes swollen, hot to touch or inflamed, contact the arrhythmia nurses on 01268 394 021 so we can look at the device and assess it.

My device has been beeping at me

Your battery may beep or vibrate to tell you that the battery is loosing power. If this happens, contact us as soon as possible so we can arrange for a download of your device.

Is it normal for my stomach to be twitching?

Sometime some patients feel a twitching sensation in their stomach.

This will not cause you any harm and is probably due to the pacemaker aggravating the phrenic nerve that is near the front of your chest, close to where the pacemaker stimulates your heart.

If you experience this and it's uncomfortable, let us know and we can adjust your device to stop this from happening.

Changing appointments

If you can't make an appointment to have your device checked, please contact us to reschedule it.

Can I have my device checked at my local hospital?

If you have a pacemaker implanted, most local hospital can check pacemakers. If you would prefer this, let us know and we will contact them to transfer the care of your pacemaker to them. If however, you have an ICD or CRT pacemaker, it may not be possible as some local hospitals do not have the facilities to do so.

Can I walk through the security alarms in shops and airports?

Security alarms in the shops are fine. Just walk normally through them, and avoid standing in between for prolonged periods of time.

Airports have thousands of pacemaker and ICD patients pass through them every year and the security staff are trained and familiar with what precautions if any are required of the particular equipment they use.

At the airport, show security your ID card. They should carry out a hand search. Advise them to avoid the use of the wand (detector) and the walkthrough scanners which, in rare cases, can interact with your device.

Can I use my electric blanket?

There are some case reports of electric blankets interacting with some devices. We advise that you don't use it for prolonged periods of time for example when you are sleeping.

Can I use my voice activated assistant?

Yes, this will not affect your device

I’d like to wear my Smart Watch (Fitbit/ Apple watch etc) or a magnetic bracelet?

Your watch or bracelet will not interact with your device. The heart rates these devices show can be erroneous so try not to get fixated on the number they show as it's often inaccurate.

Can I go on a rollercoaster?

Some rollercoasters may interact with your device, please follow the ride's precautions.

Loop recorders

If you have a Medtronic Reveal ™Loop recorder, you will have been given the activator to use when you have symptoms. If you use this more than once or have symptoms such as passing out of nearly passing out, please contact us and we will arrange for you to come in and have your device checked. If your activator runs out of batteries, you can replace them with Duracell N 1.5V batteries.

If you have an Abbott Confirm RX™ that uses the App to log symptoms please use this to record them. If there any significant episodes we will contact you. If you are having problems with the app, please contact Abbott Medical Merlin on 0800 389 2714.

My doctor would like me to have an MRI scan, is this okay?

Most of our devices may be MRI compatible under specific conditions but it's best to ask your doctor to check with us first. If the MRI team asks for your device's details, these can be found on your device's identification card.

What happens if I need an operation?

Your device is designed and manufactured to protect itself from lots of different operations. Please take your device identification card with you if you attend a pre-assessment. In some cases we will need to speak with the team performing your operation and may need to check and alter your device settings for the duration of the procedure and put them back post operation.

Can I have an Xray?

Yes, if clinically indicated.

Can I have a mammogram?

Yes, in most cases this will be fine. Inform the radiographer that you have a device.

Dentist

Most dental equipment is fine to use on patients with devices. However there are some pieces of their equipment that may interact with your device. Always let your dentist know,

A list of commonly used equipment can be found at
https://www.medtronic.com/uk-en/patients/electromagnetic-guide/medical-dental.html

Can I use an induction cooker hob?

These pose a potential risk of interaction with your device and use should be avoided if possible, or used with caution keeping a distance of two feet between the cooking surface and your device.

Stop using the induction hob is you feel at all unwell.

End of life Care. What happens to my device when I die?

If you have a pacemaker we won’t have to do anything as we can’t turn them off.

If you have an ICD, we may have to turn it off, especially if you are being cremated. In most cases, it's best practice when reaching end of life to deactivate your ICD in advance. This will not affect the pacemaker function of your ICD and is carried out in the clinic.

I’m travelling abroad; will I be able to have my device checked?

As within the UK, centre hospitals will only be able to check your device. Always take a copy of your identification card with you and refer to your specific manufactures website. For more information, visit:

I’ve lost my identification card, where can I get a new one from?

Please email btu-tr.essexcrm@nhs.net with your details and we will send a new one in the post.

Pacemaker and ICD patients

Search the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust website