Pace Maker

[Tbittner 0]

Hi all;

I've got a friend who is going to be getting a pace maker in a few weeks. Does anyone have any experience with sky diving with one? She did her level 9 a few months back and if possible would like to continue and get her license.

Thanks

[AggieDave 6]

There's only one kind of person that can answer that question. A doctor. Preferably a flight surgeon. Ask a TI at your DZ who they go to for their medical, try that doctor as well as the doctor that your friend goes to anyways.

Other opinions from skydivers may not be an educated opinion, unless they are a doctor. Even if another jumper has done it before and it was fine, that doesn't mean it would be OK in your friend's case.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Tbittner 0]

I understand that she'll need to be cleared by her doctor and the dropzone. I am trying to find out if there are others out there that are jumping with pace makers. I think it'll help keep her spirits up if there is a possibility that she can continue. Thanks for the idea of asking the TI's doctor.

[DSE 5]

I'm aware of two jumpers that have pacemakers implanted, one of them a TI, both veterans (as if that makes any difference).

[catfishhunter 2]

I know a Jumper who paid a ton of money to have a specialist move his pace maker to an area no one has ever had one as it was rubbing on his rig. He took his rig in and had the doctors trace it on his chest so it would be out of the way.

MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT
Life is Short and we never know how long we are going to have. We must live life to the fullest EVERY DAY. Everything we do should have a greater purpose.

[GreenLight 8]

"He took his rig in and had the doctors trace it on his chest so it would be out of the way."

Oh man I am SOOO glad I searched this topic. What a great idea. Should be much cheaper if I have it done right from the beginning. Thankyou!

Green Light
"Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there."
"Your statement answered your question."

[Skydivesg 7]

My son-in-law is an electrophysiologist (heart Dr.)
And he specializes in pacemakers.

I'll be talking with him at Thanksgiving dinner.

I'll see if he would meet that request by a patient.

Be the canopy pilot you want that other guy to be.

[GreenLight 8]

Quote

My son-in-law is an electrophysiologist (heart Dr.)
And he specializes in pacemakers.

I'll be talking with him at Thanksgiving dinner.

I'll see if he would meet that request by a patient.

Thankyou!

Green Light
"Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there."
"Your statement answered your question."

[erdnarob 1]

Not directly related but I mention it anyway. There shouldn't be any problem if the pace maker holder is jumping a rig equiped with riser cover magnets. The magnets are strong but seemingly not enough to disturbed the function of a pace maker. For instance and just for illustration purpose my iPHONE 3G is absolutely not disturbed by the 2 magnets of its belt case and in this case the distance is minimal.

Learn from others mistakes, you will never live long enough to make them all.

[Skydivesg 7]

Well the Dr said he could place the box in such a way that the wires would be less likely to be affected and that he could put the box in some deeper tissue to be less uncomfortable with the harness.
But he warned that there is always a possiblity that the openings could affect the pace maker or leads.

He said that some patients could actually go several hours or even days without much notice that the pacemaker wasn't working properly while others may be in trouble in a matter of minutes.

Life is a risk......

Be the canopy pilot you want that other guy to be.

[GreenLight 8]

"Life is a risk......"

No risk in life at all. The odds are against us that we will survive it... :)

Blue Skies

Green Light
"Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there."
"Your statement answered your question."