Electrical or magnetic item interference (smart watch)

I have a Medtronic pacemaker a year and half ago( and I have been wearing an Apple Watch since the implant. Do check with your doctor but mine says it’s OK to wear the Apple watch. I guess just don’t lay the watch on your pacemaker.

I have had an ICD for 17 years and an I watch ever since it came out. No problems. I wear it on the left and at night

I have a pacemaker and have one an Apple Watch ever since the pacemaker was implanted. My doctor said it was no problem, but I would check with your doctor to make sure.

Hello Billy07,
WOW, I am impressed you've had a pacemaker for 17 years, & you sound as if it has worked Very Well for you.
4 years ago I was diagnosed with A-Fib. From the day A-Fib came into my Vocabulary, it's been like a Freight-Train Wreck, being shifted from Physicians' Assist. to another - 1 Dr. to another, 7 drugs, All of which caused severe side effects, until Finally I landed in the ER because it felt like my heart was beating 200 times a minute ... (WRONG, more like 400 times per min.). Over the next few days (in Hosptl) several Cardiologists came in & saw me ... Pacemaker was mentioned & they asked if I'd considered it. My Response was, "I Have a Daughter & I'd Like for Her to be in on this discussion. Also, she & I'll do some research on our own to be sure we're comfortable with the decision. May I contact her, arrange a follow-up Appt. so we can make a decision that we'll both be comfortable with?
I read the Mayo Web Site almost every day & put a lot of stock in the Information shared by patients like you "Who've Been There, Done That." Do You have any suggestions that might help us?

If you have the opportunity to have a pacemaker put in, do it. Your life will only be better and you will be safer. Lucky you for having a Dr who recognizes this. Good luck.

For some reasons I see some posts go back several years. I start to respond to origional poster and then see it was from years ago.

I have had a ICD/Pacemaker since 2006. 19 years now and in February 2026 will be 20 years. I am on my 3rd device from Boston Scientific.

Over the years the devices have improved. The old ones were not MRI compliant, and also has issues being around electrical devices. They have improved dramatically since my original one back in 2006.

A good way to find specifics is to go to your manufacturer and check on your device. At Boston Scientific you can type in your model and get all the information you need. And you can also asked questions on wearing eletrical devices, being around electrical items, electromagnetic interference, MRI compatible (both device and wires).

I am lucky to be a Mayo Jacksonville with an outstanding pace clinic and my EP is world reknown (write books, gives seminars, researcher). They also are a great source to my questions. I still get told not to have my I phone right next to my device or lay something electrical on or arond it. And definetely keep anything with a magnet around it.

This is my device though and some new ones like I mentioned are far more compliant around electromagnet interference, etc. I still have 3 years on my batter so will be in my 80s when I get my 4th. I am told the new ones since my last one was implanted are much smaller and much more benefits. One is the Boston Scientific will not be using Latitude Device but device will not talk to your cell phone. Not sure how that works and don't have any problems with my remote latitude monitor.

Just want to be around to get my 4th one!

You’re smart to do some research. I didn’t do any research and now I wish that I had the only symptoms I had before I had my pacemaker put in was a slow heart rate that resulted in high blood pressure. The doctor all told me that putting in a pacemaker Would lower my blood pressure which it did do, but no one told me the recovery would take this long it’s been seven months. I actually felt better before I had the pacemaker put in and no doctors can tell me that it’s gonna get any better. I had a fib episodes, but they never lasted longer Than one hour. My low heart rate in the 30s and usually 40 was no problem for me and I was able to do whatever I wanted to do that was much easier to deal with than the fatigue that I now have with my heart rate at 60 since I pacemaker, I talked to the doctors about it. They just say well that’s what it’s gonna be from now on so be sure you are comfortable with how long the recovery will be. I am getting better, but the fatigue is surprising to me. The only thing the doctor told me I wouldn’t be able to do carry a cell phone in my left breast pocket and operate a chainsaw I’m a 76 year-old woman and neither of those things pertain to me knowing what I know now I would’ve tried additional medications to lower my blood pressure before I put a pacemaker in, but most people say that a pacemaker really helped them I just don’t think my symptoms warranted the pacemaker, but you seem to have more severe symptoms than I did. I wish you was very best.