COLT45 Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 I got a pacemaker 2 weeks ago. The doctor was concerned that the recoil from a pistol and or rifle would disrupt the pacemaker. Do any of you have a pacemaker and shoot? Any problems? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 I have a gastric implant, or stomach pacemaker (a little less serious and lower in the body) and the doc's gave me a total green light to shoot on. My implant is a continuous operation type of device with its default much like the "tilt" on a pin ball machine, it simply goes OFF. In the three years that I have had the implant and the boomer loads I have shot, I have had no such failure as yet. Smithy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381 Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 What kind of doctor? A cardiologist? I've had this come up with my patients over the years, and the cardiologist I used said it shouldn't be a problem if the pacemaker/defibrillator is placed on the opposite side of the body from which your firearm will be recoiling. I would get an opinion from a cardiologist who knows what kind of pacemaker/defibrillator you have, and the specifics thereof. Don't trust the Internet for advice of this kind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Dog, SASS #20401 Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Had my pacemaker put in Oct 05 and been shootin with it since with NO problems whatsever. Hope you got it in your off hand side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Knotwright 61300 Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 I have had a pacemaker since 2001, replaced in Dec 2010 and have been shooting SASS since 2004. Have to use the other shoulder for mounting rifle and shotgun but no problems. Jess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
U B Mountain #40498 Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 I have had one for at least 15 years. Have done every kind of heavy recoil type shooting with no problem at all. Dr. said as long as I kept the chain saw at arms length I would be OK also. And if I got it too close..all I would do is get dizzy and maybe pass out I have worked in front of Radars on the lobsta boat and never had a problem. My Son's son-in-law is a engeneer that works on the pasemaker I have;so if you have any questions. Please E-Mail me at xring@maine.rr.com and I will ask him. hope this helps. However nothing with them is written in stone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Savage Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 I have an ICD Pacemaker. The Defibrillator (Give the heart a jump start if I have an attack). Both of my Heart Specialists gave me the green light to shoot. I am right handed and had it put on the left side (This is the normal side for the install). My friend is Left handed and he had his put on the right side. We both shoot Skeet and Cowboy and it has not slowed us down. Just don't shoot rifle or shotgun from that side and you will be okay. Doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
U B Mountain #40498 Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 DOC... You are correct.. However THEY made a mistake and put MINE on the RIGHT side and I shoot right handed (I forgot to mention that before). SO what I was saying above has been MY experience. However I do not have it UNDER my rifle & shot gun stock it is an inch or two nearer my neck. So it has worked for me;thankfully. Just my view from the saddle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dead_Head Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Just my view from the saddle. What saddle is that, UB? One of those saddles you put on the giant Maine lobsta's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Canyon Kid #43974 Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 I would have a lot more conversations with my doctor and don't take advise from the Wire on something as important as this. A good friend had a pace maker installed and died about a year later because it quit working in the middle of the night. His wife was told that one contributor to the pacemaker failing could easily have been that he had been shooting with the pacemaker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Dr. said as long as I kept the chain saw at arms length I would be OK also.And if I got it too close..all I would do is get dizzy and maybe pass out It is strange to hear this as in my case (with my gastric implant) I'd be in trouble with a chain saw or any small gas motor or working on or around the car. Electrical stimulus puts the thing to sleep (read off) and I have to make an emergency trip up to San Francisco for the doctors to reset and calibrate everything for me. This has happened to me a couple of times so I know. It's a pain in the butt and with the underlying gastroparisis (sp) I also feel terrible in the mean time and am in increased risk for serious hypoglycemia. It's just a bad situation. Nothing at all to compare with you folk that depend on a device to keep your ticker going however. I just know the nervous wreck this thing I have makes me gives me a whole new respect for folks that have heart pacemakers. What a strong bunch of people you all are. Smithy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
U B Mountain #40498 Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Dead Head.. It is one of them new fangled things Dept. of Marine Resources came up with acouple of years ago. Trying to stay away from them claws is the hard part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howdy Doody Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 I had the same concerns when I got one installed last year. I eased back into shooting and I have had no problems along that line. Mine is left shoulder/upper left chest and you can clearly see the outline of it. I am right handed and shoot right. It is no problem. The only problem I have had to date is EMF related. At work I sit near a wall and right off, that area was messing me up and especially when the A/C was on. It was found that 440v runs inside a conduit right at that point and powers the HVAC units on the roof where I work. Since my employers are pretty cavalier about it and I am past retirement age anyway, they simply suggested I move to another area when the A/C is on. Nice huh? So, I simply do that, but I installed silver/polyester lining in a leather vest and I wear it when it is warm enough that the A/C is on. I am a biker anyway and it irks them that I wear it, but the vest protects me from all kinds of EMF, even around running engines, which is a no no for pacemakers. I have not tried welding yet, but I kind of feel I could do it in small amounts if I have the vest on. So, no problem shooting warthog type loads in cowboy action with my pacemaker, which by the way is a St. Judes and was recommended by my doctor over the Medtronics for whatever reason I do not know. I just had a check up and all is well and battery life is at 5 1/2 years right now. So, don't worry about shooting, get out there and do it. The exercise will do you good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COLT45 Posted April 15, 2011 Author Share Posted April 15, 2011 Thanks for the info-- The doctor is a cardiologist. I am right handed. The surgeons could not find a proper vein on the left side and put the pacemaker on the right side. The pacemaker is close to the spot where the gun butt is placed. looks like I will have to learn to shoot a rifle and shotgun as a lefty. As an aside , the people at the pacemaker clinic , do not seem to think my shooting a problem. I will see the Pacemaker Clinic in May (for a follow up) and I will talk more about shooting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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