If they tell you it is safe to have an MRI with it , it’s only at certain facilities and under certain conditions. Not every MRI center will do it and very few do.
The procedure is quite simple and placement of the unit varies, but usually just under the clavicle on the chest with a small incision. Pretty painless stuff.
The leads or electrodes going to the heart are placed in the catheter lab under fluoroscopy (live imaging) . They will (or should) inform you of all the do’s and don’t , and if they don’t, find someone else. There are few restrictions, but there are some you need to know about. DON’T be afraid to ask questions!!!
Slammer!!!

Good advice from Slammer..
Good on you for asking folks who dealt with them..
I had one..no real problems with it as it never needed to do it's thing..

I have broken me clavicles a few times...

So i knew it was there.. n it was not always..cumphy..

The one I had was about the size of a small deck of cards..

They are probly alot smaller now..

Ask if that is so..
N ..good luck on you new venture.. :0)

Best wishes on this one Sherry.

Best wishes and you will likely feel better after the procedure. It added a number of years to my brother’s life. It’s amazing how long the batteries work. Brad

My sister has one and she went in for her 5 year check up and was told the battery looked good for anothe 10 years. If she makes it that long, she'll be 98!

My best friend's father was one of the first people to have an original pacemaker. She was still a young girl at the time and was famous for saying, "Daddy! Stop making that noise!" And he would say, "I can't." Apparently, the early ones were audible. Anyway, he lived to be 72, which, considering he wasn't expected to make it out of childhood is pretty amazing.

Folks are pretty slack about them nowadays, but you're still in our prayers Sherry!

Be thankful it is 2026. My dad had one installed in 1977. It did buy him several more good years. At that time there was a risk if you got too close to a microwave oven. The batteries required a physical change about every 2 years. Today the batteries are good for many years and I have not heard of anyone running afoul of a microwave oven. Fortunately they do not need to go near the actual heart.

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Originally posted by donc

Be thankful it is 2026. My dad had one installed in 1977. It did buy him several more good years. At that time there was a risk if you got too close to a microwave oven. The batteries required a physical change about every 2 years. Today the batteries are good for many years and I have not heard of anyone running afoul of a microwave oven. Fortunately they do not need to go near the actual heart.

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I've already asked questions about MRIs, microwaves and anything else that might interfere with the pacemaker and am pretty sure I won't have any problems there.