[Rrae]

OK, I've got a situation here....

My husband went to a seminar/dinner thing, in which he was enticed into purchasing a magnetic mattress. Granted, he did this with a good heart - however, this is something we should have 'discussed' first.
But what is done is done and the mattress will be arriving within a month.

I've read MrsD's thread on magnets (thank you for all that great info!)

Of course we desperately want to believe in something which claims to do wonders for pain (and 30 other conditions including Alzheimer's, Mental conditions, cancer...) And when spoken so colourfully and with such charisma - I guess I can see why he fell under the spell and signed the papers
....but still

He was even told that it posed no problem with my Spinal Cord Stimulator implant!

And of course I'm thinking "well if magnets work so many wonders, then you'd think EVERYbody would have them". I'm desperately trying not to be skeptical... the booklet claims it is the 'silent healer'.

After reading what I've read in the posts, I'm not sure what to think, other than to just TRY it and see.

Input would be greatly appreciated
Rae

[JB63]

Magnets are used to deactivate batteries such as those that power pacemakers. They are also found in some lighting products to turn the power off and on. I would check with your doctor about the stimulator. The magnets may not be powerful enough to affect the stimulator, but why chance it.

[cyclelops]

Bless hubby's heart, but, yes, I agree with JB. Definitely check with your doc.

[Rrae]

Originally Posted by JB63

Magnets are used to deactivate batteries such as those that power pacemakers.

Oh Dear. My heart just sank a bit further....

[aussiemom]

If you can't get out of the purchase, I'd contact your local BBB, and find out how to contact the FDA. They are making health claims that sound illegal. Isn't Mark an attorney?

[Jomar]

I'd definitely find out for sure about the magnets & SCS factor, if they misled dh, that would be a easy way to get out of the sale contract.

I'm not sure if you can find reputable specific info online, maybe a call to some of the SCS manufacturers & also other magnet mattress manufactures with that question would be the way to go.

[Mark56]

Gotta hand it to some out there who make claims and then "try" to intimidate or frighten consumers into holding onto something that just is not RIGHT for them, even when disclosure is made to the seller. We who engage in such business have been variously characterized as snake oil sales people, hucksters, shell gamers, and the like. Every district attorney's office of which I am aware has a division dedicated to protecting the consuming public against fraud, and if in a particular state or territory the district attorney is not the proper venue for complaint, then the office of the state or territory attorney general nearly always has such a staff as well.

So then, we get to the nub of the matter, the fact that disclosure was made by your spouse to the sales rep regarding your spinal cord stimulation implant. Do, by ALL MEANS DO, remember each of us so blessed with a component of the Borg Collective [to borrow a sci fi hit reference] carries at the very least a CARD for our wallet or purse which declares in no uncertain terms we are forbidden to submit to MRI. I finally even obtained a bracelet to declare to the world NO MRI and on the reverse side CARD IN WALLET. Why did I do this? Why bother? Oh, well, it has something only slightly to do with magnetism. You see, Magnetic Resonance Imaging is of such strength as to literally rip the blessed little devices out of those sensitive places such as the spinal cord space in the vertebral column while also removing the very computer and battery upon which our pain management program depends...... magnetism. MAGNETISM.

So, I would tend to side with the group developing here recommending a sound doctor's, YOUR Doctor's, opinion whether magnetic devices, coverlets, blankets, mattresses, acupressure pads, or any other such item be allowed near you. Truly, we live on a world, in a solar system, within a galaxy all of which is influenced the slightest little bit by magnetism, orbital mechanics and the like. We may use an electric mixer on the kitchen cabinet, which mixer is in itself an electromagneto drive controlled by the amount of current applied. BUT, the question becomes do we want to apply those forces directly to our bodies contrary to the instructions of our cards. Is there a sliding scale or a continuum at work here which allows some magnetism but not a lot. Doctors and company reps may opine well on this. As for me, I will not apply a magnetic disc drive eraser to my backside just to see whether it harms my SCS works or not..... nope, not gonna go there. Will I sleep on a mattress which is magnetized..... I think not. Am I a wuss? Well, I dare anyone to step up to my face and utter those words...... Nuff said? Probably way too much.

Next paragraph- In most states and in federal circles there are laws which require for the sake of consumer protection a [pardon the pun] "sleep on it" clause which allows the consumer a period of time to back out of a significant financial transaction. Think of the last time you took out a loan secured by a mortgage or the last time you bought a car. There may well be language to such effect buried deeply in the whole of the document or documents your well meaning and absolutely well intentioned husband may have signed. If so, the language may allow a walk away very easily.... that is, if it has not been too long since the dotted line was signed. If this is the case, re-read the first paragraph. Agressive sales reps informed of your condition who render medical opinions make very good material for a consumer protection agency program....... get the idea?

As for me, I am still trying to figure out... which way is North? A compass, a compass, dare I ever hold a compass?

Mark56

P.S. While JB63 makes a wonderful contribution pertinent to the use of magnetism to deactivate pacemakers and such, I do remember magnets have been used in business many a time to ERASE a computer drive, reorganizing all of the data lines in a manner such as reformatting. One must wonder whether such magnet proximity although of low power over time might detrimentally affect the computer component of the SCS device in the hip or wherever the pocket for the unit may be located.

[Rrae]

Very well said, Mark! (and everyone else who contributed)

I called my doctor's office on this and they never even HEARD of a magnetic mattress!
So, as been said, a magnet is a magnet, and any variation of such is TABOO for anyone who has an SCS, pacemaker, etc., so case closed.

And, you guessed it, the 'sleep on it' clause (or 'cool down period', as another friend put it) was a whopping 72 hours, of which has elapsed already, so to pursue this any further I spose would require a law-suit of sorts. I'm sure the legal fees would overshadow that of the cost of this purchase (of which I am too embarrassed to disclose )

So, the next step will be to decide if DH can keep his mattress and I sleep elsewhere....or else take the chance of sounding unappreciative of his gesture.
This, I reckon, is more of a "Dear Abby" issue

I'm certainly open for any further suggestions.
Meantime, I'm gonna go stick my head in the sand

[JB63]

Originally Posted by Rrae

Very well said, Mark! (and everyone else who contributed)


And, you guessed it, the 'sleep on it' clause (or 'cool down period', as another friend put it) was a whopping 72 hours, of which has elapsed already, so to pursue this any further I spose would require a law-suit of sorts. I'm sure the legal fees would overshadow that of the cost of this purchase (of which I am too embarrassed to disclose )

We have all been there...you should first contact the company, if no results write the BBB and some other consumer reporting agencies in your area and where their main office is located. The sales guy's nameshould be on the contract. This sounds like one of those pushy seminars and they do not need negative feedback floating around. I am no lawyer, but I think in court it would be a he said-you said situation, you having to prove what you asked about a specific conditon. Publication of their business practices is more effective even though they are given a chance to respond and less then a legit business may get nasty. Better Business Bureau has worked wonderfully for me.

[mrsD]

I just returned from vacation.

Some comments....

Some mattresses don't have very strong versions of the magnets in them. Basically one only needs one or 2 very strong magnets to get pain relief...not a whole mattress.

But also a warning:
People with implanted electronic devices cannot safely use magnets. That is the bottom line.