I read a few of the other posts about riding a bike after the ICD was put in (Still confused). I have a Medtronic Pace/defibrillator and I would like to hear from some of you and your experiences with riding after the ICD. I had it placed 12-30-09 and will still be awhile before I can ride. Losing my bike would be like cutting of my right arm. Any advice or experiences would be helpful. Thanks, Richard

 

 

in my opinion you can still ride your Harley when you're all healed up and Doctor gives you clearance.

The only issue is timing of when. In other words don't ride before your doctor gives you clearance on using the arm on the side of the pacer. It's usually 6 weeks. That's what I was given 6 weeks.

For us bikers it's very important to wait the full 6 weeks, when you ride you don't want to stretch your arm as your turning your bike....that's the reach I would be concerned about. And that's why I suggest waiting 6 weeks. You don't want to dislodge the leads in your heart.

Now if you tell your doctor that you ride a cycle and want to continue...one of two things will happen, he/she will say have fun and be careful or....like mine who said when asked, oh you're one of those organ doners, and I don't want you to mess up my work. Excuse me????? LOL....it's my heart and you think I want to mess it up? So I ignored her warning and have been riding ever since with no problems. And PS I changed cardiologists. (-:

Take care and keep shiny side up!

Sue (Magster)

 

Say your pm is on the left side so you don't want to stretch the left arm way, way out? Just make left turns only but carefully mapping out your route via Google Maps.
Or maybe have the handlebars repositioned?
I got on my roadbike (bicycle type thing) within about 3 weeks, then really didn't say much at my first checkup and then mentioned that I was riding later on. I now ride 150 to 200 miles a week to which my doc comments that "now I don't want to read about your death in the obits having been hit by a car". My reply: If I go I want it to be on my terms and doing what I like to do, not sitting around in an old-age home just waiting. I am 59 (so far) and doing just fine, thank you!!!
Just my 2 cents worth of course
Gary

 

In the upper right hand corner click on the search button and search on motorcycle, Harley. There are a lot of comments of riding.

Later,
Charlie

 

I have a 2002 ultra groundpounder chopper all chrome and custom paint mags and all, since heart attack 3 strokes 16 months of seizure/blackouts, now 4 new stints and a pacemaker defib in last 90 days I have only cranked it 2 times in 2 years of this medical mess that started with a kidney stone operation but I can't wait to ride again .went to Harley Rally Myrtle Beach SC 5 years running what a blast, my 11 year old daughter has riden since she was old enough to hold on sitting in front of me, she did all Rallies at Myrtle Beach, picked her up at school graduation from 6th grade last time I rode it, can't get the energy. Two grandsons now and they want to ride got to get better soon summer is coming. Live to ride ride to live, never really knew what that meant till now.

 

I am new to the ICD world and it is nice to know that there are many Bikers out there like me in the same situation. Thanks again, Rich

 

Ive road bikes harleys and about everything else since I was about 8 honda 50 my first bike. After my surgery in Aug 08 all I could think about was getting back on my bike, I had emergency bypass and pm/defib put in a month later, after a long time of thinking, did ride it twice, I kept thinking if my defib went off while tooling down the highway, no helmet (my choice), if my defib went off whilest going 55, I rode for the enjoyment not the speed, I could be worse off than I am right now. I also worry while driving my truck also, so I dont drive as much as I used to buttt, end of story in May I decieded to put her up for sell and about two weeks later I cried as she was going down the road on the back of another guys trailer he better be good to my her, Ill admit it lol. What Im saying is its your own personal choice brother only you can make that decsion, I still dream about my bike and it chokes me up. But that was my decsion. What ever you decide keep the rubber to the road my friend.......

dave