Two weeks ago, 6-7-10, I had a rate responsive Medtronic PM implanted for bradycardia. My dr appointment is not for another 3.5 weeks, although I have a pacemaker clinic appointment Friday. I have any number of questions. I am a chronic runner and do a number of other exercise things such as lifting. I am curious as to how quickly people hae returned to running and lifting after the PM was planted. I have beenwalking several miles a day and feel ready to run now. Any advice?
I also noticed references to pacemakers interfering with heartrate monitors. Is that true? When I walked my heartrate monitor seemed accurate.
Any help would be apprecicated.

 

 

I started doing things 3 days after surgery... WAY TOO SOON... probably delayed my recovery as I developed a lot of pain around my implant that radiated down my arm and up the left side of my neck. Took some heavy duty antibiotics to knock it down even though I showed no outward sign of infection.

I would talk to your doc and take is slow. So many people here were told by their docs that they would be their old self really quick and almost everyone seemed to indicate it took longer to recover, both physically and mentally from the surgery. Your doc will give you a time table but I would take it with a grain of also. Lifting is a whole other matter than cardio also since they are worried about you lifting much with your left arm and pulling out your leads.

As for HRM, I use both a Garmin and a Polar and haven't had issues with either, but I also pace very little. I think the more you are paced the more likely it is you might not get accurate readings but that is only my guess on the whole thing.

 

Ask your dr because they all vary, but the average amount of time to take it easy is 6 weeks. We can be active in that time but no lifting on the side of the pm and no raising the arm higher than shoulder level. We need to give the leads time to settle into place.

I've had 4 replacements now and never been told I couldn't be active as soon as I felt up to it. So, I usually take it easy for a week and just walk, then I feel better so bump it up and do a little more... and then it hurts like heck because I over did it! You know your body best. I've found that anything with impact jars the pm too much the first few weeks. I might feel ok while I'm doing it, but I will be sore later from the jostling.

I pace 100% of the time and have never found a hrm that works for me. Either the pm spikes get picked up as extra beats and it thinks my hr is off the charts, or it interferes and I get no reading. Some members have been able to use them without problems. I'd suggest trying it out in the store before taking it home.

Just an fyi... those of us who are active usually find it takes a few tries to get the settings tweaked just right. If you get back to running and don't feel right, get back to the pacer clinic. Adjustments are quick and easy, but it can be a bit of trial and error.

 

I am 4 months post pm implant for 3rd degree heartblock. Keep walking, but talk to your doctor first before you attempt running again. First, not sure if the bouncing during running is ok and secondly the upper tracking rate of the pm is initially (usually) set too low so if you are used you getting your heart rate way up there you may experience problems doing so (you won't feel too good afterwards). Again ask the doctor about lifting weights. You don't want to dislodge your leads and go in for additional surgery.

I use a Polar heartrate monitor and have not had any problems with it (however, I am a walker, not a runner, but do hills)

 

I got my PM for bradycardia 25/06/2010 from Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal. I'm a Masters Swimmer and have participated in several competitions over the last 18 months. I'm itching to get back in the water. At the Heart Institute, they told me to avoid swimming for at least 6 weeks. I've still got 2 to go. They're particularly worried that the repetitive arm motion may displace my leads. I've started going back to the gym to do some cardio work and limited workouts. I am avoiding arm exercises that require strenuous workouts over the shoulder and the lifting of excessive weight. I found today that trying to do arm curls with 20 lbs stressed "PacMan" (my PM). No problem with the unit's function, but clear discomfort at shoulder level.
I have also read on this forum that premature exercise had caused some people's PM to drop in the shoulder area.
In all, you should be careful. If you have easy access to your doctor, check with him / her.
Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.
Édouard

 

Yep, the folks above have given good advice: take it slow and easy, wait longer than you want to, start back slowly . . . all the stuff you don't want to hear, but should listen!!! I'm a runner too -- 30+ years (age 53 now). I got my PM 3+ years ago and was told it was OK to walk, as far as I wanted, beginning 2 days post op, but don't swing my arms. I walked 2-4 miles daily almost immediately, but waited the full 6 weeks recommended by my doc to start running. I did recumbent bicycle and elliptical (no arms) until then. I began running at 6 weeks, slowly and shorter distances. Now I run as easily and frequently and as far as I did before the PM, though I've had a couple hiccups that caused me to seek further adjustments to my PM during the last 3 years.
I use a Timex heart rate monitor and it seems to work just fine. I've not noticed any problems with it. In fact, it "diagnosed" the fact I developed exercise-induced 1st degree heart block 3 years after I got my PM, confirmed by the EPs office. They reprogrammed my PM and I have no further problems with that.
I well recall how anxious I was to begin exercising as I did before the PM. But this PM is with you now for the rest of your life, and adjusting to it is a good thing. Waiting another week or two or three, while very difficult emotionally, is a small thing compared to the possibility of taking risks that you might dislodge a lead and need another round of surgery and starting over.
Hang in there, and you will be surprised how quickly you can get back to normal activities after the 6-week post op period of keeping your arm below shoulder level is over. It's worth the wait.
Now I do whatever I want -- run, climb mountains, ski, kayak, swim, lift weights, ride a bike, anything!
Best of luck for a smooth recovery!
Take care,
CathrynB