My new pacemaker was implanted about 3 weks ago. This is my second one implanted to upgrade to a biventricular ICD. Is it safe after 3 weeks to start walking the treadmill I was told could start swing a golf club after 4 weeks and start playing hockey again after about 12 weeks.

Anxous to start getting back into shape a little. Any advice?
Jim

 

I don't understand what my pacemaker does. Yesterday during my stress echocardiogram the pacemaker was pacing during it and I was told that that makes the results difficult to interpret because they make the heart look like it is working harder and that there could be a blockage. I thought my pacemaker should only pace if my heart goes below or above a certain rate, not while I am exerting myself in general?

 

Hello!

I had tons of complications with my first pacemaker 12/11, heart infection etc. I had new pacer implanted in my abdomen 5/12. Complications there also, fluid around heart and in lungs, needed a pericardial window procedure. I am now in cardiac rehab working out at 90% of my target heart rate. So grateful to get to his point. I was an exercise addict before my pacer was implanted. Doing 45 minutes cardio and 15 minutes strength training 3 times a week. I walk 2 miles 4 times a week. I did lots of obstacle racing before the pacer, don't want to take the risk of dislodging the screw that is in my heart so I will be skipping those. I really never imagined I would be exercising like this again. I feel strong and healthy! As on...

 

I would like to know tricep weight training for my jiggle arms. I always do tricep extension (leaning over one), but its not working. What ones do you recommend for a women ?

 

In November 2011 I achieved a dream. I finished Ironman Arizona A 2.4 miles swim, 112 mile bike, followed by a marathon 26.2 miles in under 17 hours

I am 52 years old and my. Pacemaker was implanted in 2003 and replaced in 2009.

It took me over 3 years to get in good enough shape to do this but my doctor agreed my heart was healthy aside from the bradychardia.

All the best to all of you. Anything is possible.

Greg

 

Those of you who regularly wear a backpack: please recommend a product or strategy to help me deal with the pressure of the backpack strap against my pacemaker site.
Thank you for your suggestions!

 

I've had a PM for 2 years..Dr tried to put leads thru vein of left side, but couldn't, so had to implant on right side..I'm a right handed shooter..I waited 2 months..started shooting 22 rifle..no problems..waited another month and started shooting my AR15 (.223) and my SKS (7.62X39)..still no problems..waited 3 more months..started shooting 12 gauge with pistol grip..shooting from waist..no problems..but shooting pistol grip shotguns is awkward..so got a Kicklite shoulder stock for the shotgun..no problems..I hold the shotgun butt a little further into the arm than the shoulder, however...I don't and wouldn't shoot high powered rifle calibers..I don't hunt...just a lot of target shooting..I get a PM checkup every 6 months..no problems..

 

Hello, I'm 16 years old, and have had an epicardial pacemaker for about 2 years now. Something went wrong with my leads (long time ago) so they had to increase the voltage etc, meaning the battery life shortened to 3-4 years, but it stabilised and got lower (not normal pacemaker values though). Now my biggest issue is with exercise!! I'm really not sure what I can and can't do! My doctors told me that i shouldn't work on my abdominal muscles because thats where the pacemaker is located, but i want to do push ups and im not sure weather I should or not? Also I'm going to start box training (punching drills, pad training, skipping rope, NO physical contact obviously, i will not get punched, and its not hardcore training), i need some advice ...

 

Sorry to rake up, what seems to be a really old topic. I have been looking at old postings from sports people with concerns about performance drop off after getting a PM.

I have not come across any responces that indicate that there are those who HAVE got back to pre-PM levels.

Could we have a collective review on this topic, its about time that a kind of comprehensive understanding is established.

Tattoo Man

 

Had my pacemaker tuned up in October, so now I'm full-time paced. Decided to upgrade my weightlifting, with DR approval, and that was going great, felt wonderful, but had a weird thing happen recently that I would love to get some advice on.

After a lifting session, I noticed what looked like a spray of blood under my skin on my back near my shoulder. Most likely, I blew a surface vein. The weight I was lifting wasn't extreme, only 50#, but I did lift to muscle failure.

I've been feeling a little woosy and tired since, with a little bit of chest burn, but my heart has been pacing normally. Has anyone had any experience with vein damage and is this something I should be worried about?

Appreciate your direc...

 

I had my PM inserted 4 months ago, and I am trying to learn as much as I can about what is happening with the device and my body during exercise (so please forgive my simplicity in describing my case) My PM was placed under an emergency situation, so I never had a chance to research what kind of device I should have. The cardiologist did know I was an athlete so hopefully a suitable one was chosen.( I have a St Jude duo lead) I was in sinus arrest (with 8 second lapses), and was also told it was a heart block. I have been back several times to be tweaked, but I still don't feel like things are where they should be. The RR is on, and set rather aggressively, and initially I felt that was necessary for cycling since there is no arm ac...

 

I am training for the Stafford Half Marathon on 17th March 2013

by going on a 12mile run every Sunday,Wednesday and Friday.
with another 3 weekly sessions round the local running track
every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 x 1mile laps plus
a mile and half jog each way to get to the park.

Not bad for a 81 year old with a pacemaker fitted November 2012.

to see more details have a look at my website
www./justgiving.com/gordon-woodlands

 

Three weeks and five days post my PM installation today and this morning completed my regular mountain bike ride....2 hours and five mins in the saddle on a fairly hilly off road course. Deliberately took it easy and was surprised to be only about 8 mins off my normal pace. Averaged 116 bpm with a top out at 152 bpm on a heavy climb. Wearing a Garmin 810 hrm to keep an eye on things but all good. This is my 4th ride since the operation and the first I didn't really think about my condition. Plan to steadily build back to my normal 5-6 rides a week (yes I'm 61 and retired) of around 2+hours a time. I ride both MTB and road bike to give myself some variety and to take advantage of the terrain around the area I live in the hills surrounding ...

 

Hey guys....recently had a pacemaker installed Dec 12. I have been a lifelong competative athlete in collegiate track and cross country and now a 50 year old Cat 3 road cyclist. I was diagnosed with LBBB when I was 32 yrs old. This was Initially rate dependent (LBBB occurred at 120 bpm), but slowly converted over the next two years to full time. I definitely had a decrease in performance but adjusted to this lower performance over several years. The condition stayed the same until about two years ago when I began having more fatigue and myriad of other symptoms. Had a loop recorder implanted (don't mess with the holter monitor stuff) and looked at data for 6 mos. Type 2 and 3 Wenkebach blocks were indicated, at times reducing my HR ...

 

Is anyone willing to give some information on the positives / negatives of running with a pacemaker / defibrillator? I am a student at Georgia Institute of Technology going for a biomedical engineering degree and I am looking for an athlete with a pacemaker that is willing to maybe share some personal stories of their experiences. I would greatly appreciate any help :)

 

I was coughing for 1 month (bad virus). I felt alittle better so decided to workout doing standing abs with weights and aerobics raising arms. Well went to doc for ribs hurting. Determine to have intercoastal muscle strain. Does anyone know how long it takes or any experiences ? I just started to feel great about working out !

 

I get short wind when I walk up a hill is this normal?

 

Dear Grateful Heart,

I sure hope my rash doesn't last that long. As far as the hip replacements go, I had a wonderful doctor who explained everything and of course you have to go to a joint class beforehand. They let you hold the appliance, at least our teacher did. Not necessary but interesting.

The surgery wasn't long and the whole thing was just not that bad at all. Very little pain and after the first week or so you can take Tylenol for any pain. They usually get you up and walking the same day with a walker. Exercises can be done at home by you. I did them religiously every single day. Went from the walker to the cane in about 2-3 weeks more or less. And the doctor said use the cane like a third leg, it ...

 

I am 48 and I had my first PM installed in May 2006 and a new dual chamber PM installed when I broke my first lead in 2009. Now I need lead extraction surgery because my atrial lead is broken. I am quite worried because they will be removing 2 leads this time (last time they left a broken lead in place) and I understand that this can be quite risky. Any advice that anyone has about this kind of surgery is greatly appreciated. I also wondered if anyone has advice about practicing yoga with a pacemaker. I really love doing it every day and because I seem to be breaking a lot of leads, I wonder if I should stop. Exercising is super important to me and nothing quite gives me the same satisfaction for strength and flexibility. I already stopped...

 

Does anyone have a feeling of fatigue legs in the afternoon but good in the morning?