Wanna work out again

Hi there,
I am a 48 year old female who had a pacemaker put in 2 years ago. I am starting to work out again after 13 years, and want to start running again. I just wanted to ask anyone if they know if it's safe to start exercising again and running with a pacemaker. I know walking is ok but I want to start a long distance running program like I used to do, so it's a pretty intense type of workout. I was wondering what any of your experiences have been with exercise. I have a pacemaker due to 3rd degree heartblock caused by an ablation procedure that damaged the nerve in my heart. Love to hear your input. Thanks!
Sue

5 Comments

Why not?

by Edouard - 2011-03-28 10:03:00

Hi Sue
I'm a 59 year-old male who got his PM in May 2010 after passing out one time too many due to type II AV block. I swim regularly at Masters level and have been participating in a number of swimming competitions. I was "beached" for a six week period following my surgery. Before the procedure, I made sure to tell everyone: the emergency room personnel, EP, the floor supervisor, the nurse, the cleaning staff, the lab rats, etc. that I was a swimmer and wanted to continue my activities afterwards. Everyone was OK with it except for my surgeon, a young kid just out of kindergarten, whom I met 15 minutes before she was to cut into me, who told me that "in life, difficult choices must be made". Only after I had "lost it" did she check with her supervisor and come back to tell me that she would proceed with a cephalic vein insertion rather than the usual sub-clavian entry.
I am now back in the water and expect to contribute to our team's third consecutive provincial championship in April.
As Kirs said, start off gradually, but unless your doctor tells you otherwise, don't lat a little thing like a pacemaker get in the way of your training routine.
Regards
Edouard

Start off slow

by KIRWEN1004 - 2011-03-28 10:03:22

From what I have been told starting off slow is the best way to go and work your way up. My doctor told me a story of a pacemaker patient who was able to run a marathon not that long after his surgery.

The only thing I have been told is that they may need to adjust the pacemaker settings depending on what they are currently on to make sure the high end of the pacemaker is set high enough.

Completely off topic:

I was told the odds of complication during a ablation were 1-2% - seems to me a lot more folks have the same story as me where they wind up with a pacemaker due to damage during the ablation. I seriously am doubting the 1-2% statistic I was given by multiple doctors.

Good Luck with your work out program! I am sure you will do great.

Kirs

I'm running again after 6 months

by jdfugatini - 2011-03-29 06:03:13

I agree with others. Running is good. Start slow and observe how you feel. My routine is 1 hour variable pace to achieve 5 miles on the treadmill. Include some setups and pushups.

Happy trails!

exercise

by sleepygirl - 2011-03-30 05:03:59

I am 42 have had a ICD for two years. Check with your doc on your settings make sure they are set for the increased heart rate for your age. Start slow slower than you would normally. I started back with 5 to 10 minutes a day now I am back to lifting weights and circuit training daily. I had to have adjustments for my device and the increased rates. Good luck with your exercise.

Start Slow

by hjfarr - 2011-04-01 12:04:30

I am a 68yo triathlete who received a PM in mid January. By mid March I was back to 8 mile runs, 1+ mile swims& 3 hour bike rides. My electro-cardiologist knew my routine and adjusted my unit accordingly. Discuss you plans with your doc, start slow, listen to you body, and build in 1 or 2 days of rest a week.

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