yoga

I am 63 and may be getting a pacemaker.

One of my main concerns involves doing yoga with the thing. I have an active and vigerous practice.

what will be effect of pacemaker? Can the "installation" be varied so it will not interfere when I lie on my stomach? what about "backbends"?

Thanks

5 Comments

Pacemaker and Yoga

by ElectricFrank - 2009-06-13 11:06:15

There shouldn't be any problem, but it will limit you for a while. The problem is that the lead wires from the pacemaker to the heart are fished down a vein and attached to your heart wall. Certain positions like raising your pacemaker side arm above shoulder level and in your case back bends put a pull on the leads. Until they have time to scar into the vein wall for support you could pull a lead loose from the heart wall. The usual recommendation for arm raising runs from 3-8 weeks depending on the cardiologist. The more extreme positions of Yoga will likely require the longer time to be sure.

Another thing you will need to deal with is a thing they call Rate Response. Depending on the reason for the pacemaker this may be turned on or off. If you have AV Block (sometimes called Heart Block) it will be off. For Sick Sinus Syndrome it would be on. Anyway if it is on its purpose is to sense the activity of your body and set the heart rate based on it. It might take some extra adjustment to handle the activity of Yoga.

Finally, expect to take an active role in getting the pacer set correctly. Cardiologists aren't used to handling patients who engage in special activities or even are in good shape. They tend to be too conservative. One of the best things to do is to ask for a copy of the pre and post programming report at implant and each checkup session. Several of us here can be helpful in understanding it and can offer suggestions for getting things right or you.

By the way I am 79 and explore back country in the desert and mountains at altitudes over 13,000ft with my pacer.

good luck,

frank

thanks

by jimjim9798 - 2009-06-14 05:06:36

This is great information. Thanks a lot to everyone. This type of feedback takes some of the apprehension out of this whole thing.

One day your told you have the heart of a 30 year old athlete--and then your told "we'll have to discuss pacemakers"!! Getting old is great--you finally have the time and money to do what you want and then you start to fall apart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks

by jimjim9798 - 2009-06-14 09:06:10

this is very helpful.

I will be doing some more research on this topic and your infor will be very helpful. One of my goals will be to find a cardiologist who is an athlete. I live in Syracuse NY and one of our hospitals has a nationally recognized heart department, so hopefully I ccan find someone who is sympathethic to an older person who is extra active. My own doctor "doesn't get it"--he is one of these "a 30 minute brisk walk" types.

Thanks again.

Jim

placement

by Tracey_E - 2009-06-14 09:06:56

Just let them know when they place it that being active is important to you. Many surgeons put it just under the skin, just under the clavicle out of habit. It will be less obtrusive and probably more comfortable when you stretch if it's a little lower and a little deeper. It's easy to do it this way but a lot of surgeons just don't think about it unless you bring it up. Once you heal, you should be able to do your yoga regardless of where it is, but it may be more comfortable if it's a little deeper than usual.

And ditto what Frank said about settings :o)

lead placement

by papaknight - 2009-06-16 10:06:17

Just make sure your doctor understands that you are active and want to continue to be so. It make have an efffect on where he places the device or teh leads or what type device he uses. Best of luck to you and yours
papaknight

You know you're wired when...

You always have something close to your heart.

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Hi, I am 47 and have had a pacemaker for 7 months and I’m doing great with it.