Hiking and Biking

I got my pm 6/12 and am slowly getting back to normal . . . if it will ever be normal again. I am an avid hiker and biker and have a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge planned for July 19. What do any of you who have experienced this say as to the possibility of this happening for me?

3 Comments

might be pushing it a bit

by Tracey_E - 2009-06-24 07:06:58

It will be normal again!!! You didn't mention why you got the pm but if you don't have other health problems most can start back to moderate exercise by the end of the first month. You'll need your doctor's approval before you start working up a good sweat and giving your pm a workout. You need to watch your left arm for the first 6 weeks, keep it below shoulder level and not lift with it, to be sure to give the leads time to grow into place. I assume you'll be on a road bike rather than a mountain bike where you're more upright, that might need to wait the full 6 weeks.

Long term, there's no reason at all to think you won't be back to biking and hiking as far as you want! You may find that you have more energy and stamina than you did before, I know I did.

Thanks so much

by masoncecilia@att.net - 2009-06-24 08:06:01

Thanks for the comment and encouragement. I haven't even had my first doctor's appointment yet, so I have lots of questions already written down for him. I was afraid that I might have to pass on the ride across the GG, but maybe I can get the group to postpone the ride until August. And yes, I will be on my road bike with more upright handlebars!
I went into the hospital with diverticulitis and came out with a pacemaker . . . right place at the right time! They have never said there was anything wrong with my heart, just atrial fib occassionally (episodes years apart) following passing out. It happened in the hospital three times and the doctors said the pm would never let it happen again. Go figure. I am pretty physically fit and I was hiking or biking regularly before this happened!
How about you?

bikes

by Tracey_E - 2009-06-24 09:06:55

Ask the doctor, he might let you do it on a mountain bike. Just riding will be fine, if you had to suddenly steer around an obstacle you might do some damage. August might be a better choice! You'll have more energy back by then and you won't have to worry about being extra careful.

A pm can't help afib. It can speed up a slow heart or regulate an irregular one but it can't stop your heart from going fast. Sometimes after an episode of afib the heart goes too slow, which causes passing out which the pm can prevent because it won't let your heart get below a set rate, usually around 60.

Definitely make a list of questions! And ask for a copy of the report. A few of the guys here can interpret all the gibberish on it.

I was born with a complete av block, so I never had the energy to be fit before I got my pm. I got my first one at 27, I'm 42 now and on my 3rd replacement, and haven't slowed down since! I love to bike and hike and rollerblade. The first winter I had my pm, I learned to ski. Life is good! Having a pm is really just a minor inconvenience once you heal and get used to the idea. It's a small price to pay for the freedom and active lifestyle it gives me. If you have any questions about living with it, please ask away. We've all been there!

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