Would like to see...

I would like to see all of us(EVERYONE) post on this section-Exercise&Sports. No matter what you do or want to do POST it! Even if just walking a few feet. Don't be shy!

Gary

16 Comments

elliptical

by Tracey_E - 2010-03-10 02:03:06

My newest pm and lead are 6 weeks old this week so no more restrictions!! I am up to 30 minutes on the elliptical again as of yesterday, three times a week. Feels so good!!!!!!

I'm going to wait another week or two before adding back in weights and walking the dogs our usual 2 mile loop on non-gym days. My pm is buried deep and while they were digging around to put the new lead in they also cleaned up some scar tissue, so I'm still a little sore. And I don't trust my shepherd; he's a perfect angel on the leash until he sees a bunny or squirrel, then it's all I can do to hold the leash and not dislocate a shoulder LOL. Not quite ready for that just yet but will be soon!

Cardiac Rehab

by karenp - 2010-03-10 03:03:25

I recently spent 6 days in the hospital with ischemic colitis. It was determined that my heart function, or lack thereof, caused this by not pumping enough blood to that part of my colon. So, I am now in cardiac rehab to try to get my heart stronger. I am up to 25 minutes of activity so far, working towards an hour of walking, biking and arm movements. I will also be incorporating light weights in a week or so. I am hopeful that I will feel more energetic after completing this.....

Love my Spin Class

by shroutosaur - 2010-03-10 04:03:02

I've always loved to cycle, even commuting to work when the weather is better. I finally tried spinning during the winter to keep up my strength and endurance. It is the greatest! I keep up with the younger crowd, and get my pulse up to 156. I'm 52 and on my second pacer for brachycardia. I'm 100% dependent, but I am not holding back. My doctor said keep it up, and I've added pushups to my routine. I'm up to 50, trying for 100. My advice - don't sit, don't worry about it, and live life.

Working out is fun!!!!!!

by COBradyBunch - 2010-03-10 07:03:11

Sure it sucks at first, but once you get into a rhythm working out is great be it walking, running, swimming, exercise machines, aerobics, weight training, yoga, spin classes, walking your dog or anything else that gets your HR up. I am 50 and have taught aerobics, spin classes and coached basketball and I will tell you instructors take a lot of pride in what you do too. Now that I am pacer enabled I still say I am not going to let that little bionic part of me rule my life.

GET OUT THERE AND SWEAT PEOPLE (or at least breath a little harder).

After a month and a half

by Toolooze - 2010-03-10 08:03:08

I have a defibrillator/pacemaker as a precaution. I also suffer from congestive heart failure with a low ejection fraction. I have started walking (again) half mile per day; I was walking 2 miles per day after mitral valve surgery. I can hardly wait to get on my bike again!

Still Walking

by ejones10 - 2010-03-10 08:03:52

I walk 2-3 miles a day 5-6 days a week. I am 62 and PM was implanted on 12/22/09 for brachycardia. Really look forward to my daily walks!

running

by Brantfordmuscle - 2010-03-10 09:03:17

Hi there,
I'm a runner. I had to stop a while just before getting the pacemaker. The surgeon asked me during the procedure when I was going to run again and I told him ASAP. I ran a week after. My pacer did kick me once when I hit my maximum HR though. That was only because I hadn't run for about 6 weeks.
Since that time I have run with a group in the mornings and also have instructed a couple running clinics. Running keeps you fit and is a great stress reliever. I had my pacer implanted in July/09. I ran the Army Run in Ottawa Ont. in Sept./09. While it wasn't my best time, I felt a real sense of accomplishment. Winter hit us in Canada and there weren't really any races until this past weekend where I did a 1/2 marathon. On Mar. 28th I'm doing the oldest road race in North America.. the Around the Bay Race in Hamilton Ontario. It's 30k! I've also signed up for a full marathon in May this year. I'm not trying to brag. I'm telling everyone this because some probably need to realize that we can still do it!
Stay fit!!
I've never run more than 25k before. The 30k race isn't a worry. The full marathon at 42k is a bit of a concern. Not because of my pacer..because it's a long run for anyone. I know with the training runs (every weekend my runs get longer and longer until just before the race) I can do it.
Good luck to you all.

run/weights/walk

by cfritza - 2010-03-10 09:03:36

I run some days walk on days I work (too tired to run ) and work out with weights 3 times weekly. I dont think I could survive without some sort of exercise it's my sanity :-) Carol

Walking more each day

by heartu - 2010-03-10 09:03:58

I have always been into exercising and remember joining my first exercise club (Elaine Powers?) back in 1979 when it cost about $20 for a lifetime membership.. I am by no means a die hard athlete, but I have always felt better when I do something physical.

Three weeks ago even when I had my 2 episodes of heart block I did an hour long Pilates class and walked 1 hour on the treadmill and felt great afterwards. Maybe because of all my physical activity I really never felt when my hr was low, only when it dipped into the 30s.

Yesterday, I took 3 walks which probably amounted to 1 mile. I can't wait until I can take my dog for her 3 x 1 mile walks a day. Later today I hope to get on the treadmill and walk a bit (no hills yet).

I will be leaving for my first post pm implant appointment in a few minutes. I'll let everyone know how it goes.

To everyone...Keep on Walking!

Back to walking

by Lshyers - 2010-03-10 10:03:40

I had my PM implanted nearly 5 years ago. I used to walk at least 4-5 miles per day prior to needing the PM. Obviously, I got used to not exercising after the PM and eventually started having high heart rate problems while exerting above normal (cutting the grass, etc.) activity that alarmed my MD. He ran all the normal stress tests and etc. and came to the conclusion - you are just out of condition.

He suggested that I start back exercising and build up my distance. I am now up to 3+ miles 3-5 days per week at a moderate pace (3.4 mph). The heart rate is back to normal - lost at least 10 lbs, and feel better than I have for a long time.

A PM is no excuse for getting out of shape or condition.

Running

by Drin6969 - 2010-03-10 11:03:57

I run 4-7 times a week. My current running schedule is 3-4 miles a night during the week and back to back 6 mile runs on the weekend. I am working on increasing my mileage again, my running slacked off a bit due to my work schedule over the past two months. I got my pacemaker in September of 09 and was back to running within a week of pacemaker being implanted. (with my Dr.'s permission of course!). I was the world's greatest couch potatoe at one time, so if I can do it, anyone can!
Keep on pacing!
-Stephanie

exercise pulse rate

by tef - 2010-03-11 01:03:37

PM installed feb 209 and all seems well,but when I use ellipitcal or tread mill Pulse rate immeadiately reads 120-130 which is obviously in error .next DR appointtment in june???????

tef

Walking, Biking, Bball, etc.

by kmcgrath - 2010-03-11 02:03:35

Medtronics ICD implanted in April of '07 when I was 56. Try and do some cardio every other day as in walking for at least an hour with some light jogging thrown in on occasion. I bike over to the basketball courts at least once a week and go through a 35 mins session of layups & dribbling. I have to make a trey before I can leave the court. I recently started playing golf but it's mostly on the range & par 3 courses for the present time until I can develop a fairly consistent swing for big course use. I also do some light calisthenics, push ups & situps, with some back exercises thrown in, esp. on the days when I don't do an cardio stuff. I also would swim a bit at the beach club I used to belong to during its season, Memorial Day - Labor day, and I hope to do the same down here at the pool at the clubhouse in our new development in Myrtle Beach.

Max Heart Rate

by ralphlake - 2010-03-15 01:03:14

62 with pacemaker since 2005. Male. Before I got my pacemaker I was quite active--though only for about 7 years previous to its installation--I waited too long perhaps to get in shape. After the pacemaker was installed, I worked out less, though more from other distractions. In the last year I've been working out more--usually 3 runs (treadmill only) of 30 mins a week. I can feel myself getting back into pre pacemaker shape which is very gratifying. However, my heart rate in the last 10 minutes of my run often gets into 150-170 beats per minute. My cardio wants to see me about a higher rate than normal (I suspect it's my workouts). My resting heart rate is low sixties sometimes high fifties. What do people here think about running in the 90-100% range of heart rate max. I feel good--and prior to the device (for which I'm grateful) I often ran in that range--though probably not for more than 15 minutes at a time. I worry the cardio will advise me to slow down.

Ralph

Max Heart Rate

by ralphlake - 2010-03-15 01:03:17

62 with pacemaker since 2005. Male. Before I got my pacemaker I was quite active--though only for about 7 years previous to its installation--I waited too long perhaps to get in shape. After the pacemaker was installed, I worked out less, though more from other distractions. In the last year I've been working out more--usually 3 runs (treadmill only) of 30 mins a week. I can feel myself getting back into pre pacemaker shape which is very gratifying. However, my heart rate in the last 10 minutes of my run often gets into 150-170 beats per minute. My cardio wants to see me about a higher rate than normal (I suspect it's my workouts). My resting heart rate is low sixties sometimes high fifties. What do people here think about running in the 90-100% range of heart rate max. I feel good--and prior to the device (for which I'm grateful) I often ran in that range--though probably not for more than 15 minutes at a time. I worry the cardio will advise me to slow down.

Ralph

ralphlake - Max Heart Rate

by COBradyBunch - 2010-03-23 10:03:11

At 62 your TMHR would be about 158 (220-age)=TMHR

Now first of all this is just a theoretical max, people vary depending upon a ton of factors. About 3-4 years before I had my pacemaker implanted I often hit 110-120% of my TMHR for short bursts mt biking or cycling up steep but short hills, doing certain interval workouts and such. I can normally now, even in a state where I consider myself out of shape, keep my HR at 90-95% for up to an hour although I pay for it afterward and usually only do it when I know I can do a recovery day afterward (workout in the 75-80% zone at most). But I have cleared this with my doc and he says as long as I don't show any other issues such as chest pain or other problems that I can go for working out as hard as I want. I have no other underlying heart disease except for my brady/SSS/syncope stuff for which the pacer was installed and I only have issues at the low end, high end is good per stress and other tests.

I guess the thing is talk to your doc. Make sure you tell him your history and if you are not having issues with these workouts tell him that also.

Make sure you are of course taking care of yourself in other ways as well during these workouts, drinking plenty of water/fluids, proper nutrition and giving your body time to rest and recover. One issue I did have after implant was after a couple of months of working out I found myself unable to get my HR up. Doc was wondering why that was a problem since he thought it was only a sign of being more fit but I know better. Turned out I had been over training and had gotten to the point where my resting heart rate was elevated and I just couldn't get my workout HR up to normal levels. A week or two of light workouts and slight changes to my workout routines resolved that and now I am back to normal.

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