Paced out

Hi everyone! I have read so many posts here and wanted to get involved in some way as well as get some advice if anybody would be kind enough to do so. A bit about me, I'm 28 years old and about 2 years ago suffered from a TIA caused by myocarditis, ECG showed I had LBBB and 1st degree AV block... a complete shock! To cut a long story short I ended up having a Bi-vent PPM inserted 3 weeks ago. I am a physician myself but a novice in the land of pacemakers!

Before all of this happened i was keen on exercise, weight training, running, rowing and cycling, going to the gym 5-6 times a week....and am itching to get started again!!! I'm going for pacing checks next week, and if I'm given the all clear I plan to start running again but because of my ventricular lead I'm a bit unsure about when to start and what exercises I should do with weights? I wondered if anyone had any definitive answers? I'm going to ask my caridologist too, who is a keen long distance runner, so I hope he will empathise and will post his advice on this website if it helps anyone...

Thanks

8 Comments

As you know ...

by ppt - 2009-12-09 01:12:18

follow your Drs orders :-))) as each individual is unique.

It may take time .. for me a full year .. but I am back to walking (power) for 2 miles a day, can can pull 70 lbs with my arms and push 150 with my legs. So it can happen :-))) Just be patient .. welcome to this neat group of people.
and happy holidays ...

6 weeks! Arghhhh!

by T - 2009-12-09 07:12:41

Thank you all for the advice!

I got a bi-vent because of the dyssynchrony caused by LBBB/AV block and the LV was mildly dilated. Surprisingly though my LVEF was around 50% pre-op on an MRI. I was surprised because a few weeks before it was estimated at 35% on an echo.

Thanks for the encouragement and I'll keep you posted!

CRT and EF

by Tracey_E - 2009-12-09 07:12:41

bi-vent pm's usually have a positive effect on EF, and echo's are not the most accurate way of measuring it.

You can't do any lifting or raise the left arm higher than shoulder level for the 6 weeks but you might be able to start light aerobic exercise now. Can't hurt to ask! I have my pm for a complete heart block, no structural or other issues. I was taking walks from the time I was released from the hospital. I was so full of energy, it was making me crazy to sit still!

6 weeks

by Tracey_E - 2009-12-09 10:12:04

If you don't have other underlying conditions, most get the clear to be active again by 6 weeks. That's enough time for the heart to recover from the invasion and the leads to become secure. If you got a bi-vent, it sounds like you have a bit more going on than just a simple block so they may want you to wait longer or start slowly.

Good luck, and welcome to the board!

I feel ya!

by annaelliott76 - 2009-12-09 11:12:42

I'm 33 yrs. 3 weeks post-op. The mind wants to do, but the body won't go! I have SSS with brady-tachy.I had a pnuemothorax in recovery, so my healing time is longer. I did sprint today LOL! My son feel out of his favorite tree! I think I leaped the patio table and the dog, and made it across the yard in a second flat. Kinda shocked myself once the adrenaline wore off. I'll tell you this, I felt ok but I didn't want to do it again. My son survived the fall with no broken bones. :) I'm going for my 6 week appt. w/my EP on 12/22. We can compare notes. If you're allowed to drive, feel good about that! I haven't been allowed to drive in 6 mos. at least. Hoping it will get better soon.

Let me know how it goes!

-Anna

Cleared at 4 weeks

by COBradyBunch - 2009-12-10 10:12:12

I was cleared at 1 week to start exercising lightly but nothing lifting anything heavy or arms over my head (bike was fine), 4 weeks was cleared full out but told to just be smart. Have been working out 5-6 days a week since then and no issues working out. Do running, spin bike, mt. bike, elipticals, stair climbers and even some basketball (but it hurts like hell if you take a ball or elbow to your implant site)

Cleared...kinda

by T - 2009-12-25 07:12:38

Hi everybody,

'The mind wants to do but the body won't go',,,,,sums it up very well indeed! Your body certainly went to catch your son...hope he's safe. I hope it is just our minds that hold us back! I knew someone who had SSS...My problems felt very small and insignificant...it must have been very unsettling and I hope your device has taken care of things. Don't worry about driving...if they never let you drive, come to London......we're encouraged to use public transport everywhere here!

Had my 4 week post-op pacing checks last week...all good...even though a couple of times after the op I thought 'oh damn, shouldn't have pulled that jumper off too quickly!'.

Just got back from running right now...my 6th or 7th now...and I feel like my endurance is improving every time. I'm just grateful I don't feel like I want to sleep for 2 days after after every run anymore! I think I'm going to order some weights soon and start at home slowly...

Thank you all again for your support...I'll keep you posted!

Cleared 23 years ago

by FirstDuely - 2009-12-31 02:12:13

Had my first pacemaker in 1986 (I was 36) and my doc said no heavy weightlifting. I have had at least 8 PMs implanted since. I have been way more active than my doc would like me to be....he always asks why I can't just slow down and take it easy. Three years ago I took up road biking and I manage to ride 80 to 150 miles each week, weather permitting. My doc made the comment, "Oh, great! Now I guess I'll read in the newspaper of you getting hit by a car or something. Just be careful!!"
Bottom line for me is I WANT and NEED exercise in order to stay in shape and live a long, long time. I want to ride a century in one day when I'm a century old. Yes, you need to be careful about the leads getting dislodged and getting hit in the pacer area but I've done both over the years and have survived just fine. My son and daughter would regularly thump me in the chest when they were small, crawling on my chest and I learned to just protect those areas and deal with it. They are both out of college, my son is an engineer and my daughter is still looking for her first full-time job. But I'm still here, still being paced almost 100%, still get stressed sometimes and just found this website after all these years....
I've been blessed again. An actual means to communicate to more people like me with a miracle in my chest that keeps me and all of you alive and kicking. Like my doc (he's been with me since the start) said a long, long time ago: If something goes wrong with the heart, an electrical problem is the best thing to have. There are far worse things that can go wrong. And being an ex-teacher (happy to have made it so) I blab way too much.
Once you get cleared to exercise regularly don't ever stop. I feel that anyone should be able to do as much as they want and feel as though you are perfectly normal. In fact, my friends used to call me the "Bionic Man" because I played basketball and tennis all the time but then I've always been active all my life and I don't want a pacemaker to slow me down. You have to know you can and your doctor must know you are doing whatever you do to exercise. Listen to your doctor and if what you want to do will not be good for your pm then don't do it.
BTW, I had a Medtronic ADDRL1 implanted in 2008 which was about the 8th implant I've had for a sick sinus syndrome heart which lately has been missing a beat or two while at rest so back I go to find out if the doc can make another adjustment. Get it? You're adjustable!!!!!! My riding buddies aren't. Thanks for reading this. I would be happy to answer your questions if I can.

You know you're wired when...

You need to be re-booted each morning.

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