Masters Swimming

Hello
I'm new to this (pacemakers AND Forums).
I was admitted to the Montreal Heart Institute last Friday after collapsing at home. A Sorin Reply Dr pacemaker was inserted in my left shoulder on Tuesday afternoon and I was released the next day.
Throughout my stay at the hospital, I reminded doctors and nurses that I was a competitive swimmer, member of the 2009 and 2010 Quebec Champions: the Westmount YMCA Masters. I intend to continue swimming and wanted to ensure that the PM would be compatible with my activities. Throughout, I was assured that this could be done. Then, just as I was being wheeled into surgery, the surgeon, whom I was meeting for the first time, told me that "Life is full of difficult choices". I had to argue and insist before she agreed to check with her supervisor. She came back and informed me that she would do a cephalic insersion rather than the usual subclavian entry. I am interested in knowing if there are any swimmers out there and what their thoughts are on this issue.

2 Comments

Welcome

by Pookie - 2010-05-27 08:05:01

Welcome to this club from another fellow Canadian. I am from Nova Scotia.

There are a few avid swimmers here, so give it a day or two and I'm sure they will respond with their experiences.

I don't know what a cephalic insertion is....mine was done the subclavian way...I've even posted a picture of mine on the Gallery...upper left hand side of this page.

You certainly have found an awesome site full of knowledgeable and compassionate members who will be more than willing to help you out with any type of question you may have.

Just ask away!! :)

Again, welcome.

Pookie

Not a master!

by aldeer - 2010-05-27 09:05:31

I am an 82 year old swimmer who definitely loves to swim but not competitively. I was told that the subclavian way would leave the wire between the clavicle bones that could eventually wear the lead for a possible fracture. If it did, I wouldn't feel a thing, but wouldn't have a heart. The surgeon told me to enjoy swimming so I am, but according to x-rays, it seems as tho mine are like Pookie's. I am so glad to hear you have the cephalic entry. My only advice is please, please wait your six weeks before swimming. Due to a miscommunication, I went in at five weeks and I felt my pm drop while swimming, and it is definitely lower than the original placement. Wishing you the very best of luck and many good years of swimming! aldeer

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Member Quotes

Good luck with your surgery. It will improve life amazingly.