Triathlon & Exercise

This message is all of you who are about to get a pacemaker. I had a Boston Scientific implanted on 1/17/11. I have a great doctor who specializes in electro-cardiology. In 2 weeks I was able to get back on a stationary bike. In 4 weeks I was running again.In 6 weeks he allowed me to start swimming again. On 3/11 I ran 6 miles & swam 1.2 miles. On 3/12 I rode my bike for 2 1/2 hrs averaging 18mph. On 6/13 ran 6 miles.
When I first learned that I would need a PM I looked for a doctor that had experience implanting them in endurance athletes. Finding a good electo-cardiologist is the key to returning to an active lifestyle.
We still need to tweak the settings a bit, but we are almost there, and I look forward to competing in several sprint triathlons this season ending with a half Ironman in early November.
I was depressed when I first learned that I needed a PM. This site helped me deal with it. You can and will return to being active.

7 Comments

Revise above

by hjfarr - 2011-03-20 01:03:30

It should read "on 3/13 I ran 6 miles". By the way, I am 68.

oooooohhhhh

by federico - 2011-03-20 02:03:10

ciao hjfarr ma tu prima del pm facevi tutto questo e non ci avevi detto niente!!!!!.....e fortunatamente ti hanno messo un pm ad energia nucleare.....complimenti .....e auguri per il futuro

You left one thing out

by ElectricFrank - 2011-03-20 07:03:28

Your great doctor has done a bang up job of it, but how about the patient he had to work with. It's a team effort and you have been a major player on the team.

enjoy,

frank

In Deed!

by richan - 2011-03-22 10:03:35

Frank is right. You clearly were/are an active participator in this process. Your doc can only do so much. Then, the rest is up to you. You are making you doc look good.

I competed in a masters swim meet this past weekend and did OK in my age group.

A few adjustments to my PM have helped me along the way.

Keep at it!

Richan

Stefani

by Stefani - 2011-04-03 11:04:47

Wow, you are really doing amazing, congratulations! I also had a pm put in on Dec. 23rd. and I am a runner. I had bradycardia and needed this but was really reluctant to have this done. I am back at running but it has really been hard to get back my endurance and breathing. I have been back to get "tweaked" a couple of times but have not seen a doctor (cardio or electrocardiologist) since the day after surgery. I am wondering what kind of settings or tweaks you are getting? Any info. would be appreciated, feeling a bit frustrated. Thank you...

Reply to Stefani

by hjfarr - 2011-04-04 07:04:11

Talk to your doc. Hopefully he/she is an electrocardiologist. The technicians seem to want to do their own thing. After the procedure, the tech had the settings all wrong. They were set for an average 68yo even though the doc had dictated otherwise. At my 1st check up my doc stayed in the room & told the tech exactly what fields to set. I too have brady. My settings are at 50-150bpm with the device sensing increases in effort.
Get an appointment with your doc and ask that he have the tech there. If you explain your problem they will probably get it worked out.
I'm real lucky as I live in Houston & see a director of the DeBakey Electrocardiology Dept at Methodist Hosp.

Comment to hjfarr

by jmad - 2013-06-14 04:06:43

Hi,

I am on week 5 of my pacemaker implement. I am a 5 time ironman, but not competitive. I started running again and cannot go more than 1/2 mile at a 12 minute pace without stopping and walking. I have been less active but surely should be able to do 1 mile at 10.5 minute pace. I am concerned. waiting until next week for Pacemaker adjustments. Anyone have any feedback?

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Member Quotes

I finished 29th in London in 2 hours 20 minutes 30 seconds which is my fastest with or without a device so clearly it didn’t slow me down ! I had no problems apart from some slight chaffing on my scar - more Vaseline next time.