Upper body protection

As a recent recipient of a dual chamber pacemaker some 2 months ago I am just getting over the physical and emotional trauma of the sutuation. I still get out of the blue what were at the beginning panic attacks but are now what I would descrinbe as anxiety attacks which are less intense. They just seem to happen without rhyme or reason.
However am getting better and now wish to start road cycling again and in season skiing. What I am looking therefore to purchase is some upper body protection in the event of a fall off the bike or whilst skiing. I have been warned by my specialist about the dangers of breaking the skin surrounding the pacemaker and consequent possible infection etc.
I went to my local bike shop but whilst they had some upper body protectors for the off road cyclist it didnt offer any real protection in the area needed for the pacemaker. I suppose I am looking for an upper body/shoulder type protectors and wondered whether any of you wonderful people out there knew of any suitable items.
I am a 67 year old U.K. resident.
thanks a milion
Dave

15 Comments

shirt

by Tracey_E - 2011-06-10 02:06:04

Here's the shirt
http://www.paceguard.com/Home.html

Hi.

by johnl - 2011-06-10 02:06:10

Welcome to the club Dave. The panic attacks will just fade away, exercise is a great way to prevent them and it sounds like you are getting into that. Sorry haven,t heard of body protector suitable but that,s the first I,ve heard of danger of breaking the skin around PM. I am sure someone on this site will be able to help Best wishes, John.

not necessary

by Tracey_E - 2011-06-10 02:06:37

Unless you have very thin skin, it’s not necessary. With biking and skiing, you’re not likely to take a direct hit to the pm. There are a few companies out there who make shirts with protective pads over the pm for impact sports like football and basketball, but I’ve never heard of needing one for biking or skiing. Esp skiing, we’re usually pretty well padded all over before we go out and when we fall it’s not our shoulder we usually hit. Just my opinion, do what makes you comfortable.

Paceguard

by ddstross - 2011-06-10 03:06:05

Hi TracetE,
have just been on the paceguard website and it looks perfect. It seems expensive but if it does the job it will be worth it. Have contacted them to see if they ship to England so will let you know how I get on. Thanks so much for the name it is very much appreciated.
Cheers
Dave D.

Paceguard

by ddstross - 2011-06-10 03:06:28

seems some of my earlier replies have not been transmitted as wanted to say thanks to TraceyE and johnl for their helpful comments. my cardiologist is not keen for me to either ski or cycle in case of injury to the skin surrounding pm. He says the pm itself is virtually indestructable and to prove his point he flung one that he had on his desk across the room..... but not so the surrounding skin tissue from the point of view I believe of getting an infection if the skin is broken in a fall. So paceguard would seem to offer the answer.
Will let you know if I can purchase this from USA and have it delivered to U.K.as have sent them an email asking this question.
Cheers to you both

Upper body protection

by Phyl. - 2011-06-10 05:06:29

I know what you mean re panic attacks as I am very depressed not 3 weeks yet into my pacemaker. Just
the doldrums I suppose and trying to cope. All the very best and the shirt sounds like a great idea if it does nothing more than give you peace of mind.
Phyl.

protection

by Tracey_E - 2011-06-10 06:06:11

If they website says they won't ship the shirts to UK, contact the owner. She's a member here and I'm sure she'll work with you.

As I said before, unless you have a skin issue I've never heard of a dr so cautious about breaking skin around the pm, or even that it's a remote possibility. Skin is elastic and resilient, and the scar tissue builds up around the pm to further protect it/us. Does your dr have other active patients? Wondering if he's extra cautious because he doesn't have anyone else like you and he just doesn't know.

Anyway, I've had a pm for coming up on 20 yrs and I never sit still. I ski and bike among other things, and I've never come close to hitting anywhere near the pm doing either sport. Skinned elbows and knees from the bike, yes. Bruised chest, no. Don't know about you, but when I fall skiing, it's usually on my well padded bottom. ;o) Contact sports- basketball, football, volleyball, etc- it's a possibility to get jabbed with an elbow or ball so the shirt would be a good idea, but even then most drs don't caution against it.

Do what feels right, but really, I'd just go have fun and not worry! This is a little bump in the road, the sooner you get back to your active lifestyle, the sooner you'll put it behind you and it'll become just a minor inconvenience you occasionally think about.

Protection

by ddstross - 2011-06-11 04:06:04

Thanks to you all for your very positive comments concerning damaging the skin around the pm. Maybe I have another problem which the specialist isnt coming clean about. In view of your comments I shall be asking him this during my next visit.
Must say you all sound an active lot and its all very encouraging.
Phyl you must, as we say in U.K. " keep your pecker up" as things do get better... honest, it just takes time and in my case some very low dose Valium (2 mg.) very occassionally.!!!
Cheers to you all out there
Dave D

Concern about breaking skin

by ElectricFrank - 2011-06-11 12:06:04

Actually, once the incision has healed their isn't any more chance of breaking the skin around the pacer than anywhere else on the chest. And of course with any injury anywhere anywhere on the body that breaks the skin there is always the chance of infection.

About a year after getting mine I was hiking in the desert with my large DSLR camera over my left shoulder. I tripped on a rock and landed with the camera between my pacer pocket and the ground. While I was a bit sore (shoulder not pacer), the camera, pacer, pacer incision, and me all survived quit well. I can't say the same about my dignity. I was about 75 at the time and the others around me figured an old duffer like me would need carrying back the Jeep.

As for the rhyme or reason for the anxiety/panic attacks you hit it on the head. Once you get the reasoning straightened out they will vanish. Meantime, use the rhyming to cuss them out for bothering you.

enjoy the biking and skiing.

frank

ddstross_phyl

by drashmore - 2011-06-12 09:06:20

Keep pushing. It will be 6 months the 14 of this month and am just now getting rid of them. Mine were aggrevated by tacky attacks but I've managed to eliminate them. Haven't had one since Mar(knock on wood.) Just returned from vacation. Walked Gatlinburg and the Biltmore with no problems. Things will get better.

Best to everyone
Debbie

Tacky attacks

by ddstross - 2011-06-13 03:06:56

Hi Phyl,
What I wonder were tacky attacks?
Glad whatever they were you are rid of them!!
All the best
Save D

tacky

by Tracey_E - 2011-06-13 07:06:34

tachycardia, or racing heart

Paceguard

by ZoieS - 2011-08-10 04:08:07


There is a product out on the market specifically for pacemaker protection. It's called Paceguard. It has been used for sports or other daily activities, Their website is www.paceguard.com. I know people who have used this and have had great results. Good luck.

Ah, no editing... change PC to PM...

by timefleas - 2011-12-20 11:12:32

As noted, change above references of PC to PM...

You don't need a paceguard

by timefleas - 2011-12-20 11:12:36

When you are skiing, the only thing you really should be concerned about is whether you move your chest (rib cage) out and away away from the heart, which could possibly pull one or both leads out of their anchor spots. A Pace guard only protects the actual pacemaker unit from damage from direct blunt trauma to the pacemaker site. It would be useful in situations where there is a possibility of hard objects coming in contact with the PC, such as a baseball, golf ball, or if you fall in such a way that your upper chest would make contact with a hard surface--actually pretty hard to do. If the situation is such that you are afraid of ripping your stitches out, or having your insertion spot open up--you are skiing too soon. Otherwise, what you really need to worry about is whether the leads are securely anchored, and even then, you will want to avoid extreme rib cage movements so the ribs don't pull the leads away. Having layered clothing when skiing makes for a great cushion, but again, that isn't the problem--you need to avoid sudden and drastic upper body twists. You can still ski, but you need to use common sense (moderate as opposed to extreme), and you needn't worry to much about what damage, if any, sudden impact will have to your upper chest, and to your PC.

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