Don't let a pacemaker slow you down

I’m 46 and soon turning 47. I’m in overall poor to average shape. I have had a heart condition all of my life so I have never been an athlete. My heart condition is subaortic stenosis, or also called a leaky valve. In 1976 I had my first open heart at the age of 10. In 1996 I had my second open heart at the age of 30. In 2002 I received a pacemaker. In 2011 I was told I need another open heart in the near future.I’ve allowed my physical condition to slide and can’t even run a mile. In 2003 I ran the Chicago marathon. Unfortunately it took me over four hours.Today I have committed to a healthier life. While I understand I can’t expect to transform myself in 90 days, I do feel I can make the needed changes and live a healthier life and get fit over time with modified expectations. So I’m ready to bring it!

Today 3/30/12 I’m 30 days into my transformation. I have to say it’s been a lot more difficult than I anticipated. I’ve been eating very healthy 5 to 6 small meals each day and stopped drinking soda and cut out the junk. That’s gone well. I’m drinking Shakeology once a day and between that and drinking lots of water I really haven’t had any cravings. I’m doing P90x everyday and mixing in a short 20 minute run every other day.I have to walk about 20% of the time. The problem I have is my pace maker. It wont let my heart rate get above 150. When it does it feels like I just got hit by a truck. I’m trying not to get frustrated but I’m a person with little patience and want results yesterday. In the first 30 days I’ve lost 10 pound and 2% body fat. I feel like I’m getting stronger but it’s not getting any easier.

If you’re an average person and in poor shape you can still make a decision to change your life. If you have health issues like me, you can modify your work out and still make the changes to improve your life.

So, let’s do this!!

averageguyteamfit.com

5 Comments

well done

by sputnick - 2012-04-05 04:04:26

Hi there,
I think you are doing really well with your goals! You should be so proud of yourself.
Maybe you could just power walk instead of running. I have read that that is actually better for you than running n maybe your heart rate won't get up as high.
best wishes Jan


PS what is P90x?

150-160

by Johnny - 2012-04-05 06:04:58

Hi CD

I had my implant dec 2011 and started fast walk / slow running after approx 4 weeks. I also had it set to max 150 and had the same feeling like you had, once the pulse went over 150 it got wery heawy. On my 3 month follow up i had them tune it up to 160 and that worked fine, i was out running 3-5 miles every third day or so.
After 2 weeks i went back to the PM lab to change the rate increase setting, and the log revealed 7 events of high rpm in my ventricle, highest was 217 bbp. All of them corresponded to days i have been doing heawy excersise.
I changed my PM to an ICD 2 days ago on strong recommendations from my Cardiologist.

It might have been the tuneup to 160 that caused the ventricle to go bananas and it might not, my cardiologist has not said anything about stop running or excersising in the future when im back in shape after my icd implant has healed, but i might take it a little more easy :)

Bottom line: 160 worked fine, i could run faster and longer, however my ICD is set to 150 and i will leave it there and walk the steepest slopes.




Good luck

by ldebaugh - 2012-04-05 12:04:49

Good luck and keep up the good work!

stuck at 150

by Pookie - 2012-04-05 12:04:54

perhaps you should ask to have your higher setting upped to around 160???

just a thought as I've read where others have had that done so they can exercise without hitting the wall.

Pookie

Thank you

by Coach Doug - 2012-04-06 10:04:40

We have soke about changing my pacemaker to one with a higher range. It would be another surgery and currently I'm looking at another open heart surgery so I figure I would waite and have both done together. No easy answers, so I just keep pushing through and doing the best I can.
Thanks again to everyones comments.
Coach Doug
averageguyteamfit.com

You know you're wired when...

Jerry & The Pacemakers is your favorite band.

Member Quotes

A lot of people are and live normal lives with no problems whatsoever.