How do you know?

Okay, I have been reading these posts about lead displacement...how do you know if your lead gets displaced?  I am only three weeks out, but was told last week I could resume "normal activity",  which I assumed meant putting my arm over my head, and all of my other normal activities.  I haven't started working out yet though and am hoping to be able to do that this week.  However, I don't want to start working out if it increases my risk of lead displacement!  

It seems that cardiologist vary greatly on what they will let you to do.  Some seem to let you resume activites, including weight lifting very quickly.  Some seem to want you to wait for more time to pass.  This is all confusing!  And I'm a nurse!  :-)

 

Diana

5 Comments

Opinions

by Hamsquatch - 2017-01-29 15:36:41

From my personal experience go with whatever your Pacemaker clinic or doctors say (my downtime was 6 weeks). My cardiologist who works at a different hospital and my ICD doctors (electrophysiologist)/clinic said completely different things. 

Im young so I can defend myself, but when the ICD clinic found out I was taken off my arrhythmia mess by my cardiologist they tore into me! 

Differing views...

by RandomICD - 2017-01-29 16:43:40

 My cardiologist gave me some bad advice regarding this. When I pressed her she explained that basically there aren't enough of us for them to work out limits to any degree of accuracy. I find this very difficult.

6 Weeks

by doublehorn48 - 2017-01-30 08:51:38

I've been told by different Dr. over the years to wait 6 weeks before resuming normal activities.  The pm needs time to settle and the site to heal.  I think the majority of the people on this forum will agree to the 6 weeks rest.

I certaintly think you can walk, but  I think 3 weeks is too soon to resume lifting weights.  Like you this is my third week and I'm walking but not running.  It doeasn't feel like I have healed enough to resume normal activities.  Until I can sleep on my left side without it bothering me somewhat, I'll be walking.  You're going to get back into the swing of it soon enough.  Let your body heal.

Leads

by Cabg Patch - 2017-01-30 11:04:37

I am convinced the risk of leads dislodging is more a result of the quality doctor you have than anything you do. If they don't do a good job installing the leads...

I read a study a few years back, I think it was conducted by UCLA medical school, which concluded that physical activity (including raising your arm above your head to smell the pit) is not a factor in causing dislodged leads. I don't have the site saved but you can look it up yourself. When I asked my EP about raising my arm and resuming activity he just looked at me and asked why I wouldn't do it right away.

As you've noted, and can see from the responses so far, opinions are worthless because  there is no concensus. Here's the bottom line...it's your life. Do what you are comfortable with and ignore everyone else.

Don't let fear cripple you

by Gotrhythm - 2017-02-01 14:45:17

I don't know anything about the real chance of leads dislodging. And given the variety of proscriptions against moving the arm, I don't think the doctors know much either. The whole idea is to give the leads time for scar tissue to develop around them and more of less tie them into place.

Here's what I do know. Bodies are intended to move. Not moving body parts is bad for them. The sooner you can get the body moving and performing gentle exercise, the better. 

So don't let fear of dislodging a lead turn you into a cripple. Having a pacemaker does not make you fragile. The whole purpose of getting a pacemaker is so that you can do more and live a more normal life. Unless you routinely move hay bales, 100 pound feed sacks, or chop wood, just get on with your life.

 

 

 

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