Pacemaker and road cycling

Just had my Medtronic pacemaker implanted May 5th. 2020. I am a very active 80 year old male. Right now the reason Im not working is because of the virus. Anyway thought this would be a good time to get the implant as my heart doc. has been recommending it for the past couple of years because of slow resting heart rate (in the 40's) . So its set at 60 now. Am frustrated because the pacemaker surgeon said no bike riding for 3 months. Road bike not mountain. I just bought a new road bike and was hoping to get back to riding within 4 to 5 weeks. Anyway just venting looks like August before I can ride.

Dale

2 Comments

Vent away!

by crustyg - 2020-05-08 03:13:21

Had my PM implanted on the Wed (for same reasons), was out on road bike the Sunday afterwards.  Max HR was limited to 130bpm, but for me, having AV synchrony restored was a huge boost to cardiac output and better cycling.

It's not ideal for the PM site insertion to sweat so much that your skin is wet, but over here almost everyone now uses waterproof dressings on the skin contact layer - has a built-in gauze centre to absorb moisture, so this really isn't a concern.  Swimming - that's the absolutely forbidden exercise until the skin wound is completely healed (also lots of over-arm stretching, but that's not why cycling was proscribed for you).

Best wishes.

hmmmm

by Tracey_E - 2020-05-08 09:57:39

I'd wait until your next check then ask again, see if there's a particular reason they want you to wait so long. After 4 weeks the incision is completely healed so getting sweaty is ok. Even the most conservative doctors are usually ok with all but full golf swings and swimming after 6 weeks. 

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But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.