Golfing after 9 weeks of pacemaker surgery?

Give it a go.... carefully

by IAN MC - 2022-11-22 11:18:06

If you ask 6 drs when it is OK to play a round, you will probably get 6 different answers . I doubt that any medical studies have been done on the subject.

For what it's worth , I gradually built up to playing 9 holes at 8 weeks and felt up to playing 18 holes 3 or 4 weeks  later

By  " gradually buiit up "  I mean playing a few holes with a  half swing from 5 or 6 weeks and then  gradually lengthening my swing.. You really have to listen to your body and you can always practise your short game !

Let us know how you get on

Ian

Talk to your doctor

by AgentX86 - 2022-11-22 14:17:43

I've heard 4-6 months, depending on the doctor, for a full golf or tennis swing.  Chip and putt is OK after six or eight weeks but a full swing is really hard on the chest and shoulder and could dislodge the leads. After a few months, they're not coming loose without surgery.  The only real answer can come from your doctors, though.  They know your situation better than anyone on the Internet possibly could.

Activity post implant

by Julros - 2022-11-22 16:44:06

I have tried searching for actual published evidence about activity limits post implant, and there really is very little. And every doctor, nurse and manufacturer has a different opinion. I was rather amused that when I went in for a wound check after 2 weeks, she imposed even more restrictions, like golf and swimming, which I don't do anyway. 

As has been pointed out here in the past, a great deal of slack is left in the wires. The ends are essentially screwed into your heart muscle, and the other ends are fastened to the device. It seems to me that operator error is going to be more responsible to lead displacement than activity.

Immediately after surgery, limiting movement reduces pain, swelling and allows healing. 

Hard, direct impact can damage the wires. 

Movement

by doublehorn48 - 2022-11-23 11:35:33

I had the same surgeon implant my first 3 pacemakers. After the third one  my surgeon and cardiologist came into my room and I told them I would need a letter from them stating when I could go back to work. My surgeon told the cardiologist to give me a letter and to leave the date I could return to work blank. He said I would know better than anyone else when I could work. I was moving furniture at the time.

steve

by stevebne - 2022-11-23 20:50:11

Better check with your cardiologist about the arm / shoulder movements as these could impact on the lead. I was not allowed to swim for 12 weeks to ensure the lead was embedded.

5 weeeks

by PacedNRunning - 2022-11-24 05:03:24

I was told by the doctor at 5 weeks I was cleared to do all activities including golf! 

..... so should we wait 5 weeks or 12 weeks ??

by IAN MC - 2022-11-24 05:42:47

I'm a great believer in evidence-based medicine and as Julros pointed out there is virtually no published evidence on post-implant activity.

I'm certain that most of the variations in medical advice are due to how naturally conservative and risk-averse the individual doctor is .

At the end of the day we, the patients, have to weigh up the suggested activity timescales against how WE feel . I know that I was happy hitting a golf ball from 8 weeks onwards ; some people may not be. Also it is essential that we know the theoretical risks of certain activities.

Ian