skydiving

Hi, I am fairly new to this site. I had my pacemaker implanted on the 4th of December afte I collapsed at work. I've been doing fairly well and was back at work a week after I collapsed.

I had so many plans in life but now I'm wondering if some of things that I wanted to do would be possible with a pacemaker.

The one thing I've always wanted to do is go skydiving. Does anyone know if this is allowed?

Thank you,
Beverley

6 Comments

skydiving

by thomast - 2008-02-14 05:02:08

Why would any sane person jump out of a perfecly good airplane?

Hi Beverley,

by Gellia2 - 2008-02-14 05:02:58

WOW~ skydiving. Hmmm,....I never tried that, but I don't feel I missed much in my life. I've had a pacemaker for nearly 33 years and have done all the Disney rides (didn't know any better), rode horses (badly), raised a family of dirt bike racing boys that made me camp and hike all over the place, and many more things that would fall under "I should probably ask about that". I can honestly say I think you can have a great, and nearly normal life. I think you had better ask your doctor about skydiving, though. I know there are restrictions on deep sea diving, but never heard about skydiving! I sure do love your spirit of adventure!
Have fun and best to you.
Gellia

SKYDIVING

by BOB 1 - 2008-02-14 06:02:40

Hi Beverly,

I'll not try to give you advice on whether you should or should not start playing Russian roulette . But I will try to give you something to think about.

You want to be sure of the placement of the parachute harness as I know you do not want it crossing the pacemaker implant site. Also the big thing is when you pull that rip cord you will be falling at a rate of about 133 MPH (they call it terminal velocity, I think) and in an instant you will be slowed to a rate of a few miles per hour. That slow down is going to be one heck-of-a- jolt to your body. IF IT WERE ME, I would seek the advice of a doctor about whether that jolt could harm my PM or the leads.

We have a skydiving club about a half-mile from where I live and I get to see lots of them jump and open their chutes. I have seen the flailing arms and legs when they open the chute and it looks rough to me.

I hope Paula is not offended by my calling it Russian roulette but to me it is an extremely big gamble with one's life. I saw one jumper fall with a collapsed reserve chute one day after it had become entangled with his main chute that did not open as it should have. I did not see him hit the ground, but I understand he lived for an additional 3 weeks.

But then I'm old and lots of things probably look rough to me that you youngsters would think of as fun. Why I have even seen people bungy jumping and say that is fun.

Have fun and tell us about it.

My Skydiving Instructor...

by heckboy - 2008-02-14 09:02:36

... said after my first jump that, "congratulations! My hat goes off to anyone willing to jump out of a perfectly good airplane." :

The falling part of skydiving is fun, it was the landings that I wasn't very good at so I gave it up. Scuba was closer to flying for me so that's my sport.

Have fun

Well how about this subject! :-)

by pacergirl - 2008-02-14 11:02:37

I was having another very stressful day and I came here to read about what is going on with my pacer/ICD friends and what do I read?... hee hee! It is one of my favorite subjects! That being.... Living your life as one sees fit, with SKYDIVING! :-)

I have been skydiving. It was one of the most incredible journeys of my life. I really loved the feeling of flying through the air at 120 MPH. It was fantastic and I would love to do it again. Except my hubby refuses to allow it. I don't let him dictate what I do or not do most of the time, but he has begged me to give it up. So I have been doing other things. Horseback riding, driving the Beetle, shopping and working... a lot.

So Beverley, go after what you wish to do. Get an okay from the Dr. and then go and live your life.

May you have many safe landings!
pacergirl...
p.s. Great subject!

Makes sense

by ElectricFrank - 2008-02-15 12:02:00

As a private pilot I used to be kidded that it was safer jumping out of my plane than a landing. I haven't flown since 1975, but I have a place lined up to try an ultralight as soon as the weather warms up.

Just remember when you jump to be sure which set of leads you pull to open the chute. We don't want to fish you out of the ground with your pacer tightly held in one hand.

have fun,

frank

You know you're wired when...

You play MP3 files on your pacer.

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I have an ICD which is both a pacer/defib. I have no problems with mine and it has saved my life.