Getting back to training

I am four months removed from having a PM implanted and am desperately trying to gain the confidence to get out and begin training again for a triathalon I was planning on running in June before my episode.

My EP assures me that I am good to go, but when I run I feel as if my heart skips or something. As a result I slow down or walk and just do not seem to be making progress. Again, the EP assures me that everything is OK.

Has anyone else experienced this?
How have you regained confidence to train again?

Thanks

9 Comments

Go for it

by gevans - 2008-05-21 11:05:33

Absolutely you can resume your training (once you've cleared things with your EP or cardiologist). We had 22 cardiac patient's in this years NJ Marathon & Relay a few weeks ago. They were equally divided between pacemaker recipients and valve jobs. Check out www.cardiacathletes.org where weightlifters, runners, triathletes, golfers, swimmers and climbers (just to mention a few) share their experiences. There is also another organization called Global Heroes that sponsors pacemakers and cardiac patients in selected marathons.

Savor your new beginning,

Gary

Upper rate

by ElectricFrank - 2008-05-22 01:05:33

Check with the EP or get a copy of your last checkup to verify what your upper rate is set for. If you exceed your upper rate setting the pacer will try to enforce the limit by causing your heart to skip beats. This happens at a time when you need the higher rate to support your exercise level. This the one thing that even the Medtronic rep didn't know about in my case. After all he doesn't have a pacer, exercise at that level or both so he doesn't know what it feels like to have skipped beats so he will tell you that you are good to go. Despite all the encouragement from folks, it pays to be aware of it when your body is telling you something isn't right.
By the way I like to refer to this type of limit as being similar to holding down the speed of your car engine by pulling off a spark plug wire or two. It will certainly limit the speed, but makes for a rough running engine.

frank

I had exaclty the same

by petemanning - 2008-05-22 01:05:48

I have done triathalons mostly sprint distance and a few olympic distance.
I started running after about 3-4 weeks.My rate response was turned off at 2 weeks.
On my first run I felt terrible skipped beats extra beats I scared the life out of me,I too went to EP and he said you're fine!so I broke my run right down into sections that I could do without noticing any abnormal beats.
within a couple of weeks I could do my 5k run non stop no worries.
My personal opinion is that the pacer is gathering information about the level at which your heart beats an is "learning" threshold stuff ,and exersize ,like running ,makes this level change a bit and takes time for the pacer to build up an exersizing data bank of what your heart beat voltage is.Or just the lead "settling in" during exersize either way the abnormal beats dissapeared in about 2 weeks after recommencing running.
But regarless of whether my personal theory is correct ,my advice is go for it! and try to run "relaxed"

Also I now run a regular weekly 20k run and ride 50k round trip to work as training for an iron man(my first hopefully) at the end of this year

Hope you "get back on that horse" soon.
please keep us updated
cheers
Pete

Thanks

by tripastor - 2008-05-22 06:05:56

Just wanted to say thanks for all the comments!

It is encouraging knowing that there are still people striving to be active even though they have a pacemaker. All those in my area are older and cannot relate to my condition.

Look forward to sharing with you more and can't wait to run tonight!

Chris

Hi

by randrews - 2008-05-22 09:05:02

I also get to a point when running where I feel my HB skipping and just being weird. I found out the upper heart rate limit was set at 160. I was reaching that limit then I think the pm was trying to keep it down. The tech raised my limit to 170 but I still hit that, especially in hot weather. I usually just slow down and it goes away.
I found that running was a way for me to regain my life and deal with the fear of having a pm. I figured if I could run far and in the worst weather all was fine. And it is.
Take care, listen to the doc and push it a little if he says so
God bless you
Rusty

Suggestion

by ElectricFrank - 2008-05-23 01:05:48

My suggestion is to get a pulse monitor so you can keep track of your HR while you are running. Also find out what your upper limit is set for. With that information you can keep your activity level just below the limit. If that turns out to be too restrictive you have it documented when you ask to have the limit raised.
By the way, don't use an ECG based pulse monitor. The pacemakers pacing spike in the ECG is likely to give you erratic or erroneous readings. The type that read the blood pulse in a finger tip or ear lobe are OK.

I'm glad to be young enough (78) to relate to your condition. (g)

frank

no upper setting either

by dw5281 - 2008-05-23 12:05:34

I'm the same as CathrynB - I have no upper limit - mine is just to stop my heart stopping. It rises perfectly well on its own!

I havent felt any weird beats when I exercise - the opposite I feel great! I was nervous about running in general after I had it but I just kept at it. I had it implanted in February & I ran the Greater Manchester Run on sunday to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. Keep trying to run/exercise even if its a little at the time - its so worth it I promise!

Good Luck

Debs

I have the same thing...

by Nutbeem - 2008-05-24 03:05:54

I'm about 5 months with my ICD, and I'm just starting to get back into running. Prior to my episode, I was running about 15 miles a week, and enjoyed it enormously.

Now, I'm having a hard time. I was just out running today for about the third time, and I did get some "missing beat" sensations, but more than that, I just don't feel like myself with this thing yet.

I bough a pulse rate monitor that beeps me when I go over 170bpm (my ICD is set for therapy at 182bpm), so just as I'm getting into the workout, I have to slow down.

I guess it will get better - I definitely miss the running time I used to have.

No upper setting

by ElectricFrank - 2008-05-24 11:05:41

Thanks for mentioning this possibility. The effect is the same as setting the upper limit high enough it never kicks in. The problem with missed beats only happens when the upper limit is set too low. There are other possibilities for the skipped beats as well. They could be PVC's, loose leads, or other heart conduction problems. Those should show up on the interrogation. The limit problem won't appear because it is the result of a deliberate setting.

frank

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