Most Recent Messages in Exercise & Sports

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Cold weather

Hi I am new to this forum but am delighted to have found it. I've had a pacemaker for a couple of years, and all is going well. Now I have a question about cold weather: I live in the northeast and am active outdoors, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowshoeing and so on in winter. I haven't had a problem with the cold, but we were to go on a ski trip and the temp would be hovering near zero. We would be outside for quite long periods of time. Aside from the normal comments about the san...

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skiing with a pacemaker

I just had a pacemaker implanted for sick sinus syndrome and was told by my doctor that he'd prefer I never ski again for fear of falling and dislodging a lead. My PM is under the pectoralis muscle so it's well protected, but, perhaps with a violent extension of the left arm, the PM could move and dislodge or fracture a lead. I am due to go skiing in a few weeks and am concerned. I am a conservative skiier. Does anyone have any info on their experiences skiing w/ a PM?

kmbjames

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Snowboarding

I haven't been snowboarding since I had my pacemaker/defib installed in 2005. I love Snowshoe Mtn., and want to get my kids into it also. I am looking for some type of padding device that can be worn just over my left pectoral area. This will take some fear out of causing problems with my device by falling. I usually don't fall very often anyway, but crashes can't always be avoided. If anyone has any ideas I would surely appreciate it.

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Nintendo

There were a few posts last year about the NIntendo Wii Fit. I started it last year, and was doing a full workout with it for about an hour a day. Got my weight down to around 180 or so from 208. For Xmas my wife bought me the EA Sports Sports Active 2, with the heart monitor. The monitors don’t seem to be any problem, as far as interference, but was I surprised by the workout. It’s much more intense than the WiiFit, so watch out. I had to adjust the intensity down so I don’t h...

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Kettlebells

I got a set of 3 Kettlebells for Christmas & was wondering if this would be a safe exercise to do. I have had a PM since May 2010 & would like to lose some weight.  I’ve started Sweating to the Oldies with Richard Simmons & am doing fine with that, but I’m concerened about the Kettlebells. Any input will be appreciated!
Thanks!

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upside down

Hi
On the 10/1/2011 it will be 4weeks since my newest best friend was placed in . All is going well.

I want to start doing sit-ups again.This is how I used to do it: my feet locked in this contraption and my body on a 45 degree angle with head down near the floor. A 5kg weight in both hands above my head ( I know its not a lot, but I'm a girl and not very big) and then I would crunch up with the weight moving towards my core.
Now, I dont think I should be using the weight...

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swimming

I am 58 years old, had my pacemaker put in 9 weeks ago, was A-fibbing between 95-105 on my pulse, waking up in the morning it would be 81. Had my cardio version last week now I'm at a steady 70 pulse rate, sometimes 68-74. When can I start swimming my laps again? Doctor said I can walk all I want but my feet and knees are racked with arthritis, (thirty years of surfing in cold water) What are my risks if any to swimming 10-15 laps a day? I'm new to all this. Bob

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exercise and limits

Hi All

I have a PM since September last, and lead an active life, with exercise now being walking the dog for an hour most days. I find when I walk briskly, I get pain in my chest and become very aware of my PM and can feel the leads and my heart. This tends to leave me fairly wiped out for a few hours. I dont feel bad enough to go
for an early check up as I am due my six month check 4 weeks.

any ideas?.
many thanks
AP

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Does it restrict golf swing?

I am getting a defibrillator Jan 21st 2011. One of my concerns is that the thing will be below my collarbone on the left side. It seems like it would restrict taking a full swing, say, with a driver. I am not a barrel-chested guy, but is/was very competitive. I have a goal of shooting my age in 2011 (I will be 70). Any comments or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

jpl

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Mountain climbing???

Hi,

I am hoping to climb Mount Snowdon in 2011, will having a pacemaker pose a problem?

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sub-clavian entry

If a normal PM entry is sub-clavian, but swimmers often opt for a cephalic vein insertion, why doesn’t everyone just get a cephalic insertion? Why do swimmers have to talk their Drs into this?

I’m kinda burned that I didn’t know about this option when I had a replacement procedure two years ago. I used to swim in a masters program in the morning and gave it up.

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Sailing

Although I an only into this pm life for less thant two weeks, I have a question...My husband and I have a 35ft sailboat that we sail on the weekends in the Chesapeake Bay. Any sailors out there that would advise as to how much strenous sailing I can look forward to next summer. I usually do the tacking while my husband steers. Would love to hear from any one who sails. thanks
by the way I an 79, and except for the bum heart in basically good health.

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New at this

I am 30 years old, I am a rock climber and love swimming and Hiking. Little bit of an extremist... Wel I had to have a pacemaker dual chamber inserted as my heart rate dropped to 8 beats per m. So it seems the inner body went extreme, I am stuck with this. I have no idea what I'm allowed to do, swim, climb or nothing at all. It is frustrating. All the girl in the Dr's room said was not to pick up my arm too high or I might pull out a wire and they had to do the whole procedure over again. So her...

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Mountaineers

Hi Everyone
Just wondering if there are any other mountaineers out there and how they manage at altitude.

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Weight machines

I'm 61 and recently had my first pacemaker implanted. For the last 2 years I'd been using weight machines at the gym to maintain upper body strength. (In fact, it was my passing out after using the weights that first alerted me that I had a pacing issue.)

I was told by the tech in electrophysiology, no weight lifting, although she said exercises like curls and tricep training would be all right. But nothing which might cause lead detachment. Now that I'm back at the gym, I've push...

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Describe your training!

Describe your workout/training....How you feel, before, during, after! Whatever you do....weight training...running, bike,walking.

I'll start with mine:

Weight training........during training, I feel no side effects. I am cautious and don't go real heavy...but am working up to it. Reps 8 then next workout 9 then 10, then 11, then 12 then increase in weight and back to 8 and work up again. All has been positive, especially since dropping some weight I'm at 196. I also do row...

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BJJ

I had a PM installed 2 weeks ago. I understand that I can't train for a couple of months. Until about 3 months ago I trained MMA. I understand that boxing, kickboxing and any stand up / striking combat sports are out of the question. However, is any one training BJJ? If so what / how are you doing it? just let the gym and your training partners know? Do you fight tourniments? Are there any pads, protective gear that might help?

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swimming / rowing

After developing bradycardia in 2005, I am completely PM dependent. 2 years ago I moved to a different state and have a different cardiologist whom I see for for monitoring. I was a college All-American swimmer, but did not swim for many years. Now I am 62 with Type 2 diabetes and started to get in back shape by joining a Master's swim team. My cardiologist says that vigorous swimming may damage my leads and recommended that I discontinue, which I did. Now I'm considering rowing, and she is disc...

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Horseback Riding

After three years with a pacer they found broken leads so last
week had a new unit placed and new leads on the other side
of the old pacer. I took up horseback riding last year and love it.
Im wondering if any one knows the what the DR's think about riding horses with a pacer? Oh did I mention I'm 70 but a young
70.
Thanks
Dick

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Something to be said for Rate Response

I just realized that there was an advantage to having rate response turned when I first got my pacer.

I could just sit in my easy chair, twiddle the pacer, get my HR up to 120. That was sure an easy way to do aerobics. Could get in an hours exercise without even breaking a sweat.

frank

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You know you're wired when...

“Batteries not included” takes on a new meaning.

Member Quotes

So, my advice is to go about your daily routine and forget that you have a pacemaker implanted in your body.