Most Recent Messages in Exercise & Sports

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track intervals

Ran a strong track workout yesterday, 20 X 400 with a 200 rest in between. Did almost all of them in 80 seconds (except for the 19th which I did in 76 seconds). I've run 39 miles this week, though I took Sunday off.
I had my Medtronic Adapta PM installed in August '08. I am 46. Stay fit. No excuses.

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Martial arts training

Hi All

I have had a two lead PM for two years and am 100% paced.

During my years of undiagnosed AV blockage and subsequent years of worring about walking around on life support I have managed to put on an extra 30 pounds or so.

It seems like it's time to get back to working out. I have taken an interest in Chen Style Taijiquan (Shaolin Kung Fu lite). I recently spoke to a local coach about training. We both agreed that we could structure workouts to avoid hit...

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Any Experience w/Gyms

Hello everyone, new here and excited about hearing from regular folks and not all the doctor hype.

 
I recently joined a 24 hr fitness facility and I told them up front I had a pacer and asked if I would incurr any problems with certain motorized equipment and/or magnets in any of the equipment. They seemed totally dazed as the thought that a person with a pacer actually invade the domain of the physically fit gods.

My question: Does it hurt or hamper someone to...

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scars

My wife thinks im to self concious, but with the open heart and ICD implant scars I wont go shirtless anymore. Really sucks since I'm a beach bum at heart and love the water and my boat. I wear some of my work out muscle shirts that repel sweat and work great by drying out quickly. Wondering if these scars will ever go away just enough so that its not so noticeable.

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Another running update

Tonight I competed in my local men's championship mile, I came in 3rd place with a 5:16. I have a Medtronic Adapta which was installed in August, 2008. I am 46 years old. My doctor is a runner and he sees no reason why I can't keep improving. I will.

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PM and activity level

I've read several postings about problems with pacemakers keeping up with the level of physical activity. So far (two years plus) I've done pretty well (Medtronic) with moderate activity levels, biking, skiing and race walking. After my three month checkup, my pm was only working 3-5% of the time. However, the following year, the activity rate for my pm jumped to 20%. As a result, I was put on Toprol to regulate my heart rhythm.

Although I like my medical team, getting detailed ex...

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Exercise and the Medtronic Adapta

I had a Medtronic Adapta PM implanted about 9 months ago. One of my issues was that whenever I did anything aerobic, my heart rate would go up to about 130 for a minute or so and then crash to about 90 and stay there. I would be too tired to continue exercising.

When I got the Adapta, I was told that it could adapt to the level of activity I was engaged in. I have found though that it requires a lot of jostling to trigger it to maintain a HR in the aerobic range. Jogging will trigger...

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Getting new pacer soon

Hi all,

Nice to read about all the PRs. I did 10 miles in NY just last week in Riverside park and 7 around the reservoir in Central Park. I think age more than a pacemaker is going to keep me from ever setting any new PRs. NY parks are looking good and we had cool clean air in June. I am now back home in Atlanta where I don't do so well in the high heat and humidity.

I have bradychardia with a tendency towards a-fib. I have a dual chamber St Jude with vibration sensor. My H...

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PM Wire Loose?

Hello,

I had my pm installed last December. Anyway, my chest started (not my heart) hurting about a month ago and went to my cardiologist to ensure my heart was ok... it was, so I was relieved and thought I must just be hyper-sensitive. Well,now I feel what seems to be a large gauge wire just below the skin above my pm. I know it's not my imagination as my wife and daughter can feel it too. In fact, my wife noticed the skin around the scar from my pm surgery look irrititated and...

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track meet update

Just past my 10 month anniversary of getting my pacemaker. I ran my first track meet in 25 years last week. I ran the mile in 5:23, and about a half an hour later ran the 800 in 2:25.
I'm 46 years old. I am nobody special, I am only determined.
Get up and go!

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Motorcycles

Hi,
How long should you wait before riding motorcycles after you have a pacemaker installed? I just had my 6 week checkup and they said I can use my arm again, but to avoid things like golfing, baseball, and sports that have sudden jerking motion of the arm for another 2 months. I am dying to get riding again.

Thanks

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Hiking and Biking

I got my pm 6/12 and am slowly getting back to normal . . . if it will ever be normal again. I am an avid hiker and biker and have a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge planned for July 19. What do any of you who have experienced this say as to the possibility of this happening for me?

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update

It's been a while since I posted. I got my pm over 2 years ago just a month before trying my first marathon. The people on this site pulled me through the fear and insecurities I dealt with. This weekend I finished my first marathon. It was 85 degrees and tough, it was great. I met two other pm folks who were running and a guy with a heart transplant.
Thank you all for helping me pick up where I left off 2 years ago.
Rusty

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Karate Chest Protector

Hi Everybody,
I was training in Shito-Ryu Karate before having my pacemaker implanted, and I am hoping to resume my training once I get the go ahead from the doctor. I had my pacemaker placed under the collar bone and kind of off to the side/shoulder area of my chest due to a chest muscle that didn't develop correctly. My doctor did tell me that I would need a chest protector when I started to train again to avoid any direct hits to the pacemaker. Does anybody else train in martial arts...

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Avid golfers?

Any avid golfers out there with a PM or ICD?

Do you think 10 weeks is long enough time for the leads to heal? I have taken it pretty easy on my arm, and am starting to get a little anxious to swing the sticks around.

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Running Update

I've posted here before, but am updating for those who question their abilities after getting a pacemaker.
Had my PM installed in August, 2008. Ran a 5K about a month later and came in 25th of 800. Ran a marathon in February in 3:21. Ran a 5K last Friday in 19:14, less than 5 seconds off my PR.
I am nobody special, I am just determined to keep improving in my sport. YOU can too!

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Pacemaker Protection Device

I just received a pacemaker a couple days ago for SSS. I was told by the doctor to not play any contact sports. I love soccer and basketball and would be VERY depressed to give them up. I'm having a very difficult time feeling like I have to rethink of myself as 'fragile' now. Should I just ignore the 'fragile' feeling and live my life as normal? I guess my question is this. What copeing methods have you all used to deal with this? I found the site paceguard.com and my wife is already orde...

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yoga

I am 63 and may be getting a pacemaker.

One of my main concerns involves doing yoga with the thing. I have an active and vigerous practice.

what will be effect of pacemaker? Can the "installation" be varied so it will not interfere when I lie on my stomach? what about "backbends"?

Thanks

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exercise

Okay so it's been six weeks this Friday since my pm implant. I started trying to exercise again this week. I can only exercise about fifteen minutes and then I give out! I feel tired and awful the rest of the day and it seems like I have a lot of pvc's and skips afterwards. I am exhausted! Do you think if I keep exercising this will go away? Am I just that out of shape?? It is depressing to be 36 and this tired!

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Hiking

Does anyone have suggestions for hiking pack straps and preventing them from making the pace maker pocket hurt. My partner and I went on a great hiking trip and this is the first time I've gone with my pm. My darn PM hurt like hell after hiking into our camp site. It was very sore irritated b/c part of my strap rubbed on it all the way in. ON the way out I tried to stuff a shirt underneath the strap and between it and my chest it helped a bit but not enough. I think I remeber someone on here is...

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Member Quotes

I wasn't really self-conscious about it. I didn't even know I had one until around six or seven years old. I just thought I had a rock in my side.