Most Recent Messages in Exercise & Sports

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First Race afterPM

Yesterday I ran my first race six weeks after getting a pacemaker. I had a lot of fun. I got to run accross the Golden Gate Bridge with a freind. I have found that at this time I cannot run at my old pre pacemaker pace without breathing hard, and struggling to get a deep breath. When I slow down I do fine. Has anybody had this issue? Does it get better with training? I saw a PM tech about 10 days ago and she turned on the excelorator and said she would adjust it if needed at my next appo...

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Back racing after <14 weeks post diagnosis

Thank goodness we were born in the right era to be able to access this amazing technology. Four months back I thought it was all over for athletic sport until my diagnosis and a Boston PM. 

At 11 weeks post PM insertion, back in the finishing shute at the Noosa Triathlon in Australia, a standard distance triathlon.  (Actually, I only competed in the cycle and run as I wasn't allowed to swim due to the arm movement so my wife kindly took that leg of the race)

The...

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10k 74 days post pm

Ran my first 10k with pm today, 74 days post implantation.  No issues, felt great, well under my personal goal of under an hour.  3rd place in my 50-60 age group.  For those concerned with the effect on running or other endurance sports, it was only a temporary setback for me with two weeks off running post surgery and about a week after that of easy runs.  I posted a picture in the gallery of me and my brother in law who recently completed a 70.3 triat...

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Sound Bath

I will be coming upon a year with my Boston Scientific pacemaker. It was an emergency surgery went to ER on a Thursday night by the next night I had a pacemaker. It was a shock at age 60 and no other health issues. I had Bradicardia with a complete heart block. My symptom was getting tired and unable to do my 10,000 steps a day which I had done in my exercise routine for years. I am now back to exercising and yoga. My question is Can I do sound bath with yoga? I wasn't sure if the sound v...

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Hand Touch Gym Equipment Heart Rate Monitors

Looking to buy a stationary bike for exercise and am wondering if there would be any issues with the heart rate monitors that are usually part of the handgrips. Appreciate any insight.

Thanks, Dale

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Heart rate monitor, chest strap interfere pacemaker,, so running was impossible

Do heart rate sensors affect the functioning of pacemakers?

I was very uncomfortably slowed down while jogging today. Only after I turned the HF sensor to the opposite side of the thorax did the pacemaker function properly (Boston Scientific Proponent and Garmin HF sensor).

Nothing is published about this behavior. Only Garmin says St.JudeMedical have no such a problem.

But Garmin Hf Sensor interfere bostons Proponent, I experience that today , awkward!

 ...

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rate response problems-rate curve?

I have posted several times about problems with rate response and swimming, first with a Medtronic, now a Boston Scientific.  Neither works well.  Lately I have had some more profound problems.  After a week or so of pretty disasterous sessions in the pool, I tried an experiment with a chest strap HR monitor.  I do not noramlly like to swim with any devices on and my not so smart watch is very inaccurate when wet.  I did some excercises on the deck and got my rate up...

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High Heart Rate Walking

Hello all -  Haven't been on for a while and wanted to continue conversation about heart rate and walking.  I received PM May 5th this year.  When I go for a walk my heart rate goes up 124 and I get slightly short of breathe when I stop.  My Cardiologist said I need to be on antiarythmia med to stabilize my rate.  The EP says they don't see anything wrong get on with my life.  This after they changed the RR rate and the change wasn't tolerable. H...

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When were you able to run

I am 16 days out from receiving my pacemaker and I am missing being able to go for a run. In 2 days I will see my Dr. and plan to ask him when I can start running. How long was it for you runners to start running again?

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Questions about the specific risks of contact sports (like BJJ) with an ICD

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum, but I did my best to look for posts about participating in martial arts, combat sports, and contact sports generally before posting. I have an ICD to shock me if I go into vtach/vfib, and I'd like to get back into activities like weight lifting and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) if I can properly assess the actual risks involved. I know this has been discussed and I apologize for creating yet another thread, but technology changes, research on risks...

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New Pacemaker - What Qs would you ask?

I'm a 52 yo female, avid distance runner (marathons and trail ultras) and casual CrossFitter. I'm scheduled for pacemaker implantation next week to address sinus bradycardia/sinus pauses with a competing junctional rhythm, plus a marked first degree AV block. A treadmill test revealed a possible left bundle branch block, as well. A holter monitor also showed evidence of SVT, but those readings apparently came at the end of my long runs so my cardiologist wants to reevaluate those afte...

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New pacemaker

Hi, I received a new pacemaker yesterday, Sep. 30th. All went well. I am a 64 year old male. I am runner and the dr set my pacemaker at a low of 60 and a high of 140. My RHR had been in the low to mid 30's over the last 3 months. Prior to that it had be in the low to mid 40's for about 7 years. My dr. has not told me how long it will be before I can run again, I will see him in the next 10-14 days. Are any of you runners and how long after you got the pacemaker before you were able to...

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Pedometer / Calorie counter

My dad has a St Jude pacemaker. He's looking for something to help him track his distance / calories burnt during his long walks. We were looking at something like the Garmin Forerunner 55 or similar. However, I'm told they don't work well with pacemakers. Are there any consumer devices we can get for him that works correctly for people with pacemakers?

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Vital Beat backpack

Anyone used the Vital Beat  back pack custom shield with a heavy back pack (40-60 lbs)? Paceguard does not do well for this heavy of a pack. Any feed back would be appreciated.

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Pre-workout

Hi guys! 

I am a 24F who recently started doing CrossFit about 4x a week. I was looking to see if anyone has any suggestions about pre workouts to take?


I know due to my heart condition (HCM)  I have an ICD. I can't take the typical ones with a lot of caffeine and all the other ingredients that raise your heart rate or make you jittery.
 

I have spoken to my cardiologist before and all he asks is that I give him the name of t...

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HEARTBEAT SETTING

My device was implanted in Feb. '22.

The rate Response setting has been set off. The heartbeat settings are 60 low, 130 high.

when I walk fast at a pace when earlier(pre-pacemaker) the heartbeat would have exceeded 130, I get out of breath with tightness in the chest, but the heatrbeat is only around 60! After resting a while, when the tightness in the chest eases, the heartbeat measures arond 100 which seems normal. What causes the artificial situation of breathlessness...

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A-Fib

I got my pacemaker 3 months ago and since I went back to working out/strength training I have issues with dizziness and a-fib that I did not have before the pacemaker.  Still not to the level I was at before the pacemaker and wondering if anyone else has had this issue.  Also my pulse goes way high (above 150 BPM for some of the workout but not for the whole time.

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Returning to triathlons after pacemaker insertion

Hi Everyone

I am at 4+ weeks post pacemaker insertion and haven't felt this well in ages! Sick sinus syndrome and progressive reduction in heart rate (especially with exercise) was not an expereince to be repeated.

A keen triathlete, I have slowly restarted training over the last 2 weeks and am delighted to see that my heart rate can actually rise above 100 with exercise! Currently, my Boston Scientific pacemaker is set to accelerometer mode, which as noted by many on the...

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Garmin watch with pacemaker

My dad is a 75 year old with a St Jude pacemaker. He had his first pacemaker installed 18 years ago, and it was changed 5 years back. I'm thinking of getting him a Garmin Forerunner 245 or similar - something to monitor his heart rate and blood oxygen levels, specially when he's out and about. I'm seeing some concerns about smart watches and their interference with pacemakers, and also some issues with double counting. Can somebody with a similar watch and a pacemaker please confi...

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Medtronic Pacer

Anyone resolved the conundrum of road biking with a Medtronic's pacer?  It accelerates smoothly when I run but the lack of impact and arm movement seems to indicate that I am at rest: my heart rate never climbed over 113.  As a result I was lightheaded and my legs were rubbery. 
 

I'm open to suggestions as I see my electrophysiologist later this month (September). 
 

Thanks!

Dave

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