Most Recent Messages in Exercise & Sports

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How things can change......

Hi all, i haven't been on here in a while. I was fitted with a pacemaker for 2nd degree heart block in April 2010 at the age of 27 and if i'm honest, i didn't cope too well with it. I started drinking a lot and carried on smoking too much. Then in August 2011 my little boy was born and it was like a slap in the face to wake me up! I knew i had to sort myself out mentally first so i took it slowly.

On New Years eve 2011 i was smoking 20 a day and weighed 250 pounds. On New years day...

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Single / mono strap Hiking, Backpacking, Daypack

Hi all

In July 2011, three days after climbing up Peny-ghent one of the three Yorkshire peaks in the UK I ran out of electricity and had to have an emergency pacemaker fitted at the wonderful LGI in Leeds, UK. I had total heart block. I’m now 48 years old.

Previous to my Pacemaker I was fit, exercised regular and cycled 20 / 30 UK miles every other day so most probably fit in with the theories of too much exercise wears you out, but hey ho eh. I for the last 8 months I’ve...

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Endurance athletes

While on a run last feb. 26, I entered a dizzy spell that ultimately resulted in an ICD defib/pacemaker for ventricula tachycardia. The problem arises in my right ventricle. None of the medical people I dealt with had a clue as to what caused this to happen to my ventricle... I happened on a study published in the "Mayo Clinic Proceedings" June issue, entitled "Potential Adverse Cardiovascular Effects From Excessive Endurance Exercise" and this explained my situation to a T! Would like to hea...

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Planning to hike Macchu Picchu

I'm planning to hike the Inca Trail up to Machu Picchu, two years post PM surgery. I feel great, am back to daily workouts, and have my doctor's clearance to exercise with "no restrictions."

My condition is Sick Sinus Syndrome (also called Tachy Brady Syndrome). It is effectively managed with a combo of meds (for the tachycardia) and a St. Jude's Zephyr pacemaker (for the bradycardia).

I feel so much better now that I'm thinking about doing things like this "journey of a l...

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Medtronic settings & burning chest discomfort

Hello all: I have spoken privately with Electric Frank and Ian concerning Medtronic settings and burning chest discomfort.

I have been paced 100% for the past 3 years and lead a very active life, running 30 minutes 4 or 5 times a week on the treadmill. But unable to raise my pulse to more than 80 to 100 bpm.

After some convincing, my doc finally upped my rate response to the most sensitive settings and my max HR to 165 bpm. I can now raise my pulse into the 130s. But my...

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Flys with weights

I have been doing weights. I would like to do flys, but my doc said might not do with leads. I did flys with my other pacemaker because I never checked, nothing happen. Anyone do flys and other suggestions for weights. I already do bisceps, triceps, but not chest press. I am a women so weights not heavy. Whats safe with a pacemaker in chest.

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Flys with weights

I have been doing weights. I would like to do flys, but my doc said might not do with leads. I did flys with my other pacemaker because I never checked, nothing happen. Anyone do flys and other suggestions for weights. I already do bisceps, triceps, but not chest press. I am a women so weights not heavy. Whats safe with a pacemaker in chest.

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Water aerobics

Today, I went to water aerobics and could only do 20 min of the hour long class.  I’m now on day 10 of my first pacemaker.  64 years old...this is so hard.  I still can’t sleep on my stomach for this hockey puck on my left side.

I know I’m lucky to have this, but sometimes when I work out my heart just beats out of my body and I feel a shortness of breath. Is this normal 10 days after surgery?

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Exercising

Well,it's now been 9 days since I had my first pacemaker put in and I did talk with my cardiologist. She said I should be exercising 20 minutes every day. I said, "Every day?!" she said, "YES!" so, I started back this morning and I have felt wonderful, I MEAN WONDERFUL all day!

What about spirits/liquor? What have you experienced with that? Do you drink at all...how does it work for you all?

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wii fit plus

I have a pacemaker and noticed that there is a warning on bathroom scales that include BMI readings. Does this also include the Wii fit plus with BMI readings? Should I be concerned or not use the Wii fit unit?

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Kayaking

Hey been a while since I posted anything. This site is great, I always come here when I have a concern, people are so nice. I've had my pacer since 2009 and have had almost no issues, I play hockey and golf and barely know its there. I did try kayaking tonight on a flat lake and after about 45 my pacer area is a little sore. Is there any issues or concerns I should have about kayaking with a pacemaker?

Jim

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Exercise Limitations- This May Help

This relates to heart rate while exercising and to tweaking PM settings. Haven’t posted in awhile, but have lurked when time permits and see this subject frequently.

Background - I am 75 and have been active; hiking and skiing in the Northeast. Have had my pacemaker for almost 2 years. It has worked in that I am alive and haven’t had any syncopies.
The problem has been that when my HR gets up to 120 bpm I start to get skips every other beat. This not only is v...

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Too low a runing rate

Am an 80 year old who has been and is very active as a marathon runner. Fitted with a Boston Sci. PM a few months ago. Have made several adjustments with the 50/150 current setting. Problem is it is virtually impossible to get the rate even up to 90. I can go forever at 4.2 mph walking or running with a rate of 84, but almost never can get it higher. Also have experienced at 5.0 or so, a sudden drop to mid 70's which almost causes me to drop. Trying to understand, is this a PM setting problem o...

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hiking in Colorado

Is there anyone in the club who regularly hikes at Colorado altitudes (up to 13000 ft)? I would appreciate any tips regarding pacing myself, stopping and starting on the trail, etc.

I find that I have to start slowly, that a trail that starts up steep gives me trouble and I generally avoid taking a sitting down rest on the way up because it is so hard to get going again.

What should I know about settings? I did not know there was something to know, check and keep track of...

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Insanity

Hello there everyone! I am so very new to this website. I am 23 years old and received my pacemaker in July of 2010 while I was serving in the US Navy. Well, due to complications and schedules I couldn't work out for about 2 years. I just recently started the workout Insanity by Beachbody. I know that over time cardio lowers your heart rate. I have a normal resting heart rate of 30bpm. My pacemaker brings that up to 55bpm. Do you think it is safe for me to do Insanity?

Thank you...

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running again

I am just getting back into running after 2 months off to give time for my PM to heal properly.  It was installed April 25, 2012.  My heart rate has been preset to 50bpm because I have Bradycardia.  I went running twice the past few days and I find that I do not recognize what is happening to my body while I am running.  

When I start running my natural pacing is slow to leave 50 and seems to climb much more slowly than it used to but then spiked hard on...

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Very Confused !

Hello everyone ,
I have just found this site and what a relief it was !
I am 47 years old , very fit , very active . I am a regular attendee at my local gym , and have just got back into running .
I have been having dizzy spells for the last 3 years , Drs thought it was related to my migraines , however last Tuesday it was discovered that I needed an ECG .
I merrily went for one thinking all would be fine , however the following day had to to attend for a heart scan , and b...

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Story of a PM Newbie

Hello! I'm 46 and just got a Biotronik Evia DR-T PM implanted on 6/18/12. Was diagnosed with paroxysmal AV block. I'm still in a state of disbelief. I was very fit, ran 10-15 miles and weightlifted 3-4x per week. Always stayed slim, kept a clean and healthy diet, never smoked, no heart or any other type of disease. Never used drugs or supplements, and no medication. Thought I did all the right things - then WHAM! Hello Evia!

Since 2005 or so, I occasionally felt my heart skipping bea...

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10k on July 4th!

Good evening my healthy heart friends!

I had my 3 month check up on Monday and my upper limit was changed from 130 to 170! Woo Hoo, now when I run and I hit the 170s, I won't have to stop. I don't stop anyway because that always happens at the hills and I just want to get it done. Once I get passed the hill, my beats slow a bit and my breathing remains helpful.

Anyway, I "practiced" today by walking/running 6.2 miles. I finished in 1. 5 hours. 2 years ago I did it in 1 h...

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Anyone ride Dirt Bikes or do MX?

My son had his pacer put in on April 26th. He is 23 by the way. He is feeling a lot better and has returned to regular activities except riding his dirt bike or jet-ski. He was a racer and we accept that that must stop, but should he give up casual trail riding? One Cardio doc said do what you feel you can and another said absolutely NO way.

The mixed answers are so confusing. I feel that the casual trail would be slightly more physically demanding than a street rider, but I assu...

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You know you're wired when...

You fondly named your implanted buddy.

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I am not planning on letting any of this shorten my life. I am planning on living a long happy battery operated life. You never know maybe it will keep me alive longer. I sure know one thing I would have been dead before starting school without it.