Most Recent Messages in Exercise & Sports

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How to tweak your device for peak performance

Hi. I've had a pacemaker for years. I'm looking for advice on how to tweak my device to get better performance from it while biking and exercising. My own heart used to kick in when I excercised. But now I seem 100% dependent and I feel it's not providing adequate pacing for what I'm trying to do on the bike. Quite the competitive athlete here. Are there other top athletes on this site? I'm heavy into mountain biking right now. Struggling going uphill a...

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Exercise

No one on this forum seems to have an answer regarding all over strengthening exercises after pacemaker implant. In fact no one period seems to have an answer. Everyone that is able and is exercising is participating in their own routines. 

This is a call out to some serious and factual information regarding total strenthening exercises.

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Surfing after PM implant

Hi All,

I searched on these forums and found a few posts from back in 2016 about surfing after PM installation. I'm just coming up on 3 months since surgery, and am starting to think about getting back in the water. My doc advised me to wait the full 6 months after surgery before paddling/duckdiving, since the leads and device need time to become covered with scar tissue. So I've got another 3 months but I'm very curious what my limitations will be once im back surfing again...

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Heart Rate monitor

I got my PM three weeks ago and slowley got back on my bike. 

How do you measure heart rate?

My Sigma heart rate strap does not update

Thanks

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New Pacemaker

Hi all I had a dual pacemaker inserted for 2 to 1 block. Procedure 4 weeks ago.

I was lifting barbells compound exercises squats bench deadlifts rows military press before proceure  (3 days a week) 

I have been walking 3 miles every second day the last 10 days.

I hope to start running on the road as weights are not allowed by consultant.

I walk 1.5 miles up a 45 % gradient and heartrate stays 85-90 beats.

Yesterday I started jogging downhill and could o...

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Checking in

Good morning from LA. It's been a while since I last posted. I've been preoccupied with other medical concerns until recent cardiology visits. In December I was diagnosed with a couple of cancers. First, polycithemia vera, a rare blood cancer, and anal cancer, which is more rare then PV. The latter required urgent treatment. I went through 28 days of radiation and chemo therapy plus a couple of days of infusion. I ran everyday during treatment and I continue to run. This morning I did...

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Cycling. movement and PM reaction

Hi there,

I am one month post PM insertion.  Female 57 years, active exerciser, cyclist, hiker and multiple sports player. I had unexpected bradycardia in January that had me down to 32 bpm at rest.  I struggled to get my HR over 70 under exertion. Climbing stairs had me winded and light-headed.

I have been cycling indoors (low impact, no hills) to get back into cycling shape before I head outdoors.  My PM settings are 50 - 130 bpm. Recovery has been going well unti...

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Ablation, atrial flutter, and exercise

The last thing I requested before my atrial flutter ablation general anaesthetic  6 weeks ago was,"Please, don't fiddle with my pacemaker settings, leave them as you find them". Did they? No. 

I have had a month of tachycardias and shortness of breath on even light exercise such as a flight of stairs. Fed up, I contacted my pacemaker clinic and they had me back.  The test of two flight of stairs nearly had me with the crash team. I really could not breath at...

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Fitness

Approx 3 months ago I began to exercise again after a very long period of problems with my pacing settings that made exercise very difficult and pretty daunting.  

Initially I over did it. On medical advice I calmed down and just walked instead. Walking is now going well after several months and although I’m still not great going uphills, my stamina is very much improved on the flat. However, I still can’t push myself and I get the worn feeling in my chest if I do....

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Rate response

A while back I posted about how happy I was with my PM settings.  I was getting really good response to my needs for higher HR during exercise.  Of late it hasn't been as good.   I think I've noticed though that wearing hard soled hiking shoes gets my HR up more than my running shoes which have a soft minimalist heel.  Is the PM responding to vibration from heel strike on the ground? 

Am I on to something or out to lunch? 

Thanks friends,...

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What happens when...

I am  CRT-P pending (May 1st).  In my meeting with my EP he said the Medtronic device I'd be getting will have a max of 160bpm.  I didn't think to ask at the time, but what happens if my heart rate exceeds 160?  I ask because for years now if I engage in aerobic activity for more than a few minutes my heart rate regularly pops up to over 160.   I understand that part of the reason is because my EF is below normal so my heart is beating faster trying to ge...

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Average heart rate

Hi just checking been doing alot walking and jogging average heart rate 166 and a peack of 203 for a 6km walk is that bad. How a post a picture of the heart rate 

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CrossFit open - heart rate stayed low and couldn’t catch my breath

I participated in the CrossFit open last night (90 snatches, 90 burpees over the DB with 15 minute cap).   I struggled aerobically and it took me quite some time to get my breath back. My lungs were burning. I checked my heart rate on my watch after the event and it peeked at 129.  I easily do 30 minutes + on the rower, bike, treadmill, elliptical when not at CrossFit and my heart rate ranges between 150-170 and I never feel so damn winded.   I've noticed before t...

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Backpacking

Does anyone have suggestions as to how to use a backpack with chest straps as they run across the area where my Pacemaker is implanted..

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ICD's and Waterskiing

Hi,

I'm a 67 yo male who was recently diagnosed with HCM and had a Medtronic Cobalt dual camber device (defibralator and pacer) implanted 4 weeks ago as Preventative for VT/VF. I've had NSVT and other atrial arrythmias and have other markers in risk stratification which is how I now find myself "in the club". I'm on two antiryhthmitics which I hate but understand the reason's why.... I'm an avid advanced waterskier who's out on the water...

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to ski or not to ski

I woud like some opinions undestanding there is probably no right or wrong answer.

My husband grew up skiing.  I did not. At 30 years old I started skiing on an anuual ski trip with my husband, friends, and our four daughters that came along over the years.  I was a decent skiier, not great.

We did this for about 20 years then stopped when schedules for children did not allow the family trip. 

I have not skiied in 14 years. 

We are pl...

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Settings for Boston Scientific .. Cross country skiing

Are there any cross country skiers out there with a BS pace maker ?   We are having a hard time coming up with some Accel, MV settings that work . ( I had a race last week and spent 35 min at a Heart rate of 170 , had to come to a total stop to slow the heart rate down !!! )  HELP !!!

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Pacemaker Settings

I am a Cycle Guide and I had a Biotronic Evity 8 DRT Pacemaker fitted on October 23rd. I am now training hard on the bike for the 2024 season and I am struggling, probably inevitably, with my fitness. I used to race at a top amateur level. My surgeon has set my Pacemaker to 45-130 and I was wondering if the upper level is inhibiting my progress. As a Cycle Coach, I record and monitor all my stats and I have done nearly 50 rides since the operation with my average Heart Rate being around...

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Athlete with various types of heart block

Hi, I'm new to this forum but am finding it enormously useful.
I'm 45 and scheduled for pacemaker insertion on Monday and wanted to see if anyone has similar experiences to my own.

I'm an avid cyclist and runner, cycling about 100miles/ week and running about 15miles, the cycling volume has reduced from 200miles per week prior to the covid pandemic. I've always had a low heart rate, typically in the 50s and high 40s but over the last 4-5 years this has reduced to mi...

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Non response from pacemaker during exercise

I ride quite a lot. All too frequently I experience the situation where my pacemaker simply doesn'y respond during effort. I can be riding and my heart rate won't budge from low to high 80's even if riding uphill. This can last for an hour or more and then spontaneously move to a more appropriate rate. Even riding on flat roads is a chore and unpleasant.

I've discussed this with my cardiologist and the Biotronik technician and invariably their response is to try and adju...

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You know you're wired when...

You invested in the Energizer battery company.

Member Quotes

I'm 35 and got my pacemaker a little over a year ago. It definitely is not a burden to me. In fact, I have more energy (which my husband enjoys), can do more things with my kids and have weight because of having the energy.