Trying to Deal

Hi, I am a 34 yr. old women who has had fainting/dizziness for about 6 yrs. I finally had an insertable loop recorder and it found that my heart stops. I am an avid horseback rider and also participate in Horse shows with my daughters. We have a hobby farm with horses/goats/dogs/rabbit and the token barn cat.
Since my PM insertion (about Mid-May) I have not been able to take care of my horses/farm/home. Nor have I been able to excersize (I usually do a cardio workout 4 x a week). Last weekend was our first show of the season, and it was really hard to sit out and watch. The Dr. told me No riding for 3 months which puts me out of the show circuit this year. I know that I will be better in the long run and so forth, but I'm really having a hard time dealing with this.
Thanks for letting me rant.

5 Comments

ask again

by Tracey_E - 2009-06-10 01:06:29

Unless you have other problems, it's pretty typical to be cleared for anything you've mentioned after 6 weeks. I'm not telling you to ignore your doctor, but it can't hurt to question him to see if he'll bend a little. Sometimes they are very conservative with all their patients out of habit, they're not really thinking about your individual situation.

Before six weeks, you can still work around the house and the horses, just be careful to keep your left arm below shoulder level and don't lift with it. We have to give the leads time to grow into place, too much on the left arm can shift them, hence the precautions. I took walks well before the six weeks, started off with short and easy but worked up as I healed.

Have faith! It may seem like forever now, but before you know it you'll be healed and feeling your old self again. Rant all you want! We've all been through it and we're happy to lend an ear or shoulder.

p.s. I got my first pm at 27. I'm 42 now and very active. Most people don't even know I have it, and I feel great.

Thanks

by tufftrivia - 2009-06-10 02:06:21

Thanks so much for the positive comment..I know things will get back to normal...It helps to have people that have been through it and can understand..Again, Thank you.

Hi,

by Gellia2 - 2009-06-10 03:06:19

You'll be able to ride again!

When I got my first pacemaker, I wasn't given any instructions at all. They didn't know what instructions to give me.

That was 1975 and I was 26 y/o.

So, I promptly went out and bought a horse. A little throughbred right off the race track. That I had never ridden before didn't bother me a bit. I wanted to ride like the wind. BWAHAHHAA

I never did really ride well. Fell off more often than not (I had NO balance whatsoever), but I had horses and enjoyed having them for 5 years after. With all the landing on the ground I did, I never once hurt my pacemaker at all but I did learn, you bounce, and HARD!

Waiting a few weeks is worth it in the long run. I was able to do virtually anything I wanted in the years that followed. You will too.
TraceyE is right on. Give you doctor a call and see.

Best to you, and enjoy your horses!
Gellia

Pacing

by nat - 2009-06-10 03:06:33

HI! I am sorry to hear about your struggles! It is extremely frustrating!! I am 24 and have had my PM for over two years. I used to be a ballet dancer so I can relate to the frustration. Unfortunately, I had to resign from my career but still try to dance a couple days a week. This varies from day to day. One thing that really helped me is Cardiac Rehab. Being a professional athlete I didn't know how to pace myself.
It is difficult having a heart condition because its varies from day to day. The best words I can say (and say to myself all the time) is patience and persistence. Be patient with your body, listen some days you will be able to work with the horses and some days you will probably need to rest. When you approach it this way, the reward is great because you don't crash as much. Everyone responds differently to the PM.
Best to you!
NAT

Riding

by NWGirl - 2009-06-10 08:06:10

Hi There - I understand your frustration. I got my pacemaker installed on 3-17-09, and about one month out I, also, was having a really hard time mentally. I am a long time horsewoman, and being back on my horse was so important to me. I thought I would go stir crazy sitting around reading and recovering, even though I knew I needed to give my body time to heal. I wanted to be outside and riding!! Finally, at about seven or eight weeks, I had someone help me saddle my horse (who was plenty fresh after standing all winter) and we took a nice easy ride. It improved my mental health considerably.

Now I am back to riding a lot, but still mostly walking and trail riding. Not trotting or loping yet, because sometimes it stills feels a little tender at the pm site. But it will come.

You probably won't get to all the shows this year, but you have been given your life. I know you are thankful for that. Your healing time will pass quickly if you don't overdo it. So accept help when you can get it, with the chores and grooming and saddling, and I hope the day you can be horseback again comes quickly. Good luck. Feel free to rant away :-)

You have found a group that understands.
Happy Healing!!
NW Girl

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