NEED ADVICE
I just had my pacemaker put it this past Thursday September 18th. I am 32 years old and I am in great physical shape. I normally work out in the gym 3-5 times a week lifting weights. The pacemaker was put into to keep my heart rate from dropping to the 30s...which happens when I have blackout. My normal rate is low because I am good health. It is normally around 44-58 resting. However, they set my pacemaker at 60 which means my heart rate will not go below 60 to what it is normally use to being at rest.
I guess the question is... do you feel when your pacer is kicking in?? Can I ask them to lower it to maybe 50 instead of 60? I don't if it is my mind playing tricks on me or I am actually feeling something but it is strange.
I am going back for a followup on October 2nd. Any advice you would give me to ask the doctor about??
Also, will I still be able to lift heavy weights??
Thanks so much!
8 Comments
Similar Situation
by CARAMEL - 2009-09-23 04:09:52
I also worked aut at the gym 4-6 times a week doing cardio and lifting weights. You should be able to lift again. Start out with less weight and more reps, and you'll be able to work your way back to pre-pacer days. Also the comment from Jim was of help to me. I too feel a block when I hit 140 at the gym. I will have to ask what my upper rate is set at. Johnny good luck with your work out.
caramel
by Tracey_E - 2009-09-23 06:09:31
It's very common for the upper rate to be set too low on young people! The settings they send us home with are for sedentary and otherwise sick people. Mine was raised to 170. If it doubt, ask them to put you on a treadmill and see what happens when you get your rate up.
why
by Tracey_E - 2009-09-23 06:09:51
Why did you get the pm? You said low hr but not what caused the low rate. If you have atrial problems, then the pm can probably be set lower and see how you do. If you have an av block and pace ventricle, then the lower setting is more or less irrelevant because your own atria is setting the pace, not the pm, the pm is just there to complete the circuit and make sure your heart beats in sync.
You should not feel it kicking in, although it's not unheard of. What you are probably feeling is just the faster pace. It takes a while to get used to a faster heartbeat when you're used to going so slow.
You should be back at the gym at your normal routine by 6 weeks! Probably with more energy since you will be getting more oxygen and your hr will go up when it should.
tadek
by tadeusz kostka - 2009-09-23 08:09:07
Hi folks, a bit concerned about the feelings you all talk about I am getting dizzy spells and butterflies in the left side of stomach, is this a sign that my pm has been set to high at 60 + 110 top end,pc fitted as my natural pc was damaged by a pair of heart attacks. I am a bit concerned adout the dizzy spells.
Hang in there, Johnny!
by GMan - 2009-09-23 08:09:32
I never felt the PM kicking in...I'm at 9/weeks. As a weight trainee you should be able to train but as my surgeon said to me "Be sensible"! Heavy max lifts may not be sensible now...but you can slowly work up to being pretty strong!
Gary
Min/Max setting
by ElectricFrank - 2009-09-24 12:09:43
If you know what your heart rate range was during workouts and relaxation before the pacemaker, Ask to have the minimum and maximum rates set to include them. This may mean being more aggressive in taking charge of the situation. Many cardiologists or docs really don't understand the person in good shape.
I had quite a battle to get them to set mine to 55-150 especially being 74 at the time. I'm 79 now and still have the same settings. At my age I don't push HR to 150, but I want the pacer out of my way to decide.
frank
Question I always forget to ask!!!!
by Hot Heart - 2009-09-27 07:09:29
How do we tell what our heart rate goes up to when we are at the gym??? Since getting my pm I was told not to hold on to the heart rate monitors on the treadmill!! Is this correct???
HH
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Lower Setting
by Jmiller - 2009-09-22 11:09:07
Looks like we have similar problems but I'm slightly ahead of you. I had a dual lead PM implanted 5 weeks ago. I play hockey and like to work out (but I'm old, 52). My pulse rate typically 48 dropped to like 41 and I started to get dizzy and I could not get my heart rate over 82 during exercise. They set my lower pulse rate to 50. That seems to work well for me. Doesn't seem like you need the 60 (just wasting battery), but I'm not a doctor. The problem I had was they left my upper limit at factory setting of 140. After 2 weeks I got clearance to exercise on an exercise bike and I easily went over 140. When I hit 140 the PM would drop my heart rate to 70 (2:1 block), weird feeling. Recently they raised it to 160 (with no drop) and put a 190 limit for the 2:1 block to kick in. I'm now out on a real bike and have had no issues and feel good. Hope this helped
Good luck
Jim