Exersise

Has anyone here been told by their cardioligist that they could resume total normal physical activity after only two weeks of implantation of your pacemakers? ANYONE?

7 Comments

no!!!

by Hot Heart - 2010-11-19 04:11:29

Of course it really depends upon what is normal!!!

No lifting of arm, no stretching up, no heavy lifting for 6 weeks. Then you get an xray to check that the wires havnt moved and you can start doing more.

Yes

by turboz24 - 2010-11-19 06:11:26

I was told to lay off exercise and not to lift my arm higher than my shoulder for 2 weeks after my ICD implant, then I could resume normal activity. I didn't push it as hard as I normally would after 2 weeks, but I did return to normal workouts.

It really seens to depend on your doc, etc.

Billy

by LS - 2010-11-19 07:11:17

I am also a weight trainer
Comment posted by BillyD on 2010-10-22 23:26.
I am with you on this. I have been a work out person with weights most of my life. My doctor has not said one way or another about lifting my weights for keeping in shape and if he says no........well I would find it hard to comply..........Keep strong and do what you doctor says for now at the very least. I will keep you informed what my physician tells me next week when I see him.........We can be friends and talk anytime

The above is a quote from one of your earlier posts. I'm not sure if you followed your Dr.'s instructions or not?
My Dr. told me no lifting over 30 pounds (I think) no lifting the arm above my head, things like that. Normal activity was resumned though, besides those things.
I think everyone will have a different thought on the restrictions as everyone is different, and so our their doctors.
Liz

Yes

by biker72 - 2010-11-20 08:11:51

I was back riding my bike and driving in less than 2 weeks after the implant. I actually drove myself home from the hospital and rode my bike that afternoon.

I waited 4-6 weeks before I tried any heavy lifting or doing much overhead work with my left arm.

As other posters have mentioned, everyone heals differently. Listen to your doctor.

Heart Wall Lead Attachment

by donb - 2010-11-20 12:11:16

I have been wanting to comment about lead attachment as Patch brought out. I was fortunate 18 years ago to have my cardiologist put my Medtronic leads in with gold helix screws treated with cotizone. As he told me at the time to cool it for a few weeks so the healing process would allow good anchoring into the heart wall. Well, those leads went through torture for 17 years as most everyone knowing me would not believe I was a PM patient.

I believe that the safest way with dealing with exercise & workouts regardless what hardware is used in an implant is follow your Dr's orders. BUT, do not leave that hospital without a complete understanding of your implant surgery. For the cost and risks to you, it's your life and you have the right to know. Ya, I also learned with my 3rd PM replacement, I didn't ASK?? Well, a year later my 3rd PM had to be yanked!! Long story!! donb

yes

by Mitch - 2010-11-28 07:11:20

I was told I could resume biking my normal schedule of 200 to 300 miles/week, in two weeks but no lifting AT ALL for l week and then nothing heavy for up to 6 weeks. I did a 200KM race 18 days after the PM no issues at all. Like the above from biker I drove home after 4 days in hosp. and started biking in a few days under 2 weeks. Most Dr tend to error on the long side, understandbly. I did check with the Dr before doing the race and he ok'ed it

We all differ, advice differs.

by Selwyn - 2010-11-29 07:11:12

As for myself, the morning following the pacemaker insertion in the previous afternoon, I walked around the hospital block, got a newpaper, went for a chest X-ray, and was discharged from hospital. I did ask at the time of insertion to leave plenty of length on the leads as I like to swim free-style. We also had a little debate as to which side to put it on as I am left handed, in the end I decided on the left, as I drive and the seat belt is less likely to catch the box. The cardiologist had to turn everything around again in the operating room, some people!
I was forbidden from driving for a week - I decided there was little harm in riding my bicycle the next day (as the arm/chest with the surgical wound is static on a bicycle if sat on the saddle and I cannot see this being worse than walking for bounce activity) and was happily riding 10 miles per day to have lunch with the wife at her work's lunch hour without problems ( I even bought myself a new bicycle that week, as a treat, my previous one being 35 years old!) At least it kept me fit. Fit enough to race my 24 year old son on his bike a week later !
There is very little chance of the new lead coming out with normal/active heart activity. It would not be a good idea to put tension on the heart lead!Surgical wounds take about 6 weeks to reach full strength, by that time I was back to swimming the odd couple of miles per week and the wound was well healed so the pool water did not affect the scar.
If anyone is worried about having a pacemaker insertion - I have had worse at the dentist! I swim as well as I ever did before the pacemaker.

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Hi, I am 47 and have had a pacemaker for 7 months and I’m doing great with it.