swimming / rowing

After developing bradycardia in 2005, I am completely PM dependent. 2 years ago I moved to a different state and have a different cardiologist whom I see for for monitoring. I was a college All-American swimmer, but did not swim for many years. Now I am 62 with Type 2 diabetes and started to get in back shape by joining a Master's swim team. My cardiologist says that vigorous swimming may damage my leads and recommended that I discontinue, which I did. Now I'm considering rowing, and she is discouraging that too. I'm afraid that I will die of atherosclerosis (with my leads perfectly intact) if I do not get some exercise. Where can I get some reliable advice on which types of upper body movements put PM leads at risk of damage?

7 Comments

Bummer

by Edouard - 2010-12-02 11:12:39

I'm sorry to hear about the restriction on your activities. I'm a Masters swimmer and participate in competitions and received my PM last May.
I got into an argument with my surgeon 20 minutes before the operation. Despite the fact that I had discussed my swimming regiment with the emergency room physician, the EP, the floor supervisor, the nurses, the cleaning staff, the dog, etc., and had received all sorts of reassurance from them, my surgeon told me that "in life, hard choices must be made".
Only after I insisted did she check with her supervisor and decide to go through the cephalic vein rather than with the sub-clavian entry.
Check with your hospital and the local YMCA. Here in Montreal, the Heart Institute operates a fitness club for heart patients (EPIC). Our YMCA also has a program geared towards recovering heart patients.
You might find a trainer who will provide you with a program which will not only keep you fit but perhaps may initiate the same kind of passion you had for swimming.
Good luck
Edouard

Don't give up yet

by ElectricFrank - 2010-12-03 02:12:14

I would check with another doc before accepting the restrictions. I doubt the cardiologist really understands the movements involved in either sport. They just take the CYA approach.

With your leads having been in place since 2005 they should be well protected. Just consider that removing a lead is quite difficult and often requires laser surgery. The main thing otherwise is how much slack they left in the leads where they connect to the pacer. Since this is not the cardiologist that did the implant the only way he/she could know this is by x-raying the pacer area of your chest.

The long over the head stretch of swimming would put the most pull on the leads compared to the forward reach of rowing.

By the way I have been engaging in all sorts of activities with my Jeep in the back roads of the Calif desert. I regularly make a long reach to pull myself into the Jeep when it has a set of wheels on a rock. I'm lifting my body weight in the process. My pacer was implanted at the end of 2004 and I haven't had any lead problems.

I'm sure that the cardio will be happy to prescribe meds such as statins to "treat" your atherosclerosis. It would help him make his prescribing quota with the pharma company.

frank

Still Swimming

by richan - 2010-12-03 07:12:12

Hi,
I have my second pacemaker - replaced the first one that was implanted in March 2005. This one was placed in Jan 2010. I have been involved in Masters Swimming since 1970.
I was not given any restrictions with my swimming. I did talk with my cardiologist before getting the PM. He made sure that the leads were long enough to account for range of motion. So, I have a little "bump" where the extra length is "curled" a bit. I can see it just at the top of the buldge of my PM.
I do workout 3 times a week with our local Masters Team. I'm also, doing weight lifting/strength training 3 times a week.
So far, so good. My "complaints" are that the battery only lasted 5 years and the location of the PM often feels like it is in the way.
I'm not understanding why you can't swim!!!
Hang in there,
Richan

Thanks so much!

by dsolomonfl - 2010-12-03 09:12:30

Thanks to all for your stories and for the supportive comments. Stay healthy - be well!

Has anyone had the experience of needing a lead line replaced because of swimming? David

Hi

by helen - 2010-12-03 09:12:35

I am a Type 1 Diabetic ,I inject insulin five times a day.I Had ablation and a pacer fitted in 2006.I have been very fortunate,I am now 77yrs old ,I swim most days ,And do a lot of walking ,Cleaning Cooking Gardenig,Perhaps I am just lucky,My husband is a retired G. P.,He agrees with Frank.Take Care Helen

won't quit swimming

by aldeer - 2010-12-03 11:12:47

Sure hope you are able to continue swimming. I am pacemaker dependent and have a single lead to the ventricle. My EP who did the implant left a long lead wire that I could see, feel, and the long coil showed on x-ray, but I was determined to keep swimming. My pm did move down quite a bit because I do a lot of back stroke, and I did get a couple of very painful cramp like feelings in my wire when trying to reach out and pull too hard with the stroke, so I have changed my stroke to what I call a lame duck:)..I can get by with it because I am almost 83. It is difficult because I am left-handed and only pull with the right arm, but will not quit. My pm is 3 years young. We swim five days a week year round outdoors....sometimes very cold but always feel better afterwards! Wishing you lots of good luck and great swimming ahead. Al

randall

by randall - 2010-12-30 03:12:29

I did not swim in high school or college. In 1992, I weighted 305 lbs. Today I weight 195 lbs. I have been swimming since 2005 after bypass surgery and implantation of a pacemaker in 2004.
In 2006, I received a defibrillator - CRT-D.

I swim competitively and have over 125 medals despite the fact that my ejection fraction rate is only 45. My doctors tell me I am "rare". May be why I'm "rare" is because other doctors do no allow their patients to compete.

I swim hard and have swam in the following events:
1. 50 yard butterfly - 2008 USMS National medal winner
2. 50 yard backstroke - 2008 USMS National medal winner
3. 100 yard backstroke
4. 200 yard backstroke
5. 50 yard freestyle
6. 100 yard freestyle
7. 200 yard freestyle
8. 500 yard freestyle
9. 100 yard individual medley
10. 200 yard individual medley
11. 50 yard breast stroke
12. 100 yard breast stroke
13. 200 yard breast stroke

Also, I swim all the about strokes in the Olympic sized meter pool. I have medaled in every different type of event I have entered.

I am training to go to the Masters World championships in Italy in 2012.

You need a new doctor..

Randall

You know you're wired when...

You have an excuse for gaining an extra ounce or two.

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