swimming

I am 58 years old, had my pacemaker put in 9 weeks ago, was A-fibbing between 95-105 on my pulse, waking up in the morning it would be 81. Had my cardio version last week now I'm at a steady 70 pulse rate, sometimes 68-74. When can I start swimming my laps again? Doctor said I can walk all I want but my feet and knees are racked with arthritis, (thirty years of surfing in cold water) What are my risks if any to swimming 10-15 laps a day? I'm new to all this. Bob

4 Comments

Still swimming

by Edouard - 2011-01-05 10:01:36

Hi Surferbob58
I am a 59 year-old competitive swimmer who got his PM last May for SSS. My HR was too slow so there is a bit of difference beween us there. Because I was admitted on the Friday night of a long weekend, I was admitted and waited until Tuesday for my surgery. I therefore had 4 days to tell the EP, the Cardio, the emergency room supervisor, the floor supervisor, the nurses, and the cleaning staff that I wanted to go on swimming after the procedure. Everyone assured me that there were specific procedures to meet my needs. The only person not to get the memo was my surgeon, a young kid fresh out of kindergarten. I had to make a scene, just 20 minutes before the surgery for her to finally go and check with her supervisor. She came back and agreed to do a cephalic entry rather than the usual sub-clavin vein insertion.
I was beached for 6 weeks thereafter but resumed my swimming after that. I am back to my routine of swimming +/- 3,000 meters (120 laps) per day 4-5 days per week and have participated in three competitions since my surgery, actually doing quite well in my age category.
Check with your doctor. I suspect that if you've had a sub-clavian insertion, your leads may be a bit more exposed than mine. On the other hand, I'd be surprised if 15 daily laps were to put you at great risk. My bet is that your doctor will be more than pleased to know that you've got a regimen that keeps you fit and he will give you the green light.
Keep us posted
Best regards
Edouard

swimmer's opinion...

by blucherries7x89 - 2011-01-06 11:01:21

hi there. i was a NCAA D1 swimmer for several years. I had my pm placed in Sep 2010 a the age of 21 after a 13 second pause. This was very devastating for me only being 21 and having no history of heart problems. After having the pm placed, I have not going back to the Division I level of swimming, and do not swim for my school anymore (but that has to do with a blown out shoulder, nothing to do with the pm), but I started back swimming at what is called the "club" level. Club swimming is exactly what it sounds like. You register through a nationwide organization and compete with whatever club is local. It is made up of swimmers of all levels from age 5-95. While I never went back to NCAA swimming, I was able to go back to my local club really quickly. Just 3 weeks after having my first pm placed, I was able to swim again. The first day I was able to do 20 laps! (I was later fussed at by my cardiologist later because they didn't quite want me back in the pool yet).
A few weeks later I was back in the pool, and running again, with the encouragement of the cardiologist. I would double check with your cardiologist before you swim, because the arm motions can mess with the leads before they are good and set, but swimming should be fine! It is actually one o the best exercises one can do because it is so easy on your joints, unlike running. lol.
Good luck with the swimming!

BluCherries7X89

Pacemaker / ICD

by randall - 2011-01-17 03:01:24


I had a quadriple by-pass in 2004 and they put in a pacemaker. Ejection fraction rate was 42.

In 2006, the ejection fraction rate was 35. Also had an irregular heart beat. Now my ejection fraction rate is 45 after implanting the CRT-D (ICD)..

I'm a competitive swimmer since 2005. No previous experience. I swim all the strokes nowin competition. The longest competitive race I swim is 500 yards - 20 laps.

Like the other two comments above - ask you doc about when to start swimming. If he is cautious or reluntant about your swimming (some docs are) I would seek another opinion.

I have been fortunate. I never feel anything from my device. I'm 69 years old.


Randall

swimming

by patio - 2011-01-20 04:01:12

HI, I don't swim that far, 300 to 400 meters but I thought you had to wait for 6 months till the leads are ok?
I did swim after 3 months but only the side stroke, I was ok with that

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I just want to share about the quality of life after my pacemaker, and hopefully increase awareness that lifestyles do not have to be drastically modified just because we are pacemaker recipients.