Pacemaker made me stop exercising

I’m 42 years old and I got a pacemaker a year ago. Since then I have had some problems keeping my lifestyle and leads in place. I have had my leads replaced twice since I got the first surgery. The doctor did not find the reason.

I exercise every day and do physical work all the time. But now, the pacemaker is like a strong brake that is making me slow down too fast and sudden because I believe the exercise is causing the failured leads. I still feel young and energetic, but I guess I need to change directions and work keeping my PM functioning instead. I would like to share experiences, comments, advices, with other people around the same age.  Any PM Club around Central Florida?.

7 Comments

second opinion?

by Tracey_E - 2011-03-01 05:03:09

Have you had a second opinion? Are the leads malfunctioning or becoming dislodged? Two very different things. I've very active and still have one of my original leads from 1993 going strong, activity shouldn't have any impact on them. After the first 6-8 weeks, you should be able to do just about anything you want and not worry about it. That's the hardware. The settings may take some tweaking also but that's all done by computer, not with surgery. When you say slow down to fast, do you mean your rate is dropping off too quickly after exercise?

I'm in South Florida. I love my cardiologist, he's in Palm Beach Gardens.

Failed Lead

by GQ - 2011-03-02 02:03:05

Yes, the first time I got informed the lead was not working I went to another cardiologist, and he said the same thing: "The leads are failing". The reason is unknown. They failed after a year. The doctor said they were not sensing the heart events. They replaced the leads and Pacemaker (a new one with three leads instead of two) and the leads failed again after 2 months. The only thing I felt was a lack of energy. I had the leads replaced on 02/09/11 and I'm back in the gym already, but just walking, using the bike and a little bit a legs. Nothing with the upper body just for now. Let see if this time they stay functioning longer. Thanks Tracey.

Good Tip

by GQ - 2011-03-03 09:03:09

Thanks Donb

That is my plan too. I'm doing a lot of walking and some legs exercises. Nothing for the upper body other than lift my cup of coffee. I will start monitoring my HR and gradually get back to the weight i used to lift....Hope this time everything stay in place.
Thanks, GQ

Exercise

by donb - 2011-03-03 12:03:44

Hi, I have been in Cardiac Rehab as I had a heart artery blockage which is now stented. In doing exercises you always do warm up exercise before going on any equipment, very important. The other precaution is monitoring your HR during expercises. The important procedure is to bring up your HR gradually and after your exercise on each piece of equipment you gradually slow down to bring your HR back to your normal. As your PM has both your lower HR limit setting and also the upper HR setting you generally don't want to exceed your upper limit as this sometimes can cause very irregular heart beats.

AS far as upper body exercise I had a lead fail where it terminates into the PM and ended up with new right chest PM implant and new leads. I had been using the bench arm exercise which contributed to this failure along with my other activities. Every PM patient should gradually get into expercising starting with walking. I know I sluff off too much which I shouldn't after almost 19 years of PMs' donb

dislodged lead

by Hubbsy - 2011-03-05 02:03:46

How soon after your lead install did you start exercising? Hopefully your doctor made u aware that your arm on your pm side was to not lift, pull or be raised above your shoulder for 6 to 8 weeks otherwise could affect the bond to the wall of your heart. Heart rate is not an issue but pulling on your leads are.

Sounds like your an active guy,as am I, but you need to take the break to let things heal up. A bad lead is a whole different story and out of your control.

Best of luck sorting it out

Only one more week for me then back to sports!!! (had a new lead put in January 11th)

Healing time

by GQ - 2011-03-05 10:03:42

Hello Hubbsy: Well the doctor only restricted me for driving on the first 5 days, and from raising my arm until the third week. I'm not doing lifting or physical exercise with my left arm but i raise it, open doors, and lead on that arm sometimes. Hope this is not the reason of the lead failure. I just will be more careful until the end of the 6th week and then i will go back to the gym. I gained 10 lb. so far, I need to be back badly.

good luck!

by Hubbsy - 2011-03-07 03:03:02

the weight can be kept off through exercise... just no arm or pec workouts. Best of luck sheddin' the 10!!

You know you're wired when...

You have a maintenance schedule just like your car.

Member Quotes

Today I explained everything to my doctor, he set my lower rate back to 80 and I felt an immediate improvement.