Can I start running?

Wow! Just found this forum, and it's really awesome. I had a dual chamber PC put in on Aug. 5. My heart rate was slowing down more more after two years when I first started looking into my heart problems. I am a runner, running half marathons. When can I start running again! I have done some walks with my arm held to my body. Do you think it is okay to start back with easy running. Is it okay to be walking. I walk 3-4kms right now.? Any advice is helpful, as it's very painful not to be running.

12 Comments

Running?

by brucecal - 2011-08-13 04:08:45

Only your doctor can tell when to start running or doing any kind of exercise. I had my PM implanted July 22nd. A few days after I came back from the hospital my doctor said it would be OK to use a stationary bike.
I'm kind of an exercise junkie so that gets my HR up without the possible hazard of jarring something loose by running so soon after the implant.
I'm hoping I can get cleared for running and resistance weight training in about a month.
You might check with your doctor re using a stationary bike.
Take care
Bruce

Gettting back to running.

by ElectricFrank - 2011-08-13 07:08:38

A couple of considerations:
First there is the issue of the leads being vulnerable to being dislodged from you heart wall for 6-8 weeks. They are screwed into the heart wall (some use a fishhook like barb), and from there travel through a vein to the pacemaker. Heavy jarring of your body could cause the weight of the leads to tug on the attach points. After a few weeks the leads scar into the vein wall and become well supported. As Bruce mentioned a stationary bike is a better way to keep your aerobic level up until then.

The other thing to keep in mind is that the pacemaker settings as it comes from the factory are pretty limiting for high level cardio activity. The upper heart rate limit is commonly set for 120 or 130 bmp, and if you reach that it will cause your HR to become irratic as it tries to limit it. So until your first checkup keep track of your HR and keep it down in the lower range.

Finally is your cardiologist familiar with marathon runners? Having the HR start slowing down as you become trained is normal. I haven't seen any recently, there have been reports here of folks being diagnosed with slow HR an given a pacer unnecessarily. Be sure you let them know you need your Upper Tracking Limit set to a HR that will support your activities.

Welcome to the forum,

frank

When to run?

by pattyd - 2011-08-13 08:08:30

Bruce and Frank, thanks a lot for the feedback.
I had a Pm put in due to slow beat, dizzy spells, and night dizzy spells. My rate very slow, especially when resting could go down to 30 and less.

The Dr. set my Pm at 50 for the lower end, but I'm not sure about the upper heart rate limit. Good question for clinic time. I will have to keep an eye out as the rate increases, and look for any symtoms.

I have been taking it easy as much as I could, and had to adjust my activity. I have walked a few times on the treadmill and have walked to work. I will continue to walk, and use the stationary bike.

I have also noticed some tightness in my chest. I think I tried too much to keep an inward bend in my chest, that when I stood right straight, (the posture you have after lifting weights) it felt like I was pulling or stretching the pocket. I get sore neck and back also, and that is annoying me now.

I will have to not run again this week, and train with bike to get in my junkie exercise high. I should phone my doctor this week also. Thanks for the feedback, I think I know that running is not good, but I suppose I want to be constanly told not to do it. !

Your on it

by ElectricFrank - 2011-08-14 01:08:20

The important thing is that you are motivated and enjoy exercise. That really makes a difference. The day after my implant I came home from the hospital, and walked a mile or so. The next day I was up to 3 miles. I did the same thing after back surgery back in the 80's. The day after the surgery I was walking all over the hospital and using the stairs between floors. It really makes a difference.

I've Jeeped and hiked around at 13,000' since getting the pacer. You shouldn't have any problem getting back to running.

frank

running

by Charles - 2011-08-14 01:08:45

like you I enjoy running.just got my pacemaker Friday morning Sat morning when the tech came in to set it we talked and I told him about my pulse dropping a couple weeks ago while running on the tread mill. He set mine at 142 upper and 60 lower for now. Doctor said start walking ASAP and I could start running again in about 5 weeks. I can do the recumbent bike and elliptical as long as I am not lifting my arms in a few days.Right now the antibiotics they gave me and have me on are doing the headache upset stomach thing but it will pass.
My pulse had started to drop to low 30's at night and mornings it was in the 40-50 range afternoons it would get up in the 60's. So got the plug and play.
Good luck

running

by devonstarr - 2011-08-15 01:08:18

What is a good upper pm rate for a runner? Right now (before pm) my upper does not go above 128 at max exertion.

running

by devonstarr - 2011-08-15 01:08:19

Pattyd
Thanks for your initial post. I, as well, am an exercise junkie doing half-marathons and am getting my pm on Aug.17 due to heart rate as low as 26 or less and dizziness. I feel great when I run and exercise. It is when I am not exercising that I get dizzy/lightheaded either sitting, lying down, or standing up. I am quite bummed out about the whole thing considering how active I am however, reading some other posts where people have actually fainted, I have come to terms with my heart.

How soon after getting your pm did you start on the stationary bike?

running

by pattyd - 2011-08-15 08:08:50

Thanks for everyone for sharing your stories and experiences. It will be two weeks since my pace maker has been put in. The greatest challenge is not being able to run. I am coming to terms with this and will just have to make it for another 4 weeks.
I exercise with walking, bike and epi machine, and I exercise every other day. I will get more workouts this week as I started back to work and routine. Students at school today asked me when we were gonna start cross country. :(
The back of my neck keeps getting stiff and kinks up. I am trying some robaxacet to try and see if it works it out.The not lifting the arm above the head issue, How long should we be doing this.
Thanks again, i appreciate all the sharing.

running

by runnerdave - 2011-08-16 02:08:27

The comments are a great help. I had a dual chamber put in on July 26, due to my slowing heart rate, generally sitting at 30 and dropping overnight to low 20's.
I have been a runner for over 50 years, still managing sub 20 minutes for 5k but struggling to recover and run up hills. I commenced walking after one week, careful to limit left arm movement. I am now walking twice a day for 40 to 60 minutes every day, incorporating some steep and long flights of steps.
After reading many blogs and in particular the comments here, I will not attempt to run until after my next check up on September 5. The difference in stress on the body between walking and running is considerable and not worth the risk of dislodging a lead for the sake of a few weeks of no running. For interest my pm is set at 50 and 140, which at 62 years old should be high enough to allow me to run hard and fast.
This club is a godsend and really helped me come to terms with the need for the pm.

running

by devonstarr - 2011-08-17 03:08:35

Awesome feedback. Thank you everyone for sharing. This is such a helpful forum to help me come to terms with this.

@pattyd-same issue as me once school starts. Already have students looking forward to running cross country with me. Hope they can not detect the disappointment in my eyes.

Today is the day I get my pm. I made sure to get my last good work out in yesterday and will go for a nice leisurely stroll when I get home to take my new friend for a slow paced test drive. ;)

Running

by pattyd - 2011-08-17 08:08:33

I wish you good vibes today devonstarr, and pray you do well with your surgery.

Test drive

by devonstarr - 2011-08-20 05:08:15

I had to hold off until today (Sat) for a test drive for this new pm. But since I can feel my heart beating like mad I think the pm was set too high. My body felt great while walking but my heart was sceaming...

Hopefully the docs will fix me up early next week. :)

How long (days/weeks) after pm was fitted did you start bike or eiptical?

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I, too, am feeling tons better since my implant.