Firefighter or Boxer?, age 26, just got it

So I got my PM 2 weeks ago, i understand there's a recovery period, and that's all good and well, but can I one day box again? Can I be a firefighter? I know I'm supposed to ask my doctor, but the appointment is a little while away.

Training for the FDNY physical exam, I could box with the best of them, I used to lift 250 lbs (deadlift, squat), 185 (bench), like the same day i went into the ER 3 weeks ago cuz i was blacking out...PLLLLEEEAAAASE thoughts...will i be the same ever again??

3 Comments

Tough Call

by Julian - 2011-10-03 02:10:47

Of course always ask your doctor but I'd have to say boxing is out of the question in general. They sell special equipment that help protect the pacemaker but as far as competitive boxing, I'd say its out of the question. You may be able to get away with sparing as long as your partner knows not to punch where the device is.

As far as being a firefighter I don't know, you would have to ask the department on that one. I'm sure every city has different requirements, again with this one I think there is a good chance that you may not be able to serve as a firefighter. I'm not sure, hopefully I'm wrong.

As far as being the same again, thank God your not, without the PM you would be dead. Boxing or firefighting isn't worth dying for. Forget being the same and focus on being BETTER than ever! You are not less of a person just because you have some limits now. I speak from experience I'm 28 years old and 9 weeks ago had open heart surgery, they put in a mechanical aortic valve for which I have to take "blood thinners" for life. Considering this it puts me at an increased chance of bleeding. It turns out after this type of surgery only 5% of people end up needing pacemakers, well I was in the "lucky" 5%.

28 years of being on this earth and never had any health issues that effected my life,no pills or anything, I didn't even like taking advil. Now I have to take pills everyday and have a clicking my the valve in my heart and a pacemaker to boot. The truth is without all this I would be dead.

share some Stats mate....

by gulliver80 - 2011-10-03 08:10:39

HI There, welcome to my club! I boxed competitivly for 10 years at a decent level, representing Scotland on a number of occasions up until April of this year however after collapsing with Obstructive Cardiomyopathy and spending 5 weeks in Cardiology - i then had an ICD Implanted!! Wowsers, what a shock, I could not believe what the doctors were telling me, nor could i believe there advice that my sporting days were over. I am some three months down the line and whilst I took lots of their advice, I have since went with a "how I feel approach" and guess what..... whilst I am not Sparring/fighting anymore, I am able to do circuit training, jogging, cycling etc so all in all at least its something! You will need to speak to your own doctor to get there view but I suspect that there should be no reason why you cant do some of the things (If not, them all) that you were able to do before (again, condition dependednt etc) My cardio initially told me that I would not be able to do any of tyhe sporting activitues that i once did, stating that I would be in serious danger of something more sinister..... I tool the advice but asked for a second opinion to be told that there is no evidence that punching a bag would cause me any harm - you know these cardio people are so risk averse, always going with an air of caution. Again, everyone has a different opionion but as long as you ask the questions, you cant go wrong!
As for the fire dept, thats not really my bag! I hope you get the answers your're looking for - all the best Buddy.

Darren

I must be a bad example... haha

by edejesus - 2011-10-05 10:10:59

whats up dude,

Im going to share with you my story. In 2004 I got a pacemaker put in for a complete heart block my freshman year of high school. I am now 21....

I still train brazilian jiu jitsu, I train muay thai. I was on my college boxing team (until the economy went under and the sport fell in college) I now play rugby for my college. I workout 5 days a week doing circuit days and heavy lifting days. I run 3 miles and row 2000meters on the rowing machine.

I am trying to be a cop. I study criminal justice at college. I have already talked too numerous agencies that say as long as I can pass the physical test I am ok. I live in NV/CA btw.
Although as of now I have my PM under the skin, my next replacement Im going to get it under the muscle for cosmetic reasons and what not.

I dont know your reason for the implant, but now you know mine. I althougth am not COMPLETELY dependent on it. I havent let this stupid thing stop me from anything. I have always been fine at my check ups with no issues.

I dont see why you have to stop any activity. As for the firefighting. I kno firefighters who say why not because I at one time wated to be a ff.

For my LE career I plan to go back to CA where Im originally from. I was told by a Sgt. about the americans with disabilities act which prohibits companies and jobs from hiring you based upon medical issues. But since Im not completely dependent and if my PM were to for reason stop, Id still be ok. But If you can do the physical work, why not.


Anyways, dont back down man in my opinion.

-E

You know you're wired when...

You have a dymo-powered bike.

Member Quotes

I'm a runner, mountain climber, kayaker, snow skier, bicycler and scuba diver. The only activity among those that I'm not yet cleared to do is scuba diving, and when I am cleared, I'll be limited to diving to 50 feet.