Swimming?

I received my PM on March 10th - very unexpected. I was told to not lift my arm over my head for 2 months and that I cannot do anything strenuous for 3 months. I really enjoy swimming and kayaking. I'm a 63 year old woman. The weather has turned really nice and I'd like to get out and do some of these activities, but know I'm at 6 weeks. I started researching how long people waited to start swimming. I noted that someone said their doctor made the lead a little extra long, so that they could swim. Since I didn't have time to research anything about the PM - is that necessary? Am I going to be hindered from swimming because of the lack of extra length? I noted that someone pulled out their lead by doing the back stroke. Now that's a bit unnerving. What about kayaking? Anyone with info on when it's really safe to start and any precautions?

Thanks!

7 Comments

Cardio Nurse is too conservative.

by ElectricFrank - 2012-04-22 03:04:49

Unless you have some known heart problem there is no reason you can't get back at things if you are reasonable.

As I've said many times here, I started brisk walking the next day after my implant. I taped some plastic wrap over the dressing and started using my hot tub right away. I can't remember exactly how long it was, but it was less than a week when I started driving my Jeep cross country in the desert.

I was careful in the first couple of weeks to avoid my arm above shoulder level. My main problem there was forgetting and doing a nice stretch. By the end of the first month I was back to full activity. I've had the pacer for 7 yrs now and never had a lead problem.

I'm not convinced that the arm movement is the cause of the lead dislocations. As an engineer I can't see how it affects anything. The largest strain that the leads experience is the wild movement of the heart wall during beats. If we want to protect the leads from sudden movements they need to keep us in the hospital on an artificial heart with ours stopped.

frank

More active than many

by reds_threads - 2012-04-22 12:04:43

I would say that I'm more active than many my age. I like to do laps in the pool. How far out of getting your PM are you. I like to call mine, Buzz. I like your idea of starting with the breast stroke. I was told my my cardio nurse to not even try anything at 2 months. That seems so conservative than most are saying on this forum. I have not even seen a cardiologist. Just before getting sick with the sinus infection that put me in the hospital, I bought a wet suit - haven't even had a chance to try it out. Bummer.

I just took up kayaking last year. I'm in with both feet. Love it. I stuck to lakes and was hoping to learn the rivers around here this year. Guess I'll delay that part for a bit. I wanted to learn how to right the kayak, but think that might be a bit much now.

I was doing 10 push ups (not girl ones) prior to this venture. I suspect that out for a while. They tell me I'm limited to 25 lbs until the 3rd month. Does that sound about right. At that point are we good to just go for it? I really hate getting out of shape at this stage of the game.

Thanks so much for answering my questions.

Thanks so much..

by reds_threads - 2012-04-24 03:04:30

Thank you all for your advice. I'm wondering if the nurse was being so conservative because I was so sick when it was discovered I needed 'Buzz'. I had pneumonia and severe sinus issues. I'd been sick for months. But, now I'm back and really wanting to get back to my life - 6 weeks seems so long. I did get back to gardening, but am babying it a bit. Time to step it up a bit. It sounds like the real key here is to listen to my body.

I would like to add - thanks for the kayaking advice. I'm dying to get back on the lake. Our lakes and rivers are beautiful here. Perhpas I will give the rivers a break for this year and stick to the lakes and possibly the bay. I think hitting the water again will give me an energy boost.

Darlene

PM response to exercise

by ldebaugh - 2012-04-24 10:04:55

I don't think I'm quite as active as you but got back into lots of walking immediately. A problem I've had as a 65 year old woman is that slow, steady moves, (like going up hill) don't increase my HR. I have had my PM adjusted 5 times since I got it on 2/10 and it's still not picking up the way I want. For instance on a bike, my upper body doesn't move that much, while my legs do, so my St. Jude PM Accent DR RF doesn't sense it.

So please continue to post as you get back into doing your swimming and kayaking, perhaps because they are upper body actions you will have less difficulty than I have had. Let us know....
M' Liz

How do you know if PM needs adjusting?

by reds_threads - 2012-04-24 12:04:50

Thanks M'Liz. I'm not as young as I think I should be, but like to keep fit. I was really limited when I got home from the hospital because severe sinus infection and pneumonia. Who knew allergies could raise such havoc in ones body?! It was a several month ordeal and a two sinus surgeries. Since I was held back a bit, I'm just getting back into exercise. I'm interested to know how you know if your PM (mine is known as Buzz) needs resetting. I'm currently set at 70 - 130.

Thanks for responding.
Darlene

Mr. Pacemaker

by randall - 2012-05-17 03:05:12

I had a quadriple bypass in 2004 and pacemaker installed.

EF dropped from 42 to 35 in 2006. CRT-D installed set at 60 -140. EF is now 44.

No swimming in high school and only 4 races (100 free style) in college - intermurals.

Started competitive swimming in 2005. In 2008, won 5 medals at the United States Master Swimming Nationals in Austin, Texas. In July 2012, I will swim in the same pool as the United States Olympics Trials (Michael Phelps, et al) on July 5th - July 8th in the United States Masters National Championships. I will swim the 50 meter butterfly, the 200 meter back stroke, and the 800 meter free style. On July 27th in Dallas, I will swim a 5,000 meter free style event. It will take approximately 3.5 hours.

I will be 71 years old next month.

Sorry I don't remember the timeframe for adding additional strokes or longer distances.

I have never felt anything from my device. If you have had a great surgeon like I have and their encouragement, there are truly no limits to what you can do. The only thing they told me is don't swim the English Channel (21 miles).

Mr. Pacemaker

Comments and update

by reds_threads - 2012-07-06 03:07:47

Wow all of these are very inspirational and amazing accounts of living with your PM. I've started back kayaking and swimming. My PT is twice a week for 2 1/2 - 3 hours - nice work out for me. Today was the first day I had any problems with my PM from PT. We upped the weights and I developed a pin prick type sharp continuous type pain. So guess we pushed it a bit. It didn't stop when we stopped exercising. Just pretty sore now. I suspect that I tore a little tissue at the lead connect point. Hopefully, this will just build up more scar tissue. Hey, Mr. Pacemaker, how'd you do on your swim?

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