Pacemaker and Steam

I had a Medtronic pacemaker installed 12 days ago. I started walking the track slowly at my club 4 days ago and to-day I boosted it up to my regular pace of a 15 min mile. My lungs seemed a little tight after deep breathing. After 15 min at this rate I spent 10 min on a bike and 10 min on an elliptical. After a few min of stretching I went into a steam room and about 2 min later my heart rate shot up to 130 bpm. It took 10 min to get it to slow down again to my normal 60 bpm. Any knowledge-base out there in the blogosphere on this?

15 Comments

Hi Gerald:)

by Pookie - 2012-04-17 07:04:47

Only 12 days ago and you're doing that much exercise? I mean if you're feeling well enough to do it, then bravo for you, but at 12 days post op I was still off of work & resting on the sofa much of the day.

The only information I can personally share with you about having a pacemaker and heat is: prior to having a pacer any type of heat did not bother me, however AFTER receiving my pacer hotter temps made me feel short of breath, as though my heart is fighting to beat faster too....if that makes any sense.

It has taken me years to acclimate(?) to how the heat does not bother me. I've read a few posts similar to yours throughout the years. Perhaps it's our hearts (and devices) adjusting to one another???? <---just a guess.

What an excellent question to ask your EP or Cardiologist when you next get to see them.

Take care,
Pookie

I am newbie too

by Heart to work - 2012-04-17 08:04:46

Hi we got our pm about the same time I went for my first check up today and was told no exercise for another 4 weeks. I wouldn't call myself physically fit but I was in the gym (1 hr duration ) for about 5 days a week prior to my pm implant and this was the second time I was told by health prof not to exercise.
I'm with pookie I'm relaxing on the couch. Also would be good to ask docs if it's ok to exercise. Again just a newbies account of things. Wish u well:)

Exercise

by TalkinCardio - 2012-04-17 09:04:29

Hi Gerald, that sounds like a lot of exercise for only being 12 days post op. I'm glad your feeling so good but did you check with your doctor first? Cathy

Stick a fork in it...

by donr - 2012-04-17 10:04:52

...you're done! MOF, you are overdone. Too much, too soon. Your cardio would birth a full grown Texas Longhorn if he knew about that workout. My Cardio's head nurse would have you for lunch especialy for the steam...so soon after surgery.

Think you'd better back down to the walk only for a while thn add to it SLOOOOOOOWLY.

Don

Pacemaker and Steam

by GeraldS - 2012-04-17 11:04:49

Thanks to all you responders. No one told me I couldn't walk fast, so I did and the only problem seems to be that my lungs feel a little tight when I breathe hard....I guess that should fade as I build up me strength. I might just sneak into a steam room every week to make sure my PM can keep me cool.

Go for it

by ElectricFrank - 2012-04-18 02:04:24

The lungs feeling tight is more likely your chest muscles reacting to lack of use, and has nothing to do with the pacemaker.

If you feel like going at exercise that way then more power to you. Don't let the couch potatoes tame you.

Same with the steam room. I hit the hot tub the day after the surgery. The only side effect was hearing it from the nurses here on the site, and raising my HR from laughing. I was careful and taped some plastic wrap over the dressing.

I've had my HR jump up especially in hotel spa's where the run it on the hot side.

frank

listen to your body!

by IAN MC - 2012-04-18 04:04:10



... your body will give you far more sensible messages than any Dr ! if you lie on a couch too long you will become institutionalised and probably get bed-sores.

In the words of the famous Nike advertisements " JUST DO IT ! "

By the way, I've just realised the irony of my posting ...as I write this I am lying on a couch (with my laptop )!!

With your attitude, you will have a rapid recovery !

Best Wishes

Ian

Take it real EASY for 2-4 weeks

by tutu - 2012-04-18 05:04:15

Geraldo,
I would chill if I were you. Don't push the exercise. Those wires and their setting into your muscle in your heart need to have their time, i believe. I wanted to start working within a week because I was about to start a new job. Doctors told me no way, minimum of two weeks to keep from moving around so much. Exercise, I was advised one month before any sort of more vigorous activity. Don't raise that PM side arm either above your head for at least a couple of weeks. And be careful!! Shame on your doctors for sending you out like this. I don't mean to sound alarming but this is delicate stuff and you need to give it some rest. I'm super active now but I waited to jump in. Take it easy a bit. Walk real easy but don't train yet. And in case they didn't tell you -- no impact sports ever, my friend.

Hope this helps. :)

Gerald...

by Tattoo Man - 2012-04-18 06:04:02

people get tired long before they explode...if you feel tired then stop. If you feel lazy..then relax. If you feel full of life, then live !

Between you and me I am more worried about IAN MC because as a Brit, and as you will know, we Brits always wear Tweed suits and Bowler hats...Mr IAN states that he was on "a couch"...this is disturbing to me , because, here in the Old Country there are no 'Couches', only Settees, or if from the lower classes...and it pains me to write this...Sofas.

I am , yours, most faithfully your obedient servant, as ever etc, etc

Tatoo Man

Tattoo Man...

by donr - 2012-04-18 10:04:30

You left out the "Three Piece" while describing the suits! And then there are the neckties (Ascots?) w/ the decoration a bit high so it can show above the wainscoat.

At least the High Wycombe denizen translated for a poor, uneducated Colonial.

I don't think I've heard the term "Settee" in years. Not since my year & a half sojourn in the land of the Mother Tongue back in 1979-81.

The &^%$^% w/ the courteous last line - I'm just..

Don

PS: it is OK for us to rag one another a bit if we keep it clean, isn't it?

Tattoo Man

by donr - 2012-04-18 10:04:33

I'm not sure whose English you butchered worse! The Mother Tongue or that horrible dialect we speak here in the Colonies!

Anyone who has seen a Bond or a Harry Potter flick knows those things you wear on your feet are called "Boots." And that "Brigadier General" thing - ARRRRRRRG!

BTW: Try punting here & you'll get run over by 11 men wearing Football kit!

I once owned a Turnbull & Asser shirt - loved it - but really missed the pocket! Believe it or not, you can buy them here! I got mine in Chicago, so IAN should feel right at home while visiting that wonderful city.

Just to complete the circle - I also bought a three piece Scottish wool suit from another big, well known store in London. My favorite suit - till I wore the seat out of it - wasn't smart enough to get the second pair of trousers.

Guess ragging is world-wide sport!

Don

Advice for IAN

by donr - 2012-04-18 10:04:49

Ian: Oh, by all means, wear the Setson! Don't forget to get a pair of cowboy boots - and go to the nearest cattle feed lot & scuff around in some fresh pasture paving!

You cannot buy them in Englnd, so you'll have to wait till you get to Chi-Town; buy a new suit; - black w/ chalk coloured stripes about 1/4 inch wide. When the tailor asks you "With or without?" he means do you want space for a shoulder holster for your gun. Semi-automatics are the preferred "Piece" in Chicago. Leave your .44 Magnum home - too bulky for a shoulder holster. Skip the Bible - that's only necessary when you come to the Southland - or head out into Iowa.

Yes, we drive on the left - what do you think we are? A bunch of Cretins? Actually, if you do drive on the left, you will surely "Bump into" one of us - us being a solid American citizen tooling along at about 70 miles per hour. You DO still use miles in the Mother Country, don't you? Oh, another BTW - we generally do not have "Roundabouts" here. But if you do accidentally stumble into one, watch it - not only do we drive on the "Other Left" side of the road, but we enter & depart Roundabouts differently. Obviously done to confuse visitors.

Oh, one last thing - you'll know you are here when you reach customs & immigration - they are on the lookout for you - I warned them you are on the way. That's in retribution for all the trouble I always had entering England. I must have looked like some well known & well wanted Irish terrorist. They always looked at my passport, then opened some big book taken from under the counter & searched for something. Much to the consternation of all the tourists in the queue behind me who expected to see some sort of a violence filled arrest.

Anyway, if you get in trouble, I know a lawyer or two & will arrange bail for you.

Enjoy your trip to the states.

Don

Hello Don and al my American friends

by IAN MC - 2012-04-18 12:04:27

I'm fed up of dressing in the way which Tattoo Man describes so I'm off to Chicago tomorrow .

I don't want to stand out as being a tourist, perhaps you can advise ,... I'm torn between a baseball cap and a stetson. I will carry a gun obviously ( and a bible)

Also I'm hiring a car. You do drive on the left, don't you ... because I'm not going to change the habit of a lifetime ? It will be great if I bump into anyone from this forum !

Also I've had my Medtronic PM adapted. It now has an ATM slot on it and will dispense dollars in case I need hospital treatment,

So America, here I come

Have a nice day everyone

Ian

My very dearest Mr Don....

by Tattoo Man - 2012-04-18 12:04:41

...I am most appreciative of your most erudite comments.

As I write this you will, no doubt be relieved to know that I am indeed wearing a three piece suit that my Tailor in Jermyn Street made for me from the finest Scottish cloth, my shirt is from Turnbull and Asser, my bow tie (and we are not talking elasticated) is from Harrods along with the silk socks. I'm sure that you will agree that my choice of Lobbs shoes over Churches was a sensible one.

Later as I await the dinner gong I may slip into my Smoking Jacket and Cravat to enjoy a glass of Scottish Malt.

My Manservant, Hoskins will lay out my dress suit and assist my preparations for dinner.

Dear Don, Ragging is most definitely in order, Old Chap...we did little else in Oxford University, often while Punting at the same time...I understand this to be called 'multi-tasking'

Must fly..Toodle Pip !

Brigadier General Tattoo Man (retired)

just a thought

by jessie - 2012-06-13 02:06:16

6 months after my p.m. i developed copd. it was from chronic bronchitus as i live in a damp are aof ontario i had this since my 20's. just a thought when you mentioned oyur age as being born in36. i was born in 41 i was very tired for 3 months after the p.m. but finally felt better. have fun in the usa

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My pacemaker was installed in 1998 and I have not felt better. The mental part is the toughest.