cycling

I had a PM fitted end of July this year as my heart was pausing for up to 4 seconds, all went ok and checkups have been ok, I am a member of the King's Lynn Cycling Club over here in England and am hoping to race next year, I use a HRM when riding and was told that the reading on the HRM may not be right as the PM and HRM do not like each other ( doctors words not mine ). Has anyone else been told this, anway have been out for a 35 mile ride with no problems. One other question, my son in law drives steam engines as a hobby and I have been promised a ride on the footplate but wonder if the heat from the firebox may affect my PM.

7 Comments

cycling

by Tafi - 2012-10-22 02:10:36

Many thanks

Hi Tafi...........................

by Tattoo Man - 2012-10-22 03:10:54

.....as a one time member of Nottingham Clarion and Witham Wheelers bike clubs and a short distance ( 10 to 100 miles ) Time Trials rider, I have an interest in your query.

Any Polar or Cardiosport HRM will work just fine. I wear a PM Dogtag and with a chest strap transmitter often get a crazy readout . As Tracey said this can result in a doubled up reading.. Its ok if you dangle the Dogtag down your back.

Get those winter miles in and you'll be in top condition for some Springtime speed work. Turbo training is also a good way of getting through the bad weather that inevitably lies ahead

Safe riding !!

Tattoo Man

HRM that works

by PKite - 2012-10-22 09:10:53

I've used a HRM over many years -- biking, jogging, etc.

Since having a PM implant I have found that a good, consistent method is a "Finger Pulse Oximeter."

PKite

monitors

by Tracey_E - 2012-10-22 11:10:55

Some people use them with no problems. They are not going to hurt the pm, it's that the pm may interfere with the hrm and keep it from working properly. It can pick up the pm spikes as a beat so it'll say 200 when you're really at 100, or (in my case) the pm keeps the hrm from getting any signal at all. It always tells me my pulse is 0. I'm pretty sure it's a little higher than that ;o)

Steam engine should be fine. Heat will not hurt it. Magnets can put it in test mode if strong enough and we get close enough (less than 6"). We don't have to worry about anything else.

Finger Oximeter

by ElectricFrank - 2012-10-23 01:10:23

That's a good one to use. In fact any of the HRM's that use light technology are OK. somewhere I saw one that clips on an ear lobe. Handy for activities where both hands are mobile.

frank

cycling

by Tafi - 2012-10-23 05:10:45

To all who have replied to my questions may I offer my thanks and wish you all the best with your pacemakers. To those who cycle " happy cycling 2

kind of late...

by COBradyBunch - 2012-10-31 01:10:56

Kind of late getting on to answering this but I have had my pacemaker for 3 years now and I use both a Garmin and a Polar HRM (Garmin for cycling mainly). Have had occasional glitches but 99% of the time they work great, and the glitches might be more me than the HRM (like the other day the HRM said my HR spiked to 195 but I did feel a little weird on the ride so it could have been accurate but I won't probably ever know for sure). I have a problem much like yours except I was having heart naps that lasted several seconds (longest they recorded was about 5 times yours) that also led to me taking unscheduled naps as well. Since getting the pace none but I have also used the pacer almost none of the time. Those who are paced 100% of the time or a large % of the time have reported issues getting a HRM that works properly so take that for what it is worth as well.

As for which HRM to get, if you are a cyclist I highly recommend Garmin and then use some of the great tools/websites they have like connect.garmin.com or strava.com to track your progress, your rides and your goals.

You know you're wired when...

You have a little piece of high-tech in your chest.

Member Quotes

I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for pacemakers. I've had mine for 35+ years. I was fainting all of the time and had flat-lined also. I feel very blessed to live in this time of technology.