any good post

Hi

I am about to get a PM for av block and a low resting pulse rate around 35 bpm. They are going to put in a Bosten Scientific BiV with blended sensor. I am extremly active. I have been a top US ulta Runner from ages 30 to 45. I am now 56. I am a little nervious about the pacemaker. I seem to see only negative comments. Are there more good experiences than negative?

I have also been having stomach problems and was wondering if this could be related to the heart. When I exercise my heart rate only gets up to about 120 bpm and I have shortness of breath. I am thinking of putting off the pacemaker until I figure out my stomach problems. Any suggestions or good stories for runners?

Sean

12 Comments

Good posts

by golden_snitch - 2012-10-11 03:10:19

Hi!

Well, I guess in general a lot of people come into forums like this not when they are doing great, but when they have a problem. So, it's no surprise that you have the impression that there are more negative than positive comments. But overall, I'd say that we are all happy people here :)

About the stomach problems: The only thing I could imagine is that with a very low resting heart rate, the stomach (and whole body) do not get enough oxygen. I remember that a friend of mine with a lung disease once told me that she often got sick/vomitted when her oxygen uptake was really bad. If you can put the pacemaker off for a little longer, I'd probably try to have this sorted out, too. Also because after the implant you'll be getting used to the pacemaker, you might have a little bit a pain, cannot raise your arm etc. - that's already enough to deal with, additional stomach problems are not what you want at that time.

Just wondering, do you have a sinus node problem, too? Because otherwise, if it's "only" the heart block, you will most likely not need the rate response. The sinus node will kind of dictate the rhythm, and the ventricular pacer lead will just follow that. If, however, the 120bpm when exercising are due to a slow sinus node and not the heart block, then you'll benefit from a good rate response. I chose a different model which has a blended sensor, too, but also has a special mode to reduce ventricular pacing. My pacer is a Sorin Reply DR. If you are in heart block all the time, this feature does not matter, but if you have intermittent heart blocks it can make a huge difference.

I have only started to run, so I have no good stories to tell. This is my fourth week, and I'm still doing intervals: couple of minutes running, two minutes walking, and so on. Doing this three times per week for 30-45 minutes. So far, so good :)

Good luck!
Inga

Low HR & Electric Block

by donb - 2012-10-11 07:10:53

Hi Sean, I tried to forward my PM history as it's like a copy of your complaints only this was prior to 1992. I tried a long posting only to get kicked off-line. Anyhowwithout going into all the details I'm 80 years old & still working bullwork & on my 4th PM doing great. I'm sure you will need a PM if not now but better to have it now & keep your body in shape
as that's what saved my life all these years with quality of life.
Donb

Welcome!

by admin - 2012-10-11 08:10:01

Like many people have said, forums can sometimes be seen as negative as people are looking for answers to their specific problems. The vast majority of recipients do not participate in online forums because they are just too busy living a normal life.

I've been paced since 1978 and had three open heart surgeries. I'm thankful to be alive, let a lone living a high quality life that includes regular trips to the gym.

Cheers,

Blake

Welcome to the club ..when you join

by IAN MC - 2012-10-11 08:10:23

Hi Sean

As Inga says PM people with problems tend to come on this forum. Almost half a million PMs are now being fitted every year and there are several million happy contented PM hosts around the world.

I personally know a few people with PMs who would never dream of coming on here because they have no need to (one of them is a keen marathon runner ).

There is evidence that top level marathon runners, triathletes and ultra runners like yourself have an increased risk of developing cardiac electrical problems later in life. There is even a condition labelled " athletes heart " ! BUT having a PM does not necessarily mean that your running should come to an end. You may end up

- running as well as you did before
- running less well but still enjoying it
- or becoming an ex-runner

it really does depend on what cardiac condition you have and the settings on your PM.

If you search on here under "running" you will see the full spectrum of experiences

Best of luck ( and I hope you get your stomach sorted out)

Ian

Itsnot all bad

by ohiolaura - 2012-10-11 08:10:30

Things arent all bad,Im no runner,but have been very physically active my whole life,and out of the blue started to have issues with my HR.
That was 3 months ago,its was scarey,and not easy mentally to go thru,as Im married w/2 girls in college.
But,Im here.And Im fighting everyday to get back where I was,and Im doing it well.Back to working out 6-7 days a week again,I do an hr a day,elliptical 3 miles,walking another mile and ab workout.Its all good,plus I spin once a week.Im not where I was,but im close,and feel I will get there eventually.
Its alot to accept I think mentally,but if your heart isnt able to do its job anymore on its own,sucks as it is,what choice do you have?Ive come to have an outlook like it can always be worse,many health problems are much worse with more complications.
I think its alot of a mental thing,get info,be positive,listen to your Dr,and have faith.
I dont know about the stomch problems,sounds like you need to figure that out.The heart though,if you have to do it,thats a no brainer.I have av block too,bam out of the blue,so it wasnt a choice for me.Did it,and Im still kickin!
Youre a runner,so youre in top shape,and healing should be a breeze,and youre at a good age,Id say,so Id guess you will be very good there.Just make sure you know what you can and cant do post surgery and listen to them,dont over due it,and ask questions if you have them.Its a different experience,so stay here and get input,its not all bad stuff,so many have such great stories and experiences.

Goog News? Of Course!

by donr - 2012-10-11 08:10:50

There are lots of us w/ positive posts. Who do you think helps out the PM Hosts w/ problems/questions?

Face it - all of us in here suffered "Heart Failure"! But NOT in the traditional sense of plumbing /mechanical (valve) problems. Ours are all electrical - in the control system. When you read someone's comment offering advice or answering a question, go to the left side of the screen at the top & click on "Member List," enter their name & read their bio sketch. You will find some pretty horrible sounding stories, so we are a universe of folks who have been through some pretty messy situations & are plugging along - some at a pretty fast rate & doing quite well, thank you.

Some of us came out of the hosp after implant ready to take on the World. Others came out needing some obvious tweaking of PM/ICD settings in order to lead comfortable lives. Some of us are totally dependent on our little bionic buddies. Some have been hosts to PM from literally hours after birth.

You've come to the right place - we're a tough bunch of birds in here, some older than others. We range in age from Octogenarians all the way down to Teenagerarians. If there is a problem, someone has had it & successfully overcome it.

Call us all "Allstate" - you're in good hands!

Oh, BTW: Welcome aboard.

Don

I run better....

by jenny97 - 2012-10-11 09:10:57

The PM should help you. It's your condition that can hinder.

I have intermittent heart block and neurocardiogenic/vasovagal syncope for which I have a PM. I also have POTS, which involves a high heart rate (up to 256 when I run), so I am all over the board. But my running has certainly not been negatively affected by my PM. In fact, for me it is the opposite. Of course, I'm no elite athlete, so it may be different for you. But many of us on here continue to run. I do about 5k every morning and 10k or so on weekends. I find that it is my medical problems that are more limiting than the PM itself, although it did take a little work to get the settings right. And, of course, I had to recover from the surgery. But I've had a PM now for 11 years, so I'm pretty well adjusted. :)

I wish you all the best!

Jenny

PS It would probably be a good idea to get your stomach checked out, but I will say that I also have stomach problems and they seem to be very much tied to my heart issues, so there might be some connection for you too.

GI problems

by ldebaugh - 2012-10-11 10:10:15

When i got my PM,my doctor asked if I had GI issues, and the answer was a resounding, "Yes!" He said, don't be surprised if they go away now. Congestive Heart Failure affects the entire body and the "congestion" happens everywhere, meaning the blood is not adequately feeding internal organs.

Guess what,--for me he was right. So I hope it will be the same for you. I'm also sensitive to wheat but it's all under control at this point.
M'Liz

bi-v = biventricular?

by Tracey_E - 2012-10-11 10:10:32

If bi-v is just a name, then ignore this ;) I'm not familiar with BS models, but if bi-v stands for bi-ventricular that's generally considered overkill for a simple av block. I would get a second opinion and ask about a simple two lead.

Ditto what the others said. People generally come here when something goes wrong. For every one person here with a question, there are thousands out there doing great and getting on with their lives. In reality, complications happen less than 1% of the time, serious complications considerably less than that. I got my first pm in 1993 for av block. I'm on my 4th now and have never had a problem. I feel great, I'm healthy and active.

St Judes website has a great demonstration of what av block is and how the pm fixes it. It is the easiest problem to fix because our sinus node (nature's pacemaker) generally works fine, but the signal doesn't always make it to the ventricles. The pm watches, every time the atria beats it gives the ventricles a second to beat also, then generates a beat if it doesn't. We're still setting the pace so our rate goes up and down normally with exercise, the pm is merely completing the broken circuit.
http://health.sjm.com/arrhythmia-answers/videos-and-animations

Problems

by Zia - 2012-10-11 12:10:08

I never was a runner, but pretty active until at age 75 the doc said "your heart's slowing down" and said I needed a PM. I came on here to find out what that entailed and, like you, saw a lot of problems. BUT I also saw a lot of help, and now 2 years out, I keep forgetting I have my little bionic buddy helping me keep going.

So, I suppose the moral is - if you need it, get it.

Not a runner, but

by rvrs708175 - 2012-10-12 07:10:12

Hi, welcome to our group. Many of us are just here for the comradeship. I am 77, with a pm for 4 years (next week). I am not now nor ever have been a runner, unless you can count raising 6 children. I am doing well, I am a full time rvr and love the life. Sure you are going to see people who ask for help. I often do. But for the most part, I think most of us just do fine. Ann

Welcome

by jeanlancour - 2012-10-13 01:10:49

Hi, I'm new here too, had my Boston S, for a month today, no problems with the pm..I got a little to active to soon, it was my problem not the pms. So I guess I'm saying follow the program they(your docs) and you won't have problems. Your Dr, is just a phone call away in any case. Happy to be alive so I'm happy to have this little bump in my shoulder, Jean

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