hot tub

i am 2 weeks into pacing. does anyone out there use a hot tub?

10 Comments

Hot Tub

by donr - 2012-10-19 11:10:29

Of course.

Be rational, however - keep the temp down to less than 104.

Don't go in till your wound has healed - the stitches are gone/steri-strips off. UNLESS!!!!! You put a secure water-proof bandage over it.

Limit your stay to about 20 min.

Don't get over heated to the point you feel weak & quiver when you get out.

Start out slowly to see what you can tolerate

IF you have HBP, be doubly careful about temps. watch your pulse - make sure that you don't let it go higher than is comfortable.

Don't worry about the temp your PM is subjected to - it's inside your body & is relatively safe. If you are concerned about it, keep the PM site above the surface of the water.

Don

I meant your Doc :-(

by janetinak - 2012-10-20 02:10:15

Janet

I use a hot tub every chance I get

by janetinak - 2012-10-20 02:10:20

but with the cautions that Don suggests. I use a warm pool 5 days a wk (92-94 degrees) & no problem. Helps my arthritis tho.

Have you asked your Dic?

Janet

No problem

by ElectricFrank - 2012-10-20 04:10:00

I've used my hot tub from the day after I had the implant in 2004. I just taped some plastic wrap over the bandage, and kept the area out of the water until it healed.

It would be a good idea to have someone with you until you are sure how you react to the tub.

Until your first checkup you might avoid the jets. Most pacers come from the factory with the Rate Response option turned on. This option senses body movement and uses it to control HR. The vibration of the jets can send your HR up pretty high.

I'm headed for the tub.

enjoy,

frank

thanks all of you

by grittygrammy - 2012-10-20 05:10:17

I see my cardio on Tuesday and will get OK. My tub has a problem and I didn't want to call for repair until I had an idea that I could use it. Can't wait for the OK to resume my Aquajogging as it helps my arthritis better than any other activity. I walked farther this AM than I have in a year and a half. My dogs were exhausted. This thing really works. Best to all

hot tubs

by shaybill - 2012-10-20 12:10:54

No! Heart rate can drop quickly. There are disclaimers for hot tubs at most gyms alerting those with heart conditions to refrain from use.

Think about it

by ElectricFrank - 2012-10-21 01:10:21

Your doctor will just give a knee jerk reaction. To make any sense he/she should at least ask about:

How hot is it. 106 deg is a lot different than 101 deg.
How deep is it?
Are you going to use jets?
Will you have someone in or around the tub?

And then what kind of heart problem do you have?

The doctor who flips out a "people with heart problems should never use hot tubs or saunas" is saying more about his ignorance than any medical issue. I've even heard some docs say that no one should use hot tubs.

Of course if you are the type that feels you must be cleared by your doc before going out to the mail box then .....


frank


no hot tubs

by traci - 2012-10-21 01:10:46

I was just told by my doctor that people with heart problems should never use hot tubs or saunas,U should ask your doctor about it.

Remember that a Dr's Advice...

by donr - 2012-10-21 07:10:16

...is really written by a lawyer! That lawyer is concerned about bankrupting legal losses. About protecting the Dr. against every small issue that he "Should" have known when it comes to a trial.

Realistically, no Dr. knows everything about a patient. There is not enough time in his/her life for that.

I loved my Cardio's answer when I outlined something ridiculous that I wanted to do. This was before I met all the wild-eyed, wooly-haired denizens of PMC. He finally said to me "Don, what good would it do me to tell you 'No,' - you'd do it anyway!". At that point, he rolled his eyes, shrugged his shoulders & walked out of the room.

In my book, that was his backhanded way of telling me that it was fine to do it. He just could not give me his blessing w/o exposing himself to a liability he could not afford.

Frank NAILED it. Completely.

There are two different meanings to the word "Ignorance." One is denigrating & insulting. Then there is the dictionary definition, meaning lack of knowledge. Many people are ignorant of many things & admit that they are. Further, they will admit that they cannot give you the answer you need. That's fine. You then need to look elsewhere.

Then there are the knee jerk types Frank mentioned - dangerous.

If you want a good example of the spectrum of ignorance, Google on "Garlic toxicity in dogs." You will find answers ranging from so toxic that a few grains of garlic powder will kill a Great Dane to it will take 50 cloves of the stuff to kill a Chihuahua! Go figure out the real answer from all that varying advice - & it's all from licensed Vets. The same is true for the advice we sometimes get for our heart problems.

Don

Ignorance

by ElectricFrank - 2012-10-21 11:10:54

There's an interesting book "Ignorance, how it drives science by Stuart Firestein. He is the Chairman of the Department of Biology at Columbia University. He actually teaches a course in Ignorance. It is about the second type of ignorance that Don refers to.One chapter is titled "The Quality of Ignorance".

It's a small book and an easy read. By the time you finish it you will be looking for an ignorant cardiologist for your care.

frank

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