Running/biking/swimming

Hi, I'm new to the pacemaker life and love to run, bike and swim. I have started running on the treadmil and that feels great. Does anyone run, bike and swim out there in the pacemaker world that would like to share their story with me. This site is great for me because I can see that life does not stop because you have a pacemaker. Thanks everyone.

5 Comments

sporty

by Lizzie - 2013-01-08 04:01:41

Hi there myrosie,
I do swim and ride a bike with no problem.
I also play croquet at international elite level which really involves endurance fitness. Some days starting at 7.30 am and still on court at 8 or 9 at night. No meal breaks.
The pacemaker has been great for me. My only problem now is managing Atrial Fibrillation which the PM doesn't control.
I am getting that prob under control too by prevention with flecainide.
Hope this helps, my sporting life would have been over without a pacemaker. Good luck
Lizzie in Australia

Active life style

by rwagenblatt - 2013-01-08 07:01:05

Good day, I exercise daily, ride a bike, referee soccer, and started swimming (today). I started traing to run a 5k after soccer season ended, but, because I pace 100%, my pacer only gives me 2 lower beats for 3 upper beats when I go over 150...makes me short of breath and dizzy. I now keep my activity level around 120 to 130 and things are fine.
I'm glad that I was able to resume my activity level soon after my implant (Bert and I have been together since May 2012)...and my doc told me that my lifestyl certainly made things better for me when we found I had a full block.
Keep on keepin on..pacing shouldn't slow you down.
Peace, Rick

Diagnosis?

by golden_snitch - 2013-01-08 08:01:18

Hi myrosie!

May I ask what your diagnosis is? How well you'll be able to exercise depends a bit on whether you need the pacemaker's rate response function or not. Heart block patients usually do not need it, sick sinus patients do. If you do need the rate response, then it's also a question of the sensors your pacemaker works with. If it has an accelerometer only, you might find riding your bike a little difficult as this sensor typically needs upper body movement to detect activity and adjust the heart rate accordingly. If it, in addition to the accelerometer, has a minute ventilation sensor, you might not run into any problems, even when riding your bike.

I have had several ablations, including sinus node and AV-node ablations. My underlying rhythm is slow and does not respond properly to exercise. Therefore, I need the rate response function a lot, basically whenever I move. I started out with accelerometer plus minute ventilation sensor which was really good, but due to other rhythm/heart issues, I wasn't able to exercise regularly. Then I had to have epicardial pacer leads put in, and with those the minute ventilation sensor stopped working leaving me with accelerometer only. Now I'm 3 months post AV-node ablation, and have finally managed to start running. I began with an intervall training, so just a couple of minutes running, then a short walk, then running again. Yesterday I broke the 30 minutes running without any pauses mark! So, running works well. However, riding my bike doesn't as my heart rate barely increases - the accelerometer doesn't respond because, like I said, there is hardly any upper body movement on the bike. But that's ok, at least I can run :)

Hope this helps a bit.
Best wishes
Inga

Ironman

by hjfarr - 2013-01-09 06:01:47

First of all follow your doc's orders. Having said that, if you have no other health issues, go for it. I had my pacemaker implanted in January 2011. I'm 70 and just completed myu 3nd full Irnman in a 5 month period. On May 19, 2012 I won my age group at Ironman Texas and qualified to compete at the Ironman World Championship in Kona which I completed on 10/13/12. You are only limited by your will & desire.

Run Every Day

by TLRun - 2013-01-16 09:01:21

All kinds of good advice above about following Doctors advice and such. I have dual ventricular pacemaker. I was a runner before the Pacemaker and a better runner now after the Pacemaker. I was running within three weeks of the implant....everyone is different though. I generally run 8-10 miles a day and the runs are a much higher quality now. I am not training for any races or anything like that but their is virtually no limitations in your running.

You know you're wired when...

Your license plate reads “Pacer4Life”.

Member Quotes

Pacemakers are very reliable devices.