Freestyle Stroke

Before I got my PM, I was a distance freestyle swimmer. I read that one cannot do the butterfly stroke. How about the freestyle stroke. That requires extending the arms beyond the head. Will this stroke endanger the lead(s) pulling out?

2 Comments

probably not

by Tracey_E - 2013-04-28 08:04:56

If your pm is very close to the clavicle, close enough that repeated arm movement will pinch the leads with the clavicle, then you should watch your arm movement. If that's not the case, then it's up to you and your dr. Some drs are more conservative than others. My dr hasn't put any restrictions on me, I can do butterfly or freestyle.

Leads are not coming out, after the first few days they are held in place by scar tissue. By the end of the first year you'd have to use a special laser sheath to get them out. The risk is a kink that pinches the lead and damages it.

Let the leads grow in

by mtaylor - 2013-05-09 02:05:23

Once the leads seat you can pretty well do whatever is still comfortable. I had my ICD implanted 2 years ago (at 19) and 3 months after I had full use of my arms again. I'm sure I could theoretically do fly now, I just lack the physical ability to do it. Free and breast for me!

You know you're wired when...

You have a maintenance schedule just like your car.

Member Quotes

My cardiologist is brilliant and after lots of trial and error got me running. I finished this years London Marathon in 3hrs 38 minutes.