just got my pacemaker

Hello All:

I just got my pacemaker 2 1/2 weeks ago. I know excecise is kind of off limits for 8 weeks. But just wanted to have a peak after 8 weeks. What kind of exercise do you guys do? I use to swim, do cardio (machines mainly) and strength...

3 Comments

After 8 weeks

by richan - 2013-07-10 03:07:10

I do a lot of swimming. Like you I was told to do nothing for 8 weeks. Prior to placing my PM, I told my cardiologist that I didn't want my PM to interfere with my swimming (long reach stroke). He made sure that my leads were long enough to accommodate a long reach. My first PM was placed in March of 2005 and the second one back in January 2010. I have pretty much done all the swimming I wanted (3 days a week with a masters swimming team).
The issue that I have with my PM (Boston Scientific/Guidant) is the working of the motion sensor. If I am standing/walking/running the motion sensor kicks in quite well. However, when in prone position, the motion sensor does not work very well (or not at all). Then, the breathing (minute vent) sensor responds to breathing. To get the breathing sensor to work, I find that I have to hyperventilate a lot - between send offs. I never get to the point where I felt like I got to my "second wind". It is hard to hyperventilate while swimming. I keep hoping they will create another way to get BPM's up.
It is a fantastic piece of technology. I just have to learn to live with it's limitations.
Hang in there; it does get better.

Thank you

by hoss27 - 2013-07-10 07:07:57

Hello Angrysparrow , richan and everybody else:

Thank you so much for your respone, I appreciate it...one question, I did not tell my Dr. that I needed long leads...I was in the hospital and I had to have my PM and did not really have much of a discussion, how long are leads to begin with? Can you swim with regular leads?

Once again, thank you

Hi hoss

by IAN MC - 2013-07-11 03:07:40

There is enough slack in the leads to do ANY activity once they have bedded in by the growth of scar tissue. All leads are " regular " leads ; you don't need special ones to swim or swing a golf club or any other activity

Ian

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Life does not stop with a pacemaker, even though it caught me off guard.