exercise and intimacy with ERI

I am 23 and have had my pacemaker since I was 15. I went into ERI last week and felt it immediately-- I'm locked up at 65 bpm and it's VERY frustrating! I am going about my life as normal but not doing anything to exert myself which means no heavy lifting, no running, no working out, etc.

But 4 weeks without exercise or sex isn't my favorite thing in the world so I'm looking for a little insight (or perspective.) My boyfriend has been with me for 4 years and he's not pressuring me or anything, but I'd like to see what others think. And I'd love to do a few wall sits or bicep curls if I can.

Any advice here? I know my heart rate would go up a little with these activities but I'm not sure if the effects would be noticeable or detrimental-- that is, I might get a bit out of breath but I wouldn't pass out or anything. Help? Thanks!

12 Comments

There's really not much you can do

by PacerRep - 2013-10-06 06:10:07

Your device is now in "power management mode"....The role of the pacemaker is no longer to give you a normal lifestyle and provide you with the heart rate to do the things you mentioned...it's job is to keep you alive.

It's kinda like the government shutdown right now in America....All non-essential personnel have been temporarily layed off and only the most important (or so they'd like us to think) are still functioning to keep the whole thing going.

When you get your replacement, things will be back to normal, Were you happy with the device you've had or did you have problems with it? I assume you have a Medtronic device since you are at 65ppm. This seems to have been coming up a lot lately but it's no secret around here that I am not a fan of their activity sensor, they have some great features in their device but the RR sensor is definitely not one of them. If your pretty active, which I am sure you are at your age, I would explore all of the options and have a voice in the device you get to live with for the next 10 years.

You can call your doctor and tell them you need the device replaced sooner than 4 weeks and tell him your symptoms...typically they don't wait very long to swap those guys out, we do them the same week if not the next day..that's how everybody make their money (Doc's, Reps and hospitals).... =)

Have patience

by IAN MC - 2013-10-06 06:10:53

Your boyfriend must think it's kinda like a shutdown too !

If you're locked at. 65 bpm none of the activities that you are missing would be particularly enjoyable ; I hope you get a replacement a.s.a.p.

Ian

Update

by CRose19 - 2013-10-07 03:10:05

I went into ERI last Tuesday and already had an appt on Friday. Rather than rushing in on Wednesday to make an appt, I just waited because I didn't think it would affect my surgery. But by Friday, they told me that

1. The doctor only does the procedure on Wednesday
2. it was too late to have the procedure this week (10.9)
3. they were booked up on 10.16
4. Therefore I have to wait until the 23rd-- 3 full weeks after I went into ERI. Then there is a week of recovery (assuming nothing goes wrong during surgery and I don't need my leads replaced.)

I made a bunch of calls this morning to the insurance company and to my doctor's office trying to get things pushed, but they said it's unlikely they will be able to get authorized in time for this week and next week is "definitely not an option."

I know I am overreacting-- I guess I have just never felt sick because I had no symptoms before my surgery when I was younger. Now I am unable to do all the things I am used to doing and I'm frustrated that I have to wait 3 weeks given that so many doctors perform this procedure. My doctor is at UCSF which is an incredible hospital and worth waiting for, but it's good to know that it's not entirely unreasonable that I am so frustrated with how long I have to wait. 3 weeks feels like a long time especially when you factor in the time spent recovering afterwards.

Honestly, I just want to get back to living my life and not getting winded by walking around the office too fast or rushing to cross the street.

emergency back up plan

by Tracey_E - 2013-10-07 04:10:24

You are not overreacting! Imo, they should have already scheduled you. If you are EOL now, that means you've been ERI for the last 2-3 months so they knew you were very close. Some insurance makes you wait until EOL but they still knew it was coming soon.

There is a tiny chance the leads are not good and they will test them when they do the change out to be sure, but if something was wrong they most likely would have seen indications already on the reports. Changes are SUPER EASY when the leads are good, imo it's unacceptable they're making such a big deal out of it and letting you suffer.

We had a long time very active member, Electric Frank, who said if he ended up EOL and couldn't get a fast surgery date, he was going to go to the ER and pass out . He was a character, may he rest in peace.

Can they send you for the pre-op stuff now and put you on a wait list? Be very very clear about how bad you feel, how limited you are in day to day activities, how close you are to passing out. Good luck!!!

why so long?

by Tracey_E - 2013-10-07 08:10:41

Why do you have to wait 4 weeks? I'd push for a date sooner, like this week.

Until then, you probably shouldn't be exerting too much. If you do, you'll probably feel short of breath and dizzy. It's not good for you, but it's not fatal either. Just use common sense.

Yea that's a bunch of crap

by PacerRep - 2013-10-07 09:10:36

There's probably 15 other guys that will do it, I would farm it out to someone else if your that miserable, or as Tracey said...go to the ER and tell them you are pre-syncopal. If that doc doesn't want to do it, there will be other guys that will raise their hands. Change out's are very easy and having the "best doc in town" is really not a factor when it comes to these. I could do it in the back of a uhaul van with some scissors, duct tape and a screwdriver lol.

Don't wait, if you don't advocate for yourself or find somebody who cares about your symptoms then you will have to wait.

I found a patient today at ERI around Noon...guess what I'm doing at 8am tomorrow? It's ridiculous that they are making you wait. He can add you on next week and just stay a little late..unless he's on vacation.

Update again!

by CRose19 - 2013-10-07 09:10:54

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your support and advice on this!

First of all, I am definitely in ERI-- my medtronic locks up at ERI, not just EOL. If this were EOL, I hope it would've been a different story!

I was very happy this afternoon to get a call saying that my self-advocacy (read: pestering everyone I possibly could) paid off-- my surgery will be THIS Wednesday!

I by no means think I am the worst off of any person with a device, nor do I think I'm emergent, but it did feel a little like they were doing the easy thing by putting my surgery on the 23rd rather than pushing to get it authorized by the insurance company. I am happy that I made those few calls and asked them to go the extra mile. I do like my doctor and I'm happy I didn't have to go to someone else, but that was going to be my next strategy!

I am anxious about my surgery because it's my first replacement, but I know it's a simple procedure and hearing from you all makes me feel even more confident that all will go well. They said there is little chance that the lead test will show any issues. I just hope they don't nick one, which they said could happen! Yikes.

Thank you guys!

replacements

by Tracey_E - 2013-10-07 11:10:04

So proud of you standing up for yourself and getting results!!!! What great news.

I was nervous as heck for my first replacement! If the first surgery was a 10, the replacement was about a 3-4. I got an early appointment and was home fixing my own lunch, left for vacation 3 days later. I'm on #4 now, blase is a good word to describe me when it's replacement time. Really, there is nothing to it. Most of the soreness the first time was making the pocket, most of the restrictions were for the leads to grow into place. None of that this time, and they go in through the scar tissue.

Oh! And I've never had a surprise with the leads during replacements. I got one new lead this last time, but I knew for several years before that one was bad so I had lots of time to figure out what to do. My other original lead is still going strong.

comment on AngrySparrow's cookie trick ... I do that too! Take little treats, remember staff names, ask about their kids. And when I call in need of something, there has never been a delay. Always make friends with the staff.

Strong work

by PacerRep - 2013-10-08 01:10:26

Proud of you. The replacement procedure literally takes about 15minutes. Your there all morning, but from cut to sew its really quick. It takes longer to get on the table and prepped then it does to switch it out.

Again congrats. Now you have about 24 hours to figure out which device is best for you! Doctors usually just use the same brand over and over, most don't pick devices specifically for each patient, that's your job to do the research and advocate again!

Mammogram is fine

by PacerRep - 2013-10-09 02:10:47

No issue here

Mammogram and pm

by Shazza - 2013-10-09 12:10:19

I'm finding all your talk very interesting and informative so thank you . I'm glad I joined this site as I have had no clue about pm workings. I am 44 and had a pm inserted 2years ago after my 3rd open heart surgery. My question is does anyone know if its ok to still have a mammogram now I have a pm. Ie: is it possible they can squash wires ??Thanks in advance!!

Im 23 too!

by kpacemaker - 2013-10-10 05:10:09

It goes by quick I have had my pm for almost 5 weeks! Hang in there!!!!!

You know you're wired when...

You have a little piece of high-tech in your chest.

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My pacemaker is intact and working great.