a bit scared

Hello. I just got home from the cardiologist and will be going to have a pacemaker put in on the 29th. I am 46yr old female who these last 2 1/2 yrs became very fit and healthy. I power lift, olympic lift and train crossfit style at times. I also run. When I got healthy and fit is when I started having the bradycardia and delays. The cardiologist recommended a new pacemaker by a German company (I think Biotronik) that has small leads (I will have 2). He said no lifting for 1-2 months which is going to drive me insane, but I would love to hear restrictions others have had.
I am scared silly too

thanks

7 Comments

Biotronik is good

by PacerRep - 2013-10-18 01:10:30

They have a good pacemaker...although the whole "small lead" is kinda funny. All of the leads are 7F in size except for the St Jude Tendril lead...which is a 6F. So if he wants to use small leads, he should use the Tendril....otherwise it's the same as all the rest of them.

That being said, the Bio leads are good leads, strong track record with no recalls.

Additionally, I would ask your physician if he can do a "cephalic cut down" on you, vs the "sub-clavian stick". Since your doing all these power lifting activities, it will eliminate the risk of a complication called "sub-clavian crush", basically your collar bone breaks your leads.

If he can't do a cephalic, maybe ask to be referred to somebody who can.

thanks

by mom0f6 - 2013-10-18 03:10:23

Thank you all for your comments!! I will go fill out my bio and read all I can. I did find out it was the biotronik with Siello leads. It is a clinical trial lead. Thank you again
Terri

Biotronik

by gleesue - 2013-10-18 03:10:45

I have a Biotronik and have posted this before but I’ll put it here again for you. The pacemaker is smaller but the leads would be similar.

"This device is tiny, just a bit bigger than a quarter, which is critically important to a young, active patient. It also has a long battery life of more than a decade.

- Blair Grubb, M.D., Ph.D., University of Toledo Medical Center, USA

Evia is built with 33% fewer components, which not only means a substantial reduction in size, but also a 50% decrease in power consumption.

DR-T offers Early Detection with BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring and an extended device longevity.

I also do a lot of weight lifting and other activities. My EP suggested to at first start out with less weight and do more reps to reduce the strain. I now lift at previous levels. I started lifting at about 4 weeks but very easy and not over the head. The best thing my doctor said tis that if it hurts don’t it. I don’t run a lot anymore because of arthritis, but do a lot of biking and elliptical training.

One last thing, my doctor says he has marathoners on the same device.

Don’t worry. It will take a little while but you will be as good as ever if not better.

Jerry

welcome

by Tracey_E - 2013-10-18 04:10:39

So glad you found us! It all seems a lot scarier than it is. It can be overwhelming until you wrap your head around it but a few months from now you'll be back to doing whatever you want and feeling good.

Ditto what PacerRep said about placement, though I would have said "bury it" instead of the technical terminology :) Mine is buried and I don't have any lifting restrictions. I do Crossfit 5x a week. We have quite a few marathoners and lifters here also.

I started walking the day I got out of the hospital. By the end of the second week I'd added the recumbent bike. I'm 47 but got my first one in 1994. I'm healthy and active and the pm doesn't hold me back from anything I want to do.

Search feature

by lbdina - 2013-10-18 12:10:27

Howdy, Mom, and welcome to a great support site.

First, go to "Manage Account" in the upper right and fill in your profile, especially the Bio. Give a full description of your diagnosis, condition, lifestyle, medications, etc. This information will help everyone give you much better responses to your questions.

Another thing...in the "Search" field, upper right, type in Weightlifting, weight training, lifting, etc, and you can see a bunch of posts on the very same subject.

My final thought is that you discuss placement of your pacemaker implant in depth with your doctor before you have the procedure. If power lifting is important to you, you want to make sure he implants it in a location that is least likely to impact your workouts. I'm sure others have specific recommendations I cannot provide, since I do not lift. Don't despair...there are lots of folks here who lift, run marathons, etc.

Regards,

Lou

Do "Bury It"

by Many Blessings - 2013-10-19 10:10:41

Hi Momof6,

I'm not sure what size you are, or if it makes any difference at all, but I'm petite and thin and exercise every day. I used to workout with weights (not power lifting, but flies and isometric hold exercises) as part of my daily routine, but can no longer do that because it causes my PM to slip and move. Even push ups will cause this to happen. Regular exercise, hiking, etc., does not cause any problems with that at all.

My PM is not placed underneath, but in a pocket right underneath the skin like many others out here on this site. I purposely chose a St. Jude model because it was smaller than any of the others shown to me (my sister is a cardio nurse and brought home samples) so it would not show as much and cause less issues moving since I am so active.

"Burying" mine was an option I was given, but they strongly encouraged me not to do it (not PM related) so I did not. I believe if it was placed underneath, I wouldn't have any issues with it slipping when doing chest exercises with weights or isometrics, but maybe I'm wrong.

Ask questions to your doctors to see what they think. You'll get great answers from others out here too! I know my situation with mine slipping and moving isn't the norm, but wanted to let you know that it can happen. Burying it may just be the answer for you.

Good luck!

Dont be scared

by cgomez - 2013-10-27 12:10:16

Well we are the same age and i was also getting fit n lifting weights. Now im going crazy not being able to go workout. I was told not to lift more than 5lbs which equals to a gallon of milk. When u are a active person as I am this is so restricting. I am adjusting now its been two weeks. And today I am going to the gym for cardio. Treadmill only. And a small.amount of leg weights. Good luck to and your surgery,you never know how much u need both arms until u cant use them.

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