This is a good place

Hello
I got my PM today! I am a PE teacher in sweden with an activ lifestyle.

When I tech the kids how to stand on their hands or play volleyball, thats when I'm happy at work.
When I swim k after k in open water or when I'm kayaking in the archipelago of Stockholm, thats when I'm really at peace with myself.

When searching the web for info on my possibilities to go on with my life as before, this forum came up almost everytime.
This forum made it easier for me to accept that I nedded the PM and to understand that the PM does not have to limit me in the future.

Thanks!
Keep up the good and friendly work!
Cheers// Johan

(sorry for language issues)

6 Comments

Active lifestyle

by Theknotguy - 2015-09-29 02:09:39

You should be able to continue your very active lifestyle and to continue teaching students. It will be even better because you will be able to show your students you can have an active lifestyle after you have a pacemaker.

We have quite a few members with very active lifestyles on the forum. If you use the search feature on this forum (located in the upper right corner) you should be able to contact members directly and have specific questions answered.

Since you do have an active lifestyle, you will need to be careful about how soon you start to do strenuous activities. You should wait until the pacemaker wound is completely healed. Otherwise you run the risk of breaking open the wound which could lead to a serious infection and a delayed recovery time.

You will want to continue to be active throughout the time your pacemaker wound heals. Light exercise, not strenuous activities. You will also want to keep the arm on the pacemaker side active so you don't get a "frozen" shoulder.

My cardiologist told me not to engage in any strenuous activity for three months after I received the pacemaker. It was five months before I could actually participate in such activities. Other cardiologists have suggested different lengths of time. You will probably want to consult with your cardiologist/EP and determine a time that is acceptable to you.

At two years, I can engage in all the activities I was able to do before I received my pacemaker. It hasn't been a limitation for me, more of a supplement.

Welcome to the pacemaker club.

I hope everything progresses well for you.

Welcome

by Cabg Patch - 2015-09-29 03:09:53

Johan,
Welcome to the club, glad you decided to join and hopefully the members can help you along on your learning curve about pacemakers.

Your English usage is just fine, in fact far better than many of the Americans who frequent this site.

You will find with time that the only limiting factor is you, not your pacemaker so get back to life and enjoy yourself once your Cardiologist gives you the go ahead.

Any questions please feel free to ask away, there are many knowledgeable people here, and a few you'll learn to steer clear of.

Good luck, and again welcome.

You'll be back

by gleesue - 2015-09-29 05:09:47

I'm one of those very active folks. I kayak, hike, play tennis, golf, lift weights, bike, jet ski, coach soccer, swim etc. I haven't stood on my hands for a long time, so I can't comment on that.

I'll give you the advice my EP gave me, if it hurts, back off. You'll get everything back, but some forms of exercises will take longer than others. For example; my biking came back pretty fast, but some weight lifting exercises caused pain so I lifted less and did more reps. But that too eventually came all the way back.

You will be glad you have your new friend!

Jerry

Hej Johan

by PeteFindlay - 2015-09-29 08:09:39

I am also very active, and was worried that the pacemaker would stop me from doing many things. In fact, it hasn't stopped me doing anything. I was running after 4 weeks, I took about 2 months before starting to lift weights again (gently at first), but I was soon back into CrossFit, including lifting heavy weights, pull-ups ... and handstands.

The advice above is good - if it hurts, back off. The only warning I was given is to avoid direct impact to the pacemaker site, as it can cause injury and infection. That hasn't been a problem for me at all.

Good luck!

Pete

Thanks!

by jhsoSWE - 2015-09-30 04:09:25

Thank you all.

Good and comforting words of advice.

I understand that patiance is needed, which is fine.
Waiting for something good is always worth it.
To accept that I needed one was the hardest so far.
If there was one muscle in my body I thought I could count on it was that one. Thanks to a little help from the pacemaker, I still can.

Thanks!

by jhsoSWE - 2015-09-30 04:09:55

Thank you all.

Good and comforting words of advice.

I understand that patiance is needed, which is fine.
Waiting for something good is always worth it.
To accept that I needed one was the hardest so far.
If there was one muscle in my body I thought I could count on it was that one. Thanks to a little help from the pacemaker, I still can.

You know you're wired when...

Bad hair days can be blamed on your device shorting out.

Member Quotes

I just want to share about the quality of life after my pacemaker, and hopefully increase awareness that lifestyles do not have to be drastically modified just because we are pacemaker recipients.