Running On Empty

I have been running 35 years and have had a pacemaker (St. Jude) for just about 6 years. My running, never great has really fallen off and I am running w/walking breaks due it seems to (abt. 3 miles). This has gotten worse as my pacwemaker battery is wearing down. My wonderful Dr. has suggested that maybe a different pacemaker would help. I am just trying to get info on whether this could help and what other manufacturers are out there so I could make an informed (hopefully) choice.

2 Comments

pacing

by Tracey_E - 2016-03-16 07:03:05

First thing to do is find out why you are struggling, that's the only way to know if another might be a better choice. Have you had a stress test where you run on the treadmill so they can watch real time? Or keep track of the times and see if anything shows up on the pacer report.

Could you have already switched to elective replacement mode? When mine did this last time, rate response turned off. I worked out right up until replacement, but after the mode switch it was a lot harder.

If you pace with rate response, there are some out there that work differently than SJM so it would be worth checking into.

I had problems in the past bumping my upper limit. I got a new SJM last month, this one goes to 220 where my old one (along with most every other pacer out there) only went to 180. My doc just this week approved raising my limit to 190 so I'm pretty psyched to test it out. They said it's the same but i'd swear the rate response on this one is different, more sensitive. I get sob easily around the house because my rate seems to go up faster, but my stamina has been amazing when working out so I think I'll take the trade off. Point is, don't rule out SJM, they've made changes since your last one. Or maybe another would work better, you never know, but the first step is to find out what's not working now so you know what you're shopping for.

Active

by gleesue - 2016-03-16 07:03:32

We are the same age. I got my PM in 2012. I'm very active. I had to stop running because of arthritis, did a lot of 10 k's, but I still do a lot of other things. I replaced the running with biking and really enjoy that. I also kayak, coach soccer, hike, jet ski, play tennis, lift weights and more.

Because off all my activity my EP gave me a Biotronik Evia DR-T. My EP said he even has marathoners on the Evia. It has been great for me. Hasn't slowed me down one bit. I can keep of with the youngsters (under 50) on the tennis court and can even beat most of them.

I know there are other active folks on this site that should give you some more info.

Good luck,

Jerry

You know you're wired when...

You have a high-tech ticker.

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A pacemaker suddenly quitting is no more likely to happen than you are to be struck by lightening.