25 year old MALE PM Newbie with some questions

You have come to the right place

by Ileen - 2017-02-16 10:13:38

I am new to, so can't help you much. Just wanted to say, you will get lots of good info and reassure here. There are many people here like yourself who exercise a lot and are younger. I am 64 and active, I swim and bike. Just got the ok to swim again. There are several people who can help and I am sure Tracy E will be contacting you. She is a gym girl and has had 3 pacemakers. I hope all the best for you. You will do fine and back enjoying  your workouts soon. Keep us posted.Ileen

Welcome

by dumb - 2017-02-16 12:22:12

The problem with your heart is electrical.  Having rhythm complications is different from the plumbing problems.

Are you going to have a pacemaker,  ICD or CRT?

The implant itself will take a bit longer than the usual time for a pacemaker since you will have the device implanted a bit deeper.  You already know recovery will take a bit longer. Remember ice packs are your friend.

Greetings

by Hamsquatch - 2017-02-16 13:58:41

So your problem is electrical, same as me but mine started at 28. Have you had an EKG or echocardiogram? Maybe it's limited resources in Alaska but one would think they would give you an exact diagnosis. 

Sub pectoral

by Mary Anne - 2017-02-16 14:41:23

I had my first pacemaker replaced yeserday. I too am thin. It was under the skin. This one is under the muscle. I'l be honest. It is really really sore, but again, I m writing to you on the absolute worst day. If you are young and active, you want it under the muscle. I had mine for over 7 years and it had never been comfortanble. Always poking me, trouble with seat belt in car over it, and all that because it was so close to the surface. Now it will be padded in there and not so bothersome. And the doctor said it was safer for the leads to be in there a little deeper  too for active people. Everyone one is different. But you are young. My new one is larger and has a 12-15 year battery life. Good luck. My friend works out everyday and he's on his second pacemaker. These little machines only make us stronger. 

questions and answers

by Tracey_E - 2017-02-16 22:44:45

Electrical problems are unrelated to lifestyle choices and overall health. Nothing you did caused it, nothing you could have done differently would have prevented it. Ever get a new phone/tv/computer and it runs for years, then get another identical and it dies as soon as the warranty is up? That's our hearts, short circuits in the electrical system of an otherwise perfectly healthy heart. Sometimes it's caused by surgery, medication or infection but more often than not we have no idea why. The good news is the pacer can more or less fix our problems so we can heal and get on with our lives. 

Mine is congenital, no known reason. It was discovered when I was 5, but that was in the 70's before they paced kids regularly so I went without until I was 27. I'm on my 5th device now, healthy and active. I do Crossfit 5x a week, hike or ski every vacation, love to kayak. Last week I went on an underground cave river hike and next week my daughter and I are doing our first half marathon. Being paced doesn't slow me down at all, and no one looks at me and sees a heart patient. 

Putting it under muscle is an excellent choice if you are active because once you heal it will be out of the way. Know, however, that burying it deeper means it will take a little longer to heal so don't be in a rush to get back to the gym. You'll get there, and it will be well worth it in the end, but healing can take a while. Aerobic exercise is ok as soon as you feel up to it. Impact might take a little longer so ease into it. I was out walking the day I got out of the hospital, nothing crazy but the fresh air and exercise felt good. Some are ok running within a week or two. I was not, the impact made me sore. If that happens, back off and try again in a few days. Ice helps if you overdo it. 

Once you are cleared to lift weights and raise the arm overhead (usually 4-6 weeks), start easy and see how you feel. For me, it was more like 8-10 weeks until I was back to my full routine, another few weeks until I could bend/twist/lift/jump with no odd twinges and was back up to my old weights. It's not hard to tell when something doesn't feel right, listen to your body. You aren't going to damage the pacer, it's titanium, but it takes some time for scar tissue to build around it and make it numb. Know that it's temporary, and pushing it too soon will just make you hurt more. Ask me how I know lol. Rushing it isn't doing yourself any favors.

Bonus! Your stamina is probably going to improve once your heart is behaving itself. 

You'll do great

by Elisabet - 2017-02-17 00:35:42

I'm another skinny person (at least up there) and in fact I'm getting a pocket revision next week which I hope will make this thing more comfortable. Right now the wires are coiled in front of the device, and since I have no fat there you can practically read the serial number through my skin. The plan is to put those wires back behind where they started, and possibly go under muscle but honestly there's not much to work with. You should have a much easier time in that regard! I've got radiated tissue so the doctor is prepared to be flexible in getting it set.

One thing besides the healing is that it may take a few adjustments to get the PM set just right for you. I just got my upper limit moved up something like 20 bpm and it's made such an improvement! Now my heart can keep up with me when I go to the gym.