Conflicting advice on exercise after PM

I received my first PM On Jan 8, 2018 at the age of 48. I have recovered well and other than PVCs have not had any issues. I have been wanting to be active as before that includes long walks, yoga (power yoga as well as long stretches), interval training and weight training. I met with my EP last week and asked him about it. He has no objection to my workout routine. I am told to resume all exercises if I want.

My sister who is now 44 also has a PM which was implanted when she was 31. Her EP had advised her against some exercises. She is told to not do weight training over the shoulders, avoid certain yoga poses that stretch the chest area and arms. In the first couple years after her first implant, she was also told to not do upper body strengh exercises such as push up.

I would like to know what you all think and what your doctor's advice has been.

Thank you.

 

 

 

4 Comments

working out

by Tracey_E - 2018-03-26 19:57:34

Doctors vary in their instructions, some are considerably more conservative than others. Your doctor's advice is much more common than your sister's.  I've never had a doctor tell me to hold back. I have been doing Crossfit for 7 years now, with my doctor's blessing, no restrictions, no problems with my leads. I was doing ring rows, snatches and push ups this morning. I ran a Spartan last month and emailed a muddy finish line pic to my doctor, he loved it. He believes, and I agree, that being fit is the best thing I can do for my heart. Any small (really really small!) risk to the leads is far outweighed by the benefits of a strong heart. 

Leads are thin and flexible, designed to move with us. They are put in with plenty of slack so any movement we do will not do any damage where the leads are attached in the heart. After the first year they are in so tight that it takes a special laser to get them out. I've heard of a very few cases of leads getting pinched, insulation rupturing, and needing replaced, but that's the rare exception not the rule. I had one lead replaced at 15 years, which is average lead life. My other original lead (1994) is still working great. 

Thanks

by ST - 2018-03-26 20:07:03

Thank you. My doctor said the same thing. Keeping the heart healthy by exercising is important. I am glad to that more doctors advise to not hold back. I can't wait to get started.

Thanks again for being a positive presence on this site.

exercising....

by Suzzy123 - 2018-03-27 23:10:58

Keep on exercising as much as you can. You will get to know your limits as time goes on.

Thanks

by ST - 2018-03-28 02:34:34

I followed doctors orders for first 6 weeks and didn’t lift left arm, didn’t lift heavy weights etc. He told me to walk as much as I wanted from week 2. By week 10, all restrictions are lifted. I did a gentle yoga class couple days ago but didn’t really stretch my left side as I used to. I still feel a bit unsure. I think it’s best for me to start slow and build up to where I was before. 

Thank you all for your advice. 

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