Backpacking & Other Athletic Pursuits

backpacks

by Tracey_E - 2018-11-02 18:01:30

Pauses are super easy to fix with a pacer so once you heal, you should be good to be as active as you want.

Make sure your surgeon knows you like to hike and places it out of your way. I haven't done long distance hiking because I'm a princess about having a mattress and shower at night, but I love day hikes. Mine is buried under the pectoral so it's low and deep enough that it doesn't get in the way of my pack straps. If you're near an REI, they have weights in the store so you can test out the packs. But if your surgeon listens, it shouldn't be an issue.  Maybe even take your pack to your preop appointment.  

You should be able to run as soon as you feel up to it. I was out walking the day I was discharged but running made me sore for about a month so I kept it low impact. And when I got my last one (I'm on #5), they told me not getting sweaty for 30 days, not because of the pacer but infection risk until the incision was fully healed. I thought that was overkill but it didn't kill me to chill for a month lol.  Others have been out running a few days later, we all vary with how quickly we bounce back. When they bury it,  healing time is a little longer because it's more invasive but imo well worth it to not have to deal with it later. 

Most of the discussions you've probably seen about adjusting settings and various rate response options probably will not apply to you. If you are just pausing occasionally, the pacer will kick in for those few beats to get you going again and that's it. It gets more complicated when we pace most or all of the time. Yours is an easier fix. 

Hiking is good

by Theknotguy - 2018-11-02 18:45:40

I don't do running so will defer to others who do.  I had problems because of CPR with broken ribs and a collapsed lung. 

After I got over the initial soreness which took longer because of the broken ribs and overall general soreness due to them pounding on my chest (a re-separated right shoulder and damage to the left) things improved quickly.  I started walking as soon as I could.  Eight hundred feet doesn't seem like a lot but it was at first.  Then I started adding distance as my body would accept the extra work.  Worked up to over a mile before heart rehab (something you probably won't need) and continued up to five miles after.  

I've carried a school backpack all over.  We visited England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and I wore the backpack every day.  Just finished a trip to Kentucky and had the backpack with about 20 pounds in it.  I'm sure you're aware the school type backpack concentrates the weight close to the neck and isn't really good for long distance hiking like the serious backpacks are.  Even so, I didn't have any trouble with my pacemaker being bothered and I have the standard under-the-collar bone implant.  There was an initial stretching when I first started using the backpack but that went away after a day or two.  My thinking is that if you have one of the better made hiking type backpacks with either internal or external frame it won't bother your pacemaker as the weight will be concentrated on the shoulders and not on the neck area.  I actually sling the school backpack on my left shoulder and that's the same side as my pacemaker.  The backpack has one of those snap straps that go across the front and I do snap that on as it helps keep the strap from pushing on my left shoulder.  

Before the implant wound heals over, you'll want to do walking.  I'd do some measurements in the neighborhood and work out a course of one, two, and three miles to start.  Just hike in normal clothes until the implant wound heals.  After the implant wound heals I'd start out with and empty backpack which will give you a feel for how it will impact the implant site.  Take it easy at first as there will be some internal healing that needs to happen before you can add weight.  The surface may be healed over but not all of the internal wound.  

After you feel comfortable with the position of the backpack and everything has healed, gradually add weight and get a feel for how things are going.  I used bottles of water because it would allow me to add small amounts of weight.  Then, if things started to hurt, I could always dump the water to lighten the load.  

I have the Medtronic too.  It can be sensitive to being jiggled.  When the dog starts playing tug to rough, she can activate my pacemaker and kick up my heart rate.  Same thing if I'm riding in a bouncing truck.  So the under-the-collar bone implant can be sensitive to vibration.  But I'd have a serious discussion with your EP and see what they say.  Otherwise I get along fine with mine and it isn't bothered while I'm out hiking.  Actually my heart doctor doesn't know what to say.  I tell him I got five miles walking around inside the hospital where I volunteer and he just shrugs and says to keep it up.  I get along fine hiking with the dogs.  Usually by the end of the day they're sacked out and I'm still going strong.  

Walking and hiking are good for you anyway.  Like I said, I wouldn't push it at first.  You'll have to judge how you feel and not push things until the implant wound heals.  I'm left handed and threw the ball for the dog too soon.  Pulled the wound site and spent the next six weeks wishing for it to heal.  So you will want to take it easy.  Hard to do but better if you do.  I did have a couple of times where I'd feel the wound stretch and I'd have to spend a week taking it easy until the soreness went away.  

Hope your implant goes well, your adjustment goes well, and everything else goes smoothly for you.  

Good info all

by InTheFastLane - 2018-11-02 21:50:11

Thanks for all the good info. I am pretty nervous about this, but it seems like in the end, it will be a good thing.  I'm anxious to just get it done and get back go my life .  Robin, I am interested in how you trained your dog to pull a cart! I have a golden retriever puppy who is still too rambunctious for that.  But I am training to be a therapy dog soon.   Looks like my procedure will be this coming Wednesday. I will be getting a Boston Scientific . Not sure on the model yet, but I've already been asking the doc questions about hiking.  So I'm sure he'll be getting some more from me soon.