What can I do When

I got my pacemaker 8 weeks ago. What is timeframe to raise my left arm over my head, swim, lift weights (and is 20 lbs my limit) I'm  getting conflicting info from docs. Telling me anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months. Thank you


5 Comments

4-6 weeks

by Tracey_E - 2019-11-24 22:03:40

Most doctors say 4-6 weeks, some say as little as 2 weeks. My doctor said 3 months for a full golf swing, anything else is ok at 6.  Ease into it, don't jump right back into everything you were doing before right away. 

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by Biged - 2019-11-24 22:12:14

Thank you

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by MaukaMakai - 2019-11-24 23:26:02

My doctor told me 4 weeks for swimming and weight training, 1 week for running. He told me 6 weeks or more was "old school" . 

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by Elevator tech - 2019-11-25 00:27:26

 I got a pacemaker October 10 I was told not to lift my arm for about three months and I  can’t even count how many times I’ve lifted my arm over my head  saw the doctor the other day said everything looks good so I really don’t know what to tell you guys Sometimes I get a real weird feeling can’t really explain it don’t know if it’s all in my head I’m not too sure 

depends on why

by dwelch - 2019-11-25 03:03:41

I start trying to wash my hair a few days in, as soon as I can figure out how to get in the shower without getting the thing wet (ziploc bag and whatever that medical tape is, across the top and down the sides).  I wouldnt try a golf swing for weeks/months though.  driving a few days after.

I generally dont take anything for the pain, I let the pain guide me.  Dont make fast movements until you feel it is well healed.  Lift the elbow a little bit more than the last time be it a day or a week whatever you feel comfortable with.  The pain will tell you how far you can go or not go.

You will get conflicting answers because there is no true answer for various reasons.  one of course is we are all different. others include they dont actually know, is there a  real risk of leads being displaced or not?  its difficult to describe to folks what lifting the elbow/arm really means, one persons slow movement might be another persons fast movement.

if you have kept your elbow down for 8 weeks, you are a very disciplined champion.  but your arm may be stiff now or weaker for the lack of movement.  

At the end of the day there is nobody but you that can decide what time it is to do something.  Its like the first time diving into a pool, or other similar things where you have to look at the obstacle, and decide for yourself that you will be okay, the docs cant tell you when, you have to feel ready then do it.  You can dive right in or dip your toes in then hang onto the side and put your legs in and so on.  We have all been through it we all came out the other side just fine.  You will too.

Dont start swinging it about wildly on day one.  if you want to lift weights in the next few days then work slow, dont go for your normal/max weight the first time out, try something lower, and build on it that day or over time.  Dont do agressive strokes the first time in the pool, just gentle smaller movement stuff then if it feels fine then bigger movements, repeat.

Im on device number five so I stepped off that ledge a very long time ago now.  I was a no fear teenager at the time though so that maybe helped...last few devices I told work it might be a couple of weeks but was usually more like a few days.

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