Power boating /Performance boating

Saw an entry from many years ago but wondering if any new information. We have a Fountain offshore "cigarette boat" which can go up to 90 mph and sometimes can hit pretty hard. Any advice regarding the safety of still being able to run my boat fast? How long after implant should I wait or is it ever going to be safe?? I will of course wear a pad over my device but what about all that pounding around that's so much fun?

Thanks!


9 Comments

Your device

by Lavender - 2023-02-23 11:56:23

I was just recently thinking about you. Did you get a pacemaker? When?

Pacemakers and pounding on the water

by FG - 2023-02-23 12:19:16

Hi Lavender!

Not in yet but firm for 3/23. I'm making my wife nervous waiting so long but I have also been nervous! Still asymptomatic but darn if I don't idle at 35-40 during the day and 32-35 at night. Never seen a 20 something. And I have AF too. With 3rd degree (complete) block. I still do get 140 from my AVN when I jog like again this morning. So I have been told its not an emergency but also that it simply will not get better on its own and since I also have AF if they want to try to deal with that with ablations and meds they won't do anything without PM in place.

So I've got an EP who does LBB placement for the dual chamber device. Are there many on here with LBB leads? I asked a few times but got very little activity to my query. Thanks for responding!

And yes any others that pound around on boats?

Waiting

by Lavender - 2023-02-23 12:30:55

I recalled you saying you had a late January date for implant. I understand your anxiety about it but isn't it causing anxiety waiting? 🤓

You could be a month into healing by now. My CRT-P is because of complete heart block. Hope you don't suddenly have a cardiac arrest like I did with ventricular standstill. Had it twice. First time when I was totally alone. No one there to resuscitate me. Came to on my own. Second time was 33 seconds long. I was wearing a heart monitor because I fought for it after the first drop attack. My BF was here when I had the CA. He inadvertently did a precordial thump which restarted my heart. 

It can be unpredictable when the block decides not to let a signal through. 

Little response to your question about LBB pacing might mean that few folks here have experienced it. 
 

There is no way I would be in that type of boat and risk hitting my pacemaker. Maybe others would though. 

Trauma to PM

by FG - 2023-02-23 13:09:20

Yes I imagine pauses have got to be scary. I've never had one I know of, but of course there's always the first time...

I am an experienced boat driver for about 30 years, 20 years with this fast boat and have never traumatized myself or anyone else. I make all wear life jackets which have considerable padding. This is recreational use not racing. It's just fun to go over the waves. Not concerned much about direct trauma but the pounding, which might actually be similar to what bicyclists experience on a rough road. So maybe no big deal. 

I sure wish there was more response to the LBB pacing lead question as it is fairly new but the literature seems to support it pretty strongly. I would be concerned about lead removal too from the septum as this is a stylet driven lead which goes in pretty deep. 

 

why wait

by new to pace.... - 2023-02-23 13:10:09

You could be out in your boat and have your heart beat either stop or pause.  Then hit a another boat.  I certainly would not like to be in the same race as you. I am not a medical doctor. These comments are how i feel and think.

Stop wondering and get your pacemaker.  

I agree with Lavender above.

new to pace

just scared new to pace

by FG - 2023-02-23 13:52:50

emotional I know but I am asymptomatic with no heart issues ever that I knew of

My bradycardia was discovered getting cardiac clearance for a neck surgery I never had and now don't even need as the symptoms went down 90%

Asymptomatic

by AgentX86 - 2023-02-23 15:58:52

There are no symptoms with SCA, either.  I'd rather play with nuclear weapons than play around with a2 second pauses.  At least nukes have safeties.

You won't need any protection over your device.  You'll probably need to wait at least six weeks if not significantly longer until it heals enough to take that pounding but it shouldn't be a problem. 

The pounding will drive rate response nuts, though.   You'll probably have to play with the settings for that.

got pacemaker

by new to pace.... - 2023-02-23 18:50:40

I to got my pacemaker .  Was going to have my right shoulder replaced, was told i needed a stress test.  Then i changed my mind about the surgery.   Cardiologist would not let me cancel the test as had not been in 3years.  Glad he did not as the test showed not only a slow heart beats but pauses.

Was told on a Friday had the pacemaker implanted on Wed.  Had to cancel last minute a trip to an event that weekend.

Found the pauses were what was causing my falling.

new to pace

healing and your boat

by Tracey_E - 2023-02-24 08:03:37

You don't need more protection than your life jacket. 

You'll want to stay out of the water for at least 4 weeks after surgery to minimize infection risk. That goes for any surgery. 

If all you have is heart block, ask if they are turning on rate response. With heart block we rarely need it but sometimes they turn it on anyway just in case. It's motion sensitive, intended for people whose rate doesn't go up normally on exertion. The bouncing will likely make it shoot up and while it's harmless it doesn't feel particularly good. And it's easy to prevent- turn it off unless you need it. 

You know you're wired when...

Bad hair days can be blamed on your device shorting out.

Member Quotes

I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.