Swimming with a pacemaker

I am a keen swimmer, in open water, cold and distance. 

Only 3 weeks after implant. 

When can I start getting back to real swimming again? 

Are any swimmers here? 


6 Comments

Swimming

by Theknotguy - 2023-06-04 07:23:50

Past questions about swimming have been answered.  Don't go swimming until the implant wound has completely healed over.  Danger now being that with a scabbed over wound there is a possibility you can get a nasty bacterial infection that will be difficult to cure.

Not trying to alarm you, just being cautious.

Next, what they don't always emphasize is that after the implant wound has completely healed over, there is scar tissue below the skin surface.  The scar tissue isn't as easy to stretch so when you start doing your swimming strokes you'll pull the scar tissue and it can feel (to a newbie) like you may have pulled a lead.  You probably haven't but it can feel like it.  So you need to start out slowly and easily until the scar tissue has been stretched.  

I threw a ball for the dog - I'm a left handed thrower - and I pulled the scar tissue. It got really sore and I had to hold off for another three weeks until the scar tissue healed internally.  Then I had to start out with light tosses.  Even then I'd get an occasional twinge (it felt like an ant bite) as I pulled something that hadn't been stretched out.  Being a newbie I'd wonder if I pulled a lead but I really hadn't.  It was just scar tissue.  

I also worked in a woodshop (industrial setting). I was accustomed to throwing around up to 55 pounds of wood at a pop.  That kind of exercise really pulled on the scar tissue and I'd be OK while I was working but the next day it would feel like someone had wrapped my PM in sandpaper and scrubbed it around in the implant pocket.  Warm compresses, cold compresses, and Tylenol were my friends.

Same for you.  When you first start swimming it might feel stiff.  But as you stretch out the pocket you may get sore until you've fully stretched out.  

I'm on my second pacemaker now and can do whatever I want. I just moved about 50 boxes of material - up to about 40 pounds - with no problems as everything has been fully stretched out.   But that first go-around where you're getting back to normal can be scary for the newbie especially while you're trying to learn what you can and can't do and what your body is really trying to tell you. 

You probably should make a phone call to your PM to make sure there isn't something we don't know about.  But you'll probably get the go-ahead.  After that take it easy for a while.  Then enjoy your swimming. 

Last thing.  I had problems early on with running out of air.  Had to have a rate-response setting changed on my pacemaker.  After you've been swimming for a while, if you start to run out of air at almost the same distance every time, check with you EP about rate response and see if they can make some setting changes.  

Hope you can enjoy your swimming and can get on with your new life.
 

Swimming

by Selwyn - 2023-06-04 13:51:27

I swim a mile daily, Monday- Thursdays.  Once your scar has fully healed you are ready to go.

Getting back gradually and increasing distance each week is recommended. 

You may want to wait for your first check up and discuss your exercise settings with your EP?

( onset, offset of rate response, upper rate  limit, lower  rate limit).

I am still finding onset of exercise is a problem. I manage to swim 2 lengths, then I  have to wait due to breathlessness, and then ready to go for the next 63. Cold water is especially bad. I had a Boston Scietific PM  fitted for this very  reason, hoping that it would help this problem, however, my EP tech. suggested I was better of without the respiratory setting for exercise heart rate. I don't know? I am still wondering whether to risk it or put up with the above scenario.  Maybe I am just getting older or it is the effects of poor cardiac compliance due to my cardiomyopathy, who knows?

I have been swimming for over 40 years. Providing you don't overdo the distance ( those shoulders!) it is a great way of keeping fit. My cardiologist said it was life saving as I had a 90% narrowing in my main coronary artery with me swimming a mile, at speed, and no chest pain. a couple of days before the angiogram,Thankfully, the long standing swimming had opened up the co-lateral ( alternative) heart circulation and was keeping me well. 

I see you are in South Africa RamB  - home of numerous Great White Sharks !  Rest assured, your pacemaker number will still be identified when it is found amongst the shark poo.

 Welcome to the Club.  Happy swimming. 

return to swimming

by ourswimmer - 2023-06-04 20:12:51

I swim a lot. I got my device about 14 months ago. After about 10 months I had the device nurse increase the maximum heart rate to which my device will pace me, and now I think it supports my activity about as well as I can expect. I don't hit the maximum heart rate very often, but I want that extra gear for races or for best efforts in workout. My device is a Biotronik with the CLS rate response.

My surgeon directed me not to swim for 12 weeks. After 6 weeks he said I could kick, which I did, with arms at my side either on my back or on my front with a snorkel. I also took a trip about 10 weeks after surgery that involved a lot of snorkeling for underwater sightseeing.

The surgeon didn't know a lot about swimming specifically, but to limit the possibility of lead damage he advised me generally to avoid activities that involve extreme thoracic extension. I don't swim butterfly any more for this reason. I also need to re-learn how to do a back start, because I used to do it by throwing my arms to the side and now I think if I do it at all I should go overhead.

When I did resume swimming, both the surface scar and the tissue around the device were still very sensitive. I think that sensitivity persisted for several months but it has mostly resolved. I reallly don't notice the device at all now, although I do put Body Glide on the scar before I swim to keep my suit strap from rubbing it annoyingly.

I used to race a lot in open water. I doubt that I will resume racing in that format but I love open water swimming and intend to continue it. One of the reasons I am happy with my device is that when I had started needing it but hadn't gotten it yet, I couldn't swim hard enough in cold water to keep warm. Now I can again (swam 45m this morning in 15C, no wetsuit).

Swimming with SSS+CI

by crustyg - 2023-06-05 03:25:50

Had my Boston Sci Accolade settings tweaked (again) a few weeks back and swam the next morning.  Joy!  For the first time ever I achieved max-HR during a swim.  So lovely not to have air-hunger (sign of lack of blood flow) during a swim.

I also had MV adjusted to try and avoid the slow decrease in MV feed into RR during a group ride, and so far that's been also been a success.

I can't see any good reason not to have both accelerometer and MV enabled for swimming and road cycling.

Willing to share settings by private message.

Swimming and PM setting

by Selwyn - 2023-06-08 19:58:04

I attended the PM clinic today at 8.30am as an extra ( They are so kind at Liverpool Heart and Chest) as I only phoned up at the start of the week- my problem is breathlessness afer a couple of lengths of the swimming pool- but only on the start of exercise. 

It seems that all the settings are best individualised, as we all exercise slightly differently.

We discussed the need for cyclists to have the respiratory rate response ( as their upper body movement is virtually nil), however for swimming it seems the accelerometer is best. I watched the predicted heart rate with all of these settings with the mean HR of my activity over the last few weeks. It seems that the respiratory rate response would result in a slower pulse than I get at present on swimming.  There was not a mention of blending the two.

Anyway, had a swim today afer the hospital visit. I am still short of breath after 2 lengths, and then once settled I am good for the remainder of the 64 lengths.  It would be wonderful not to have the gasping after the first 2 lenghts. We did debate whether this problem was age, cardiomyopathy, or respiratory.  Who knows?

 

Dear Knot GUY

by TPMP001 - 2023-07-08 07:19:39

My work is extremely hard . with heavy lifting on one side of the body and oveerhead . 

i also do weights and was a MMA fighter . 

i will be having a subpec implant . 

may i ask which type of pulling is dangerous for the leads . ?

deadlift , bench press , shoulder press . 

its best to wait 3 months but can i do a spinning class , swimming , running and shadow boxing after a month and hit bags after 4-6 weeks . 

what is people advise please . 

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At age 20, I will be getting a pacemaker in few weeks along with an SA node ablation. This opportunity may change a five year prognosis into a normal life span! I look forward to being a little old lady with a wicked cane!