Surfing after PM implant

glad to hear you are waiting

by new to pace.... - 2024-05-04 12:51:00

   Thank you for filling in your bio..  You might want to write down your question(s) for your doctor, before your next appointment.  About when you will be able to surf full time.  Am pretty sure you will soon be back to what you like to do.  But you do need patience.  No need to have a wave knock you down.

new to pace

Hi 🌊🏄🏻‍♂️

by Lavender - 2024-05-04 21:35:00

Welcome a board. Lol It sounds like you are in great shape for a soon to be 40 yr old! Surfing sounds groovy! If your doc is ok with it in three more months, then go for it. We did have some surfers and wind sailing folks. I saw this post here...

BY HUNGRYHEART

 2008-12-15 03:12:19

 EXERCISE & SPORTS

Anyone out there surf and stand up paddle? Are there any risks I need to be aware of when surfing after the leads are set and scarred over? I got my PM three weeks ago and I'm patiently waiting for the 6 weeks to pass. How about excercise? Are there any excercises that absolutely shoud not be done because of this little computer? Like pull ups, flys, military presses? Thanks for your thoughts. You guys are great. This is a great website!

3 Comments

go for it!

by Tracey_E - 2008-12-15 04:12:26

I'm way too klutzy to be a surfer but I have been working out with a pm for 15 yrs now. If it's ok with your doctor, you can probably start aerobic exercise now. Just start out slowly, be careful to keep your arm below your shoulder and no weights yet. Once you're past the six weeks, aside from contact sports (karate, football) there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to do any exercise you want. 

Depending on your build and where your pm is placed, some exercises such as flies may pull on your pm. I sometimes feel mine but it's more an awareness than a pain. If it pulls more than just a bit or is painful, stop. I don't let it stop me for long, I just ease into whatever it is more slowly. (I'm just a wee bit stubborn, "can't" isn't my favorite word!)

What I have heard

by turboz24 - 2008-12-15 09:12:06

Some doctors would rather you not do any over the head weight lifting, but my doc cleared me to basically do what ever I wanted.

If your implant is just under the skin, I would be really careful about getting hit in that location or sliding over the site. I would suggest wearing a wetsuit or at least a rash guard at all times when surfing. Not that you would damage the PM or leads, but my ICD hurts when rubbed or hit, so just a suggestion.

Surfer with ICD

by thisis1234 - 2016-09-04 18:08:52

I have done a lot of surfing with my sub-pectoral implanted ICD, since 2010. The ICD saved my life twice (once on-water, once out of water). The issues have been from my heart, not my ICD. In practice, I've been able to enjoy most sports with my ICD. The only sports I've avoided are martial arts (judo, karate) - anything where I'd take a direct hit to the device as a normal consequence of the sport - even then it would probably take a lot of abuse to cause an actual problem.

My ICD is sub-pectoral (under the muscle) - not sure what to say if your pacemaker is just under the skin.

Surfing

by piglet22 - 2024-05-05 06:13:42

Probably not relevant, but in the UK there has been increased pressure and awareness of the practice of discharging raw and treated sewage to fresh and sea water.

Years ago, I ran a laboratory analysing environmental waters for bacteria levels.

As a result, I'm wary of how I deal with water contact.

Open ocean sea water is probably the safest from the point of view of microorganisms. The lack of centres of population, the salinity, the sunlight all help keep levels safe.

On the other hand, I would never voluntarily swim or enter inland freshwater rivers, streams, lakes known to receive sewage effluent.

Poor practice by waste water companies is in the spotlight and now, for the first time ever, rowers in the Thames university boat race have been advised not to enter the water unless necessary and in France, officials are trying to clean up the Seine before the Olympics.

One of most vocal groups in the UK is Surfers Against Sewage.

Of course this is nothing to do with the physical side of surfing, just the small risk iof infection mmediately after surgery.

Surfing/Exercise post PM

by skigrl3 - 2024-05-05 10:01:49

Good Day Surfer

I am not a surfer but I just wanted to add some words of encouragement. I am a serious power walker and a serious downhill skier. I was able to get back fully to both, my PM was placed a couple of years ago. I have skied 2 full ski seasons, which besides just going down hill, the use of poles, often needing to pull along the flats. Plus lugging all of my ski gear. I am sure others here will attest that even once fully healed you will feel the occasional tugging, pinching or pulling - I am sure just as a reminder that the device is still there! Good luck and if you follow your doctor's advice, no doubt you will be back out there riding those waves.

Surfing?

by AgentX86 - 2024-05-05 16:30:22

Not being a surfer, or having grown up were such a thing was possible, the only thing I can say is that if you wipe out and hit pacemaker first, you're probably not going to like it.  Danger?  I can't see any. 

Your doctor is being very conservative, which isn't a bad thing.  Many are told to wait six months to do activities that  involve extreme motion of the shoulder (golf, tennis, surfing?). After that, all but contact sports are good.

I was told that any weight lifting is OK, except free-weight presses. The issue is trapping and crushing the leads between the bar and clavicle. Any machine exercise was just fine.

My EP is very conservative, too, perhaps because I'm dependent with no escape rhythm.  Crushed leads could be very bad.