Exercise

would help if you at least

by new to pace.... - 2024-05-06 11:09:30

Put in your bio the make , model .  makes answering your questions, concerns easier. It was suggested the first time you asked a question.

Since you seem not to be able to get your question/ concerned answered here.  Might be better if you ask your doctors.  As they have more knowledge than us.

new to pace

No one on this forum is psychic !

by IAN MC - 2024-05-06 12:33:50

What exactly is your question ?..... and filling in your Bio could be helpful !

It does seem to me , from the earlier dialogue that  maybe you have become obsessive about measuring your heart-rate. How certain are you that your readings are accurate ?

Ian

Generally speaking...

by USMC-Pacer - 2024-05-06 12:55:44

And generally meaning for me only as I know nothing about you. There is NO strengthening exercises that I can't do! 

If heartrate is your concern, that's between you and your EP if it isn't simply lack of fitness.

Best I can do w/o more info..

Exercise: "serious and factual information"

by AgentX86 - 2024-05-06 14:21:26

Well, you're not going to get it here.

There are simply too many variables, most of which are about your situation and which you haven't disclosed, even if you know yourself. We don't have any idea what your doctor is thinking or what he's concerned about.  All we can do is give you OUR experiences.

If you want "serious and factual information", see your doctor.  Not a support group of people, who may be AI bots, for all you know.  Dr. Google just isn't a reliable source of "serious and factual information".

In short, see your own doctor if you want "serious and factual information". If you don't think you're getting "serious and factual information" from your doctor, find one who will give you the "serious and factual information" that you want to hear.

exercise and spor

by light - 2024-05-06 14:43:16

No heart rate is fine no obsession. The question is simple

In all countries most consultants do not wish ANYBODY with a pacemaker

to engage in lifting weights ie bench press or overhead press ( for fear of dislodging pacemaker wires)  

Has anyone actually contravened successfully this advice?

My question referrs to the above info NOT regarding heart rate or type of pacemaker.

Search icon

by Penguin - 2024-05-06 15:43:18

Hi light, 

Thanks for clarifying.  I'm not into lifting weights but your particular query comes up fairly frequently on this forum and frustrates a lot of people who used to lift weights pre-implant. 

If you put a search term like 'weight lifting' into the search box using the tab bar above you may well find a lot of different opinions (and other frustrated weight lifters!) who have posted on this topic and the respective replies from members. 

Most people have wires that have bedded in after 6-8 weeks, but different sugeons have different timescales and you're quite right that many will baulk at the idea of lifting weights with a pacemaker.  

The advice to liaise with your own EP / Clinic is probably the best advice of all as they know you best.  Getting a surgeon to provide his / her blessing might be the biggest challenge. 

For now the work out provided by caring for your horses (grooming and mucking out / pushing the wheelbarrow and shovelling) should be enough to keep your muscles working.  Just take it easy and consider what matters most - heart muscle or biceps.  Maybe cardio workouts and overall body conditioning classes would be a reasonable switch if you are prepared to change? 

All the best & good luck. 

exercise

by light - 2024-05-06 15:53:32

Yes have switched to running as I used to run. I only lifted weights 3 times a week and only for strength and conditioning Barbell compounds Squats bench press deadlifts overhead press and pendlay row. What do you mean by overall body conditioning classes?

Not a Fitness Expert!

by Penguin - 2024-05-06 16:50:36

'What do you mean by overall body conditioning classes?'

I meant a class / session conducted by a fitness instructor which focusses on several different muscle groups (women's classes often work on 'bums, tums, legs arms, lower back' for example) and aim to strengthen and improve muscle tone rather than build large muscles. 

My EP

by USMC-Pacer - 2024-05-06 17:59:57

knew I did heavy weightlifting and said as long as I wait a few months after implant for leads to be seated, I wouldn't have any restrictions as far as movements. I do benches, overheads, flys, etc... no issues. As far as heart function, he recommends large muscle strength training (especially squats, ugh) as well as cardio.

Problem is, no two doctors agree on anything. Your mileage may vary. For me? I enjoy it and I'm going to keep doing it! 

exercise

by Tracey_E - 2024-05-06 20:03:31

No two of us are alike, no two placements are the same, doctors vary in their advice because there are no studies (that I'm aware of) on very active paced patients. So bottom line is there is no one pat answer for all of us. 

I have no restrictions. I did Crossfit for 10 years without modifications and regularly lifted triple digits overhead and deadlifted my bodyweight. My doctor was fine with it, and I never had an issue. My 30 year old lead is just now starting to show a bit of wear at double the expected life for a lead so clearly my activities have not affected my lead life. I stopped because my joints were starting to remind me I'm not 20 (or 30 or 40 or even 50 lol) anymore so I've switched to more bodyweight and lighter weights and gave up my beloved barbells, but I still lift and push myself.

My ep is an adult congenital specialist so sees a lot of people paced for a lifetime, which gives him a different perspective from ep's who have mostly sedentary patients. He feels strongly that being fit is paramount, and whatever I want to do to stay fit is ok with him. I also run, hike, kayak, bike and ski. 

Exercise

by Capt Odyssea - 2024-05-07 11:24:32

I have had 3 Medtronic pacer/ICD units installed since feb '22, one pacer changed to ICD in left chest, 3rd ICD in the right.

after the 3rd install(and removal of #2) I suffer with the recognized (but under studied) shoulder inpingement/pain. worse on the right than left. Nerve damage seems to be the cause (not definitive). otherwise no issues with exercise. after the healing period your Dr will have a better understanding of your individual condition to recommend.

Frustration

by piglet22 - 2024-05-08 07:13:36

Nothing like being straight to the point.

I doubt that you will get a definitive answer as everyone's circumstances and make-up are different.

Even if someone said they were a weightlifter and had no problems with their device, it might not apply to you.

You have had an expensive and skillfully implanted device and you might have to adapt your lifestyle to suit, not the other way round.

You might get close to a good answer by asking your clinic and I would think it ill advised not to ask if strengthening exercise is important to you.

I would echo the other comments that it's a bit rich to criticise the forum members for not providing an answer when you don't provide much information.

exercise

by light - 2024-05-09 05:09:46

I appreciate the difference the pacemaker has and is making in my life period.

My question has no relation to what type of pacemaker device or function everything is good. My consultant wants me to continue aerobic exercise (no restrictions ) just no pressing using weights.

The info I was given purely relates to dislodging wires whilst bench pressing or overhead presses (purely a physical movement and consequence of pressing)  It seems that this information is given world wide. I reside in Ireland and have followed the advice.

It seems everyone else worldwide has followed this advice also

overhead restrictions

by Tracey_E - 2024-05-09 08:18:13

There are some doctors who restrict overhead weights but from observation over many years of posts here, I would say it is more common to not have weight restrictions. There are many of us here who lift weights without restriction, myself included. 

exercise

by AgentX86 - 2024-05-11 00:16:46

light, did your doctor say just weights, or did he include machines.  My EP restricted presses using free-weights.  He said that machines were fine.  The problem is the leads potentially being trapped between the bar and shoulder. This can't happen with machines (no bar across).

exercise

by light - 2024-05-11 16:06:03

The consultant who fitted the pacemaker even wrote on my notes no bench press or overhead press. His issue was dislodged or damaged leads. He even was not in favour of bodyweight press ups so machines probably not. Press could be achieved with dumbells also no barbell across.