Introduction

• by johnc_19
• 2007-10-19 01:10:50
• Exercise & Sports
• 1901 views
• 1 comments

Hello folks,
I am new to the forum but I have had a device implant since the early nineties. I received the implant when I was in my 20s due to an ablation procedure. I was a very active adult who occasionally experienced SVT with exercise.

I thought I would briefly share my experience since then. I should state that I do not have an ICD so the risk of shocks is not something I need to consider. I am primarily at risk for lead fracture or device failure, or device/lead-related injury.

I was initially very cautious about exercise. I stopped all my usual sports and took-up bicycling. This turned out to be a great avenue and I felt comfortable with it. Truth is, however, that the simple act of a beating heart likely causes the majority of stress on implanted lead wires, more beats, more fatigue stress. I bicycled very regularly for a few years and then began to branch-out into some of my more usual sports.

Eventually, after 5-10 years, I became comfortable with exercising and accepting the risks that may result. Since that time, I have not really constrained my activity. One thing I really, really enjoy is having my device implanted under my pectoral muscle -- it makes me feel a lot more intact as a human and also makes me more comfortable with possible impact scenarios. I have had threee divices and have had the sub-pectoral implant for the last two.

If you are young, say under 65, I think it is reasonable to expect at least one lead fracture per 20 years or so. Exercise itself probably decreases the lead sruvivability somewhat. At the end of the day, you need to consider what might happen to you if a fracture occurs. If you understand it, you can prepare for it. You can also consider implanting new leads with each new device, this is something I will probably continue to do until I am "old" myself.

Cheers !