question on exercise

hi all, i'd just like a little advice from you pros. i was told by the doctors that i could resume normal activities and exercise after 3 weeks of implantation.
but after reading the horror stories of people with leads slipping out of place, i'm now not sure if i should wait longer. advice welcomed

dying for a swim,
verger

9 Comments

WAIT

by ela-girl - 2008-05-15 01:05:02

There is NO WAY I would start exercising after 3 weeks. I believe that 6-8 weeks is a much better time frame and even then, I waited 12 weeks like Chrissie and was better off for it. There have been people on this site that have started swimming too early, and they did pull their leads and have complications. Swimming is an activity that requires so much stretching of your arms that I would err on the side of caution and time on this one. You want to be sure that those leads are firmly entrenched into the heart wall before undertaking more vigorous activities. No sense in having to go under the knife again to fix leads because you'll just put yourself out even more time before being able to get back to the things you love to do.

Like it has been said, there are lots of little things you can do to avoid frozen shoulder and there are other exercises you can do to get you moving while you wait to build up your routine again.

Pace safe!
ela-girl

6 weeks

by sweetkozy - 2008-05-15 01:05:14

I was also told to wait 6 weeks. I would wait just a little longer, I definitely would not want a lead pulling out! Good Luck and glad you are doing well!!!

Cheers:)
Jenny

Way to soon!

by boatman50 - 2008-05-15 03:05:40

I agree with all the posts, 3 weeks is way to soon. The consensus seems to be 6-8 weeks when you have an easy operation, longer if you have a tough time of it. I would wait at least 8 weeks and then get back into it gradually, tennis would have to wait longer because of the arm movements.
Good luck, Boatman

from a swimmer.....wait longer

by aldeer - 2008-05-15 06:05:58

The Cleveland Heart center recommends waiting from six to eight weeks before swimming. I went back at five and felt movement of the pm, so please be patient. The water will still be there!!! aldeer

Be cautious..

by Swedeheart - 2008-05-15 12:05:22

Hello

I would still keep your left arm (if your PM is located under your collarbone) no higher than your shoulder for 6 to 8 weeks... You can do lots of movement with daily activities and not wind up with a frozen shoulder. I may be over cautious but when I asked a similar question about moving my arm, I received many responses about waiting for 6 to 8 weeks.

With that said you can do most what you want that feels okay, except be careful of your arm and don't lift anything heavy with it either for the recouperating time period.

I know it is a "pain" to wait, but for me it seemed like far less to wait a few more weeks than to risk having a lead break, come undone, migrate, etc. That means more surgery and back to ground zero.

Good luck. Sounds like you are feeling pretty good and that is great!

Swedeheart

Hi verger,

by joy1 - 2008-05-15 12:05:40

From my own experience, the sooner you start moving your arm the better off you will be! Frozen shoulder is a real problem for implant patients. The most important thing is to not raise your arm above shoulder height for a time, until the leads have a chance to seat. So if your wanting to swim, awesome, just be careful. Other than this do what feels good. If it hurts, stop. Be kind to yourself.

3 weeks

by ElectricFrank - 2008-05-16 01:05:51

I was told 3 weeks and pretty much started doing most anything after that. It seems that there is a wide range of recommendations ranging from 3 weeks up. I think a lot depends on your awareness of how it feels.

frank

Swimming Work-Outs

by richan - 2008-05-17 06:05:44

Hi Verger,
My cardio told me that I could not raise my left arm higher than shoulder level for 8 weeks. That was hard to do. I have been involved with Masters Swimming since 1970. So, when the wound healed (3 weeks) I got back in the water and swam with my right arm. It was great to get back in. I wore flippers to compensate.

At the 8 week mark I started using my left arm. I did loose some range of motion but, it took about 3 or 4 weeks to get it back.

Aldeer is right; the water will still be there. If you promise not to use that arm and your are healed, you really can get back into the water.

Hope all goes well for you. Please keep us posted.

Richan

Arm over head

by ElectricFrank - 2008-05-18 06:05:35

I'm a bit more lazy than you swimmers. My main problem was stretching out in my favorite recliner and remembering not to put my hands behind my neck. I gave my wife the OK to yell at me anytime she saw me headed for that position!!

frank

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