Question about cardio exercise

Now that I'm pretty certain my pacer battery is going (pacer check on the 14th will tell for sure) do you think it's still safe to do my exercise classes? I haven't gone very often lately, a little scared of how it makes me feel. The class is called Fit Camp and it's an hour long intense full body workout - I LOVE IT (usually) & feel like a complete slug if I miss too many classes. BUT, my HR doesn't increase above 64 now so doing cardio makes me feel a bit weak. Should I let go of the fear and do it anyway? OR am I hurting myself? Am I getting any benefit from it at this point? My friends are counting on me to be in class tonight and I haven't told anyone how I've been feeling.
T

3 Comments

I'm not sure

by TSan1961 - 2010-09-08 01:09:42

Good question, I don't know, but I think I'm pushing it. There have been several times in the past 4 months when I'm exercising that I've felt wimpy, but I didn't think much of it until recently. I just kept trying to "push past it" and felt great afterward. My husband insists that the exercise will make me feel better if I just do it consistently like I used to, which just adds to my feelings of guilt (aka SLUG). But I'm feeling light headed right now just sitting here, like I'm not getting enough oxygen to the brain. The hard heartbeats & light headed feeling have been going on at least a month but I still don't feel as weak as I did the last time my battery was going. It's been way too long since I've had a pacer check though,
Anyway, I think you're right. I'm going to give it another try tonight, but if I feel too weak, I'll take it easy until my pacer check next week.
Thanks for your input and your advice!
T

dizziness

by Tracey_E - 2010-09-08 03:09:16

If you are feeling dizzy just sitting at the computer, please do not go tonight! Your husband is correct that exercise is energizing but that's assuming your body is up to it. If your pm is in EOL (end of life) mode and not letting your heart rate go up, then there's nothing you can do to push past it. You can't push past lack of oxygen, all you'd be doing is depriving your organs. EOL means the pm is just doing minimal pacing. It keeps your rate from dropping dangerously low but that's it. It's not doing anything to raise your rate with exercise or keep your atria and ventricles in sync.

Good luck! It's no fun needing a replacement but not having a dr you trust. Nothing like a little pressure! :o)

take it easy

by Tracey_E - 2010-09-08 12:09:06

If your hr is not going up, it is hard on your body to exercise. It needs more oxygen to support the exercise. You should probably take it easy until you get the battery taken care of.

How long have you been in this mode? It's generally a 90 day warning.

You know you're wired when...

You participate in the Pacer Olympics.

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