Most Recent Messages in Exercise & Sports

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Backpacking

I will be having a pacemaker implanted in a few days.  Does anyone do any backpacking and have experience on whether it creates problems (comfort or mechanical) because of the location of backpack straps?

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Can i ride on go carts?

Hi I'm fairly new to all this,i got my ICD inserted about last year November and I'm only 20 years old.I just found this site and recently made an account hoping someone could answer this question I've been pondering.So i was wondering can i ride go carts?will it do any major damage to my device or anything?hope someone has an answer.Thank you.

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Pacemaker

I had my pacemaker put in on the 7 March 2017 because I had a Left Bundle Branch and I was fainting every now and again.I have not fainted since the implant.I was told not to exercise within the first 6 weeks and wondered whether I could play golf after the 6 week period.The unit is situated in my right shoulder.Any golfers out there who can give me conservative advice.My wound has healed nicely but I am still not lifting my right arm above shoulder level(I am 65 yrs old).Appreciatiate the ad...

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Breathing response problems with SJM PM

I had a St Jude Medical pacmaker inserted last year after I was diagnosed with chronotropic incompetence.  I am in my 40s and want to return to social sport and playing with my kids.

My main issue when exercising is that I rapidly run out of breath.  If I try to jog or play soccer with my kids I seem fine for the first few minutes and then I get a terrible aching sensation in my lungs and have to stop moving and pant for the next minute to recover.  The fee...

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Sub muscle / rate responsive vs set

Awaiting date to get wired up in next 8 weeks 

Appreciate some thoughts on two questions:

1. I am a 48yr old who does a lot of sports and has a 3 year old who likes to bounce on me   Whilst I understand recovery might be longer is it sensible to go for a sub muscle fitting?

2. I have read various comments about the effectiveness of some of the rate responsive units. Appreciate any thoughts on best models, experience with settings ( I play ice hockey which requires...

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Athlete-friendly electrophysiologists in Boston?

Hi there,

Might anyone out there be able to recommend an athlete-friendly electrophysiologist in the Boston area?

Thanks in advance!

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Run

Well TraceyE did you do your run with your daughter, was thinking of you as my pal is doing a half marathon tomorrow. (he's on his second divice for HB)

It's always good to hear when people are doing well.

Roll on the light nights

Jane xx

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Snowboarding..

Hi everyone. I'm 5 days post op and am wondering if there is anyone out there who can put my mind to rest about snowboarding. I know I cannot snowboard anytime soon but just wondered are there people out there who still snowboard with pacemakers! Please get in touch if you are! I need a morale boost...will be so sad if I have to give it up!! Thank you

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Getting back into running

Hi! I'm 46 and got my pacemaker 6 weeks ago after a  complete AV block. I had never had any  problems at all previously.  I have always trained - swimming 3km  and running 15km a week and never had any pain or dizziness. 

I have just started training again and was shocked to find I was completely out of breath at 1km, my heart was racing and my chest felt very uncomfortable! I have never felt this bad not even after a break from training. ...

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Heart Rate

Hi All,

I have a Medtronic 'Versa DR' Pacemaker connected by wires to the atrium and ventricle. It was installed in 2013. It is programmed to turn on when my heart rate drops below 40 bpm and switch off again when my heart has been paced to 50 bpm. I do not believe that it has an upper limit i.e. to lower high bpm.

I recently purchased a 'garmin' 'vivoactive HR' watch .

I find the data interesting but get concerned about the heart...

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Zumba and bruising

So I started zumba yesterday and today around my scar is all bruised, it feels so sore today, can't even touch it. Only had my pacemaker fitted April 1st 2016, and still is really sore. Has anyone done zumba and is this normal? Please help? 

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SCUBA

Hey there,

I'm a new owner and an avid SCUBA diver. Doctor has assured me I have "cadillac" appliance and have nothing to worry about.

Are there any divers out there?

All best, Rico

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Rate response and off road motorbikes

Hi Ya,

back to riding dirt bikes after a long time trying to get back to fairly normal a life as I can after having a Boston CRTD set DDIR fitted . Been ok for a while now but does the rate reponse sence acceleration? I ask because I felt a bit of a fast heart rythmn after accelerating flat out on a bumpy road. I was completly relaxed up to this point and a few minutes later felt fine but thought it best to have a rest.

Thanks mg

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Bigeminy trigeminy

ICD inserted Sept 2016 after a VT storm. Set for 50 bpm. Also had sick sinus (45bpm).  Pulse is regualr until it gets to around 80. From there up to about 120, it is in some from of irregularity (bigemin, trigeminy quadrigmeiny) and also missing beats every 9 or 10 beats.

As the pulse comes down from 120-130 during exercise, the irregualtires kick in and then disappear at around 70-80 bpm where regualr beats resume. Anyone know why this might be? Meds are amiodarone 200mg and Metop...

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When Can I Resume Running?

Thank you very much for the quick feedback. I feel better already. Patience is not one of my virtues, but I want to be safe, so I'll just increase my walking mileage in the meantime.

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Pacemaker Behavior

I'm a male 57 and run 40 - 50 miles per week.  I've been diagnosed as having Atrial Fibrillation and Bradycardia.  In October 2105 I received a Advisa DR MRI A2DR01 pacemaker.  Finally, my running times are returning to pre-pacemaker conditions.  I monitor my heart rate with a Garmin Forerunner 920XT device with a HRM chest strap.  I use electrolyte gel to maintain a good contact.

For the past few months I have noticed that my HR rises to approximately 1...

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When Can I Resume Running?

Hi,

I got my Medtronic PM implanted two weeks ago. When I asked the cardiologist, nurses and pacemaker tech when I could start running again, I got different answers which were 4 wks, 6 wks, 8 wks and 12 wks.

What is your experience with starting back slowly? I am walking 2 to 3 miles a day now with no issues. Also, what about resistance training?

Thanks!

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Swimming Strokes & Relative Risk to Leads

Hi there,

I am wondering if there are any swimmers out there? Will swimming freestyle occasionally really wear-out or break my leads?

I have a dual-lead medtronic pacemaker for 3rd-degree heart block of unknown causes (no underlying cause; "Lev's Disease"). The pacemaker was implanted about 9 months ago. I am 34, female, and active. No other health issues, really, until the sudden heart block last June.

At time of implantation, many of my doctors and...

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Very Low Heart Rate During Exercise After Generator Replacement

I had my Boston Scientific generator replacement after 6 years. The old one got me through multiple triathlons including two full Ironmen. After 2-3 adjustments on the new one I still can't get my HR high enough during exercise, which leaves me wiped out after a session. Today I biked for 3 hours at a pretty fast 21mph. My AHR was 80 which isn't even in the Areobic range. With all out 27-28mph 2 minute sprints, it never got over 95bpm (still not in the Aerobic zone which starts a...

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NEW PM / WORKOUTS

For three days after implant rest the arm, why it has to heal enough to retain the connection to the upper and lower nodes of the heart. After implanting they can and will disconnect if caution is not taken. Time is the healer not exercise, once healed exercise is critical in accord to ones ability and history of regular exercise. Swimming is suggested an excellent total body sport. Set a goal, time enough to heal, swim perhaps daily based on ability be consistent increase exercise. In t...

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