exercise

Okay so it's been six weeks this Friday since my pm implant. I started trying to exercise again this week. I can only exercise about fifteen minutes and then I give out! I feel tired and awful the rest of the day and it seems like I have a lot of pvc's and skips afterwards. I am exhausted! Do you think if I keep exercising this will go away? Am I just that out of shape?? It is depressing to be 36 and this tired!

10 Comments

exercise

by Graham H - 2009-06-11 04:06:18

Hi Nat,

My problem when I had my pm fitted was that when
jogging I seemed to hit a wall I would lose my energy
couldn't go any faster and felt like I was running on
empty. So I contacted my pm clinic and they called
me in and increased my active heart rate from 70
to 80 and told me to let them know of any more
problems. Running on the flat is now not a problem
but I have struggled a bit on the hills, then 2 weeks
ago I got the mountain bike for the first time since the
pm and boy did I struggle for energy after an hour
and I had to stop half way up the hills. So contacted them again and tomorrow I'm back in there
for another adjustment.
So my advice to you is to contact your pm clinic and they can adjust your active heart rate if they think
it can help you.

Good luck,

Graham

settings

by Tracey_E - 2009-06-11 05:06:50

Ask them to check your settings. It's common to not get it right the first try! Since you've had a sinus node ablation, you're depending on rate response to keep your hr adequate when you exercise, and it has a number of sensitivity settings.

Also keep in mind that you need to work up gradually, don't overdo it because you'll wear yourself out. Your body has had time to heal now, but it's still been through a lot and you haven't been able to exercise in a while. If anyone finds a magic wand that gets you in shape overnight, I want dibs on buying it!

I would not push it until you check with your doctor.

check up

by nat36 - 2009-06-11 09:06:23

I just went in for a check two weeks ago and it's helped some but maybe it needs adjusting more. If it keeps up I will call them. Thank you!

I know the feeling!!

by anewday - 2009-06-11 09:06:50

Hi!! I am 44 and just had a pacemaker and defibrillator implanted. I have tried running, and I feel like I have ran a marathon and it's only been 2 blocks!!! I go back for a device check in a 2 weeks, and am going to find out what the problem is. However, I know it hasn't been that long, (6 weeks since first implant, and 4 weeks since lead revision...FUN!!) so I shouldn't be pushing it, and you probably shouldn't either. This is what many club members have said to me, and I think I agree!
Good luck, it's very frustrating, but have faith!! : )
If you need to chat, you can count on me!
Signed, A NEW DAY.....

take your time

by northis - 2009-06-11 11:06:03

Hi Nat:

i'm thinking that its been six weeks since your engaged in exercise? maybe try to gradually increase your workload. Are you trying to get too much too soon. We are in a marathon and our bodies react differently.

Its been two weeks since my pm implant. I started walking gradually and very slowly 6 days after my installation. It was slow going and i got a little dizzy.

Everyday since that day, I walked a little further. I began working on the treadmill 8 days after my implant but have limited my time to 20 minutes. I've been manipulating my speed and incline. My experience is that, I've been pushing myself but cannot seem to increase my heart rate past 120. Today i walked at 3.5 mph pace and didn't seem tired at all. Which is amazing since prior to my pm, i could only walk at 3.3 for 30 minutes while gasping for air. Go figure. So, i say take your time and gradually increase your work load. Good luck and God Speed. Keep us posted on your progress

Building back up again

by ElectricFrank - 2009-06-11 11:06:46

I agree with all the comments above. The initial settings are often way too conservative for a person that is used to exercise. The cardio's are used to working with people who are in poor condition.

Keep in mind it has been 6 weeks plus any additional down time before getting the pacer. Another thing that is is easy to overlook is that if you went for any length of time with heart beat problems before getting the pacer, your body went without normal circulation. This can result in more than just going without exercise.

In my case I had my pacer within 2 days of having the AV block. I had been exercising regularly up until it happened and went back at it the day after the implant. I was able to get back to normal in just a few days. I realize how fortunate I was to get the whole issue resolved so quickly.

best,
frank

Tired

by Hot Heart - 2009-06-12 03:06:36

Hi there, I was exhausted for the first 2-3 months after getting my pm, i didnt have any adjustments made but over the last 3-4 months my energy levels have returned and i can exercise ok. The only time i get out of breath is when im in a fib, this is perhaps one every 7 or 8 days and lasts for a couple of hours so its not too bad.

Take care HH

exercise

by nat36 - 2009-06-12 05:06:03

Thank you all and I know you are right. I am just so tired of being tired!!
I did have a long while (over a year) from the time I started feeling bad until the time I got the pm so I know my body has gone through a lot. I tried everything before agreeing to the pm and through all of it I tried to exercise. I was limited then but not as much as now. I am trying to be patient. I know I had the ablation and then the pm which is a lot for my heart to take and it needs time to heal, but how much time? I exercised for seventeen minutes today and since then I have been beating entirely from my AV node. That causes me terrible headaches. I am not sure why exercise is bringing on these irregular beats. Hopefully if I keep at it things will calm down. Do you think I should continue to try to exercise or wait another month or so? I am six weeks from pm implant today:) I can raise my arm today at least, so that's nice!

Exercise

by Selwyn - 2009-06-22 05:06:58

Had my pacemaker 10 days. Am a doctor. Had pacemaker techician adjust the rate from 60-130 bbm. The upper rate should help with heavy exercise. So far I am happy cycling 16 miles.

Hot heart's atrial fibrillation runs ( lasting up to 2 hours!!) could be fixed by medication e.g. sotalol or flecainide. My choice was sotalol.

Even a small period of rest will cause a lot of loss of fitness, particuarly if your were very active prior to pacemaker insertion, which is way ElectricFrank has done so well. It you were physically unfit before insertion, you will be even more unfit after rest. It is important to build up gradually with a graded exercise programme reporting to your doctor any undue shortness of breath, palpitations, or chest pain.

Exercise

by honoluludon - 2009-06-29 03:06:27

i had my settings adjusted 4X before we got it right.

i cycle. prior to this problem i was very fit (e.g ride 100 miles in just over 5 hrs.) once i got out of shape, it's taken forever to get back, but it's gradually happening. this weekend i rode for 2 hours for the first time in over a year. still not as fast as i'd like but the fitness is coming back.

be patient.

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