Running

I just got my new pacemaker, "Sparky", and even as I'm recovering here I'm trying to figure out how to get back into training. Before everything went crazy with my neurocardiogenic syncope - a technical way to say "passes out", I was working towards a blue belt in kempo, working out at the gym three times a week and training for a 10K with an eye towards my first half marathon this year.

Soooo...question is - what is the likelihood of continuing to do some or all of the above in six weeks after the "recovery period"?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Best Wishes,
Janet

9 Comments

Yes, you can in time

by FirstDuely - 2010-01-26 11:01:36

The Blue belt might be stretching it...you don't want to stretch the arm above your head for quite some time because of the possibility of dislodging a lead.
The gym and running will happen soon enough, as soon as your doctor gives you the go-ahead. The bouncing you do as a runner or while working out should be minimized until muscles and tissues grow in around the pacer and the lead contact in the heart gets firmly imbedded. You don't want that to happen. Find the exercises you do that give you a good workout but don't jar things so bad for awhile. I didn't tell my doctor this but I took a fall while riding my roadbike last October; landed on the shoulder where my pacer is and so far all is well and I still ride lots. You will eventually get to a point where you want to push the pacer and your body to its limits, just to find out where those limits are and then how to get past those and do better and better. Back to normal? Don't know what that is or would have been if I hadn't had a pacer implanted almost 24 years ago. Six weeks? Work with your doctor on this goal but I believe you can do it and you most likely will.....good luck and keep asking questions. You'll do fine.
Gary in CA

Sure, why not?

by tuck3lin - 2010-01-27 01:01:29

A lot will depend on the reason you got the pacer, so make sure you talk with your doctor and make sure there isn't an underlying reason not to resume exercise. As for me, the doc said it was OK to get back on the treadmill after about four weeks. I took it easy at first, making sure not to bounce too much, but I was back to my normal pace of about 10 min/mile after about three months with little or no discomfort.

15 months later the leads are well seated, and I am doing all the activities I did before without even noticing a difference. Although, I don't do a lot of overhead lifts, I have no problem doing them when I want to. I'll probably never do a 1/2 marathon (it was never my goal), but I did do several 5Ks and a 10K last year. My 10K time this year was almost 4 minutes under my pre-pacer time on the same run. If you were active, the pacer itself shouldn't prevent you from accomplishing the same goals that you had before. Just stay away from contact sports where you might take a blow to the chest or implant site.

Just got mine too.

by qwerty - 2010-01-27 02:01:09

I am not a runner, but just got my PM on 1/25. Sure hope you do well.

This is a Great Site and lots of Great people. Listen to them. They have been there!!!

As for me. I will start walking on My Wii very soon.

Good Luck!

your doc will tell you

by COBradyBunch - 2010-01-27 04:01:00

My doc gave me the okay to start aerobic (NO ARMS) exercise 2 weeks after implant, full blown workouts were 5 weeks out. I now workout 5-6 times a week and have no limitations. Training for the Triple Bypass Bike Ride here in Colorado in July. 120 miles, over 10,000 feet of climbing in one day on the bike. It will be my 1 year and 2 week anniversary of implant.

Good to hear...

by Hoosier - 2010-01-27 04:01:45

Janet, its nice to hear about your running goals and that more running is in store for you.

I've been "lurking" at this site (lots of great info) for a couple months, just joined, also just scheduled my pacemaker implant for 2-10-10, While I'm very apprehensive its good to hear that intense physical actvity is possible.

I had run for 15 years, on and off, at first to control my weight then for the love of it. I've done 5 half and 3 full marathons, the last NYC in '05. Unfortunately my left hip is gone and was planning a replacement this winter when my bradycardia surfaced.

That stationary bike is booooooreing!

Good luck and.......GO COLTS!!!

yes you will

by dw5281 - 2010-01-27 04:01:50

You can easily continue sports after your pacemaker recovery period! I'm a PE teacher so I do it all day every day & I did a 10km less than 8weeks after I had it implanted to raise money. I'm not sure what kempo is but if its some sort of martial arts type thing I would check first you don't want to cause any unnecessary damage to yourself! Make sure you follow dr's advice & you're good to go! Good luck!

Thanks!

by JanetCCS - 2010-01-28 12:01:23

Thanks so much for all of your input! It's very encouraging, and I kind of get it now. My doc gave me the "are you crazy?" look when I described kempo to him, so I'm pretty sure all sparring is out even after a month (except with the senseis who let me beat them up all I want - if I can get a hit in!). I could probably do forms, maybe weapons, but even my favorite weapon, bo staff, might be too much arm movement. Very cool to hear about so many runners! I've been given the OK to walk for now, and I see the doc in a couple of weeks for the check-up and more questions. Would love to be able to do more, but it sounds like there's plenty of activities I'll be able to do that'll keep me out of mischief. Can't wait to get the OK for running - I want to see what this pacemaker can do!

Running

by TLRun - 2010-02-04 03:02:04

I was walking immediately after the pacemaker implant in August 2009 and running about 3-4 weeks after the implant. I gradually built my mileage back up....I run alot. I feel much better now than before the pacemaker as I was on the verge of passing out. You will have no problem working up to your half marathon goal Like others have said above, you probably will have to wait on some of the other activities until the leads are absolutey attached.

Thanks!

by JanetCCS - 2010-02-05 03:02:43

I've resigned myself to waiting on the other things, but it's fantastic to know I could be running by the end of four weeks. I started walking and am so wanting to break into a run. I knew if this thing worked it would be frustrating to wait, and it is! On Tuesday I see the doc for my follow up and hopefully he'll say that at least jogging is ok. It's ironic...now that I feel fantastic, I can't play!!

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