New member has a querstion

I have joined the club today as I had a MRI friendly Medtronic pacemaker fitted last Wednesday.

The pacemaker has been set to provide me with a minimum of 55bpm after which my own heart rate takes over.

This was fitted as I have been suffering with a low pulse rate which when monitored over a period of 48hours, my maximum rate was 72 bpm falling to 25bpm at night with an average of 44bpm.

It was a complete surprise to me that I needed one, as I had been feeling the fittest I had been for a long time, after recovering from a prolapsed disc and angina which needed a stent 4 yrs ago.

I had not suffered any symptons such as dizzy spells or feeling faint although I was starting to always feel tired in the evenings.

Since my previous medical problems I have enjoyed jogging and was managing distances of up to 8kms and a weekly circuit training class.

Hopefully I will still be able to do these activitities but if anyone can give me any tips or advice regarding commencing exercise again they will be greatly appreciated.

The procedure seems to have gone well and the soreness around the cut has gone, although I have noticed a dull pain/tightness in my lower throat and chest when I lean forward or bend down, is this normal after pacemaker surgery?

George 56yrs

4 Comments

Start Slow

by travlin50 - 2010-07-12 03:07:07

Welcome. I am 8 weeks since my implant and I started to exercise after about 4 weeks. I got a little discouraged because I am not in the shape I was in a year ago when all this started to happen, which I thought was just stress. My doc said to just take it slow and in a few months I should be in much better shape. Try to start walking if your doctor says it is okay. Don't get discouraged and you will soon be back in great shape. Talk to your doctor about your pain and tightness you are having. I had lots of pain and still do sometimes. It was explained to me that they had to cut lots of nerves to put in the PM and that is what causes some of the pain issues. Hope all goes well with you.

hi george

by Hot Heart - 2010-07-12 03:07:19

Wecome to the site. It's a great place to get info and advice as well as support.

Well, we live similar area, similar age, and sounds like we both thought we were really fit and didnt know we had a heart issue.

I'm about 22 months post surgery and I feel fantastic and I do everything that I did before. I just make sure I keep my site out of the sun, try not to get it knocked and I ty not to stretch my wires.

Hope you continue to improve

HH

welcome!

by Tracey_E - 2010-07-12 12:07:05

There's no reason to think you won't be jogging and doing anything else you want shortly! With your dr's permission, you should be able to start light aerobic exercise now. We need to baby the side with the pm for 6 weeks or so- no lifting and no raising the arm above shoulder level- in order to give the leads a chance to settle in. Anything else is ok.

Welcome to the Club!

by heartu - 2010-07-13 03:07:27

My problem also came on all of a sudden, though I had been feeling tired for some time. I am about 4 1/2 months post pm for 3rd degree heartblock and feel almost 100%. Sometimes I act like a 20 yr old and have to remind myself that I am almost 54.

Best way to start exercising is to walk. Find out what the upper range of your pm is before you hit the pavement hard. My upper limit was only 130 and I could hit that easily after 6 weeks walking on the treadmill or running around with the dog. Since that limit was raised to 150 I have not had any problems exercising.

Some of the things you are feeling will go away with time. Exercise has immensely improved the way I feel and it is important to incorporate stretching especially to keep your left arm pain free and to improve your range of motion if it was affected by the surgery and limiting use of your arm while you heal.. I also lift weights twice a week (5 pounds is enough for me)

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Member Quotes

I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for pacemakers. I've had mine for 35+ years. I was fainting all of the time and had flat-lined also. I feel very blessed to live in this time of technology.