skiing with a pacemaker

I just had a pacemaker implanted for sick sinus syndrome and was told by my doctor that he'd prefer I never ski again for fear of falling and dislodging a lead. My PM is under the pectoralis muscle so it's well protected, but, perhaps with a violent extension of the left arm, the PM could move and dislodge or fracture a lead. I am due to go skiing in a few weeks and am concerned. I am a conservative skiier. Does anyone have any info on their experiences skiing w/ a PM?

kmbjames

6 Comments

go for it

by Tracey_E - 2011-01-15 01:01:22

If fear of dislodging the leads is the ONLY reason he doesn't want you to ski, I'd probably discuss it one more time just to make sure you're both clear and there isn't another reason, and then I'd probably ignore that advice and go ski! As long as you've had plenty of time to heal, it is a legitimate concern the first 2-3 months. But that's just me! Some drs are more conservative than others but I've never heard of one saying no skiing simply because of a pm. My dr and pm rep both ski and the three of us often chat about our favorite places so obviously they're both aware I ski and they're ok with it. Many of us here love to ski and haven't had any problems.

When it comes down to it, there is no one firm list of do's and don'ts. Ask ten drs and get ten different answers. We all need to be informed, then decide for ourselves what risks we're willing to take. For me, I don't feel skiing is any risk. I learned to ski after I got my first pm. I've had injured wrists, knees, had huge bruises, I've rolled down the mountain, I've stumbled off a lift and totally embarrassed myself... I'm basically a klutz and did not pick it up quickly. My pm survived! My helmet is another story and my skis are beat up, but my pm is fine.

I'd say...

by golden_snitch - 2011-01-15 10:01:46

Hi!

I'd say, no problem, go skiing, IF it weren't the case that you have just had your first implant. I'd give the pacer site at least 4-6 weeks to heal, at least. Many say that it usually takes about three months till the leads have "grown" into the heart tissue - or rather (scar) tissue has grown around the tops of the leads - and won't dislogde that easily.

It's not that you can't go skiing ever again, or at least I have never heard that pacer patients are not allowed to go skiing, and I know a few who go. Your pacer is well protected under the pectoralis muscle, and you'll also wear a thick ski jacket. But so soon after the first implant... ? I'd wait two or three months before hitting the slope.

Best wishes
Inga

Give the leads time to settle

by Edouard - 2011-01-15 12:01:24

Snitch's comments are appropriate.
I am a 59 year-old physically active male who received his PM last May for SSS. I swim competitively and do some skiing. I was told to hold off on my swimming for 6-8 weeks. Nothing was mentioned about the skiing, but since it's not my primary activity, the subject never came up.
I went back to skiing last week and things went well, but then, it's been over 7 months since my surgery. If the leads aren't implanted now, they never will be!
It depends on how much you enjoy your skiing. If it's very important to you, I'd suggest that you have a very frank conversation with your doctor to see how best to reconcile your lifestyle with his concerns.
Good luck and regards
Edouard

Don't slow down!

by Sherlockhomes - 2011-01-20 05:01:33

I've had my PM for 7 years and still play full court basketball 2-3 days a week. I'm 51 and play with all very competitive 20 - 30 year old players.

Dangerous Advice--above!!

by timefleas - 2011-12-11 12:12:12

Pacemakers, both in terms of type, and placement, differ from individual to individual. Even how and where the wires are placed differ. DO NOT ignore your doctor's advice based on these anecdotal comments provided in this thread. I have been a ski racer all my life, and have had some horrendous injuries from my various tumbles, a few of which would definitely have dislodged the leads--and honestly, you NEVER know what might happen (even if you are just a casual recreational skier), since accidents are just that--ACCIDENTS--completely unpredictable in every way. Yes, you may have had good luck and have encountered no problems, and may have successfully skied for one, two or ten years, but some of you probably have been bucking rather significant odds. Don't rely on the heresy evidence provided here for this important issue--take to the doctor who knows your situation best, and take his or her advice "to heart."

Dangerous Advice--follow up.

by timefleas - 2011-12-18 01:12:13

I think most people who ignore the precautions they have heard about skiing with a pacemaker have probably never been injured seriously on the slopes before. As noted above, I have been a ski racer all my life, and have had several nasty accidents, resulting in various broken bones, a collapsed lung, a rebuilt knee and a rebuilt shoulder. The problem with having an accident on the hill is not so much whether the leads will pull out or not, or if the pacemaker is otherwise damaged from a rough spill, it is the time that it will take to get you the attention that you might possibly need. Think it through--you crash, you feel something funny in your chest, your heart is no longer being paced, or it is being incorrectly paced. You are a mile high or higher on a cold mountain slope, possibly with other injuries as well. Just to get down the mountain via the ski patrol, it is unlikely you will be in the on-site medical clinic in less than an hour. The clinic itself will likely be understaffed, and under-equipped. Almost certainly you will need to be transferred to a "real" hospital, which is usually at least an hour or two from the ski slopes. So, you will be essentially off the pacemaker for two to three hours, handled by people during that time who probably have little useful experience treating your particular condition--can you survive that long? Are you willing to take the risk for a few hours of downhill thrills? Consult your doctor(s) carefully before answering these questions for yourself--do NOT just blindly follow the advice of others with similar yet different conditions, who may or may not have experiences that actually relate to your particular situation. Good luck.

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