Pacemaker Club: Swimming...how soon

Swimming...how soon

by pogo1020
2011-07-15 05:07:11
Surgery & Recovery
3263 views
5 comments

I had my device put in 3 weeks ago... would like to get back in the pool even to just float...how soon did others "get back in the water"?

thanks

5 Comments

swimming

by aldeer - 2011-07-15 07:07:19

Six weeks... I went in at five weeks, and my pacemaker moved down while doing backstroke. Don't rush it, but do enjoy it!!!

About 4 hours for me

by ElectricFrank - 2011-07-16 01:07:12

I came home from the implant and taped some plastic wrap over the dressing to keep any water out. Then enjoyed a dip in my hot tub. It's just a matter of keeping the area dry to keep out any infection.

frank

Swimming

by Edouard - 2011-07-16 03:07:56

I'm a swimmer in our Masters program. I was beached for 6 weeks.
After getting all sorts of reassurance from the doctors that my PM would not interfere with my swimming, the surgeon, a young girl fresh out of kindergarten whom I met some 20 minutes before the procedure, told me that my swimming days were over. I went ballistic! Finally she checked with her supervisor and subsequently agreed to proceed with a cephalic vein entry rather than the usual sub-clavian insertion.
Obviously, one should avoid getting the scar wet when it is still fresh. After that, the main concern is the possible displacement of the leads. I was told to wait 6 weeks to 2 months.
After 6 weeks, I trained a bit but as I was scheduled to take a cruise at that time, I really got back into the swim of things after 8 weeks.
Good luck
Edouard

go for it

by Tracey_E - 2011-07-16 08:07:47

As long as the incision is healed, you can get in the water. As the others said, don't do anything that would put your arm over your head for the first 6 weeks.

Swimming

by jazz1502 - 2011-07-21 04:07:38

The best person to make that decision for you is your doctor as he/she knows what stage of healing you're at. Always check first with a physician before returning to any sports or activities.