Cycling with a pacemaker

Girls and Boys
Just passed the 2 year mark with my St.Jude pacemaker and thought I should pass on my experience as a very keen recreational cyclist and former racer. I hope this will give some positive encouragement to people coming back to the sport post insertion.
63 years young, fitted due to A.Fib, very low pulse over night (20bpm) heart block etc.
Currently riding 5 days out of 7, average speed on hilly courses around 25km over 40 to 80 km.
min. 8-10 hours a week on the bike, average bpm 92 with top bpm around 125 -130 bpm.
Currently taking statins plus 50 mg of Metoprolol per day.
Being carel on diet, but a good glass of Australian red wine most days.....in conclusion I have to say I've never felt better..or that could just the fact that I have retired!

Best regards all...and love your pacemaker
🚴🚴🚴 wayne


4 Comments

Going for it

by gleesue - 2015-03-18 04:03:24

I love to hear stories like yours. I too love to exercise. I try to do an aerobic exercise three days a week and weight lifting three days a week and also fit in tennis, hiking, golf etc. In the winter I do spin classes at the YMCA and bike outside in the warmer months. I'll tell you this, the spin classes keep you in shape for the longer outside rides in the summer.

I am 68 and have gotten rid of A-fib and tachycardia, but still have flutter. I got my PM for Bradycardia. I'm on no medication but need to get cardioverted once or twice a year.

You have a great attitude. My EP always says the reason I'm doing so well is all the exercise I do.

We all need to do that. If you don't use it, you lose it.

Jerry

great

by wjs1954 - 2015-03-18 06:03:41

sounds like you are doing very good. Keep it up

Encouraged

by Seabreeze - 2015-03-18 10:03:06

OMG this is great to know....Since I got my PM in Oct of 2014 my cardio has been down hill. Afib goes crazy and I loved the spin classes. I'll just keep on truckin...thank you again! Ride on.....

Truly Inspirational - Well Done :-)

by Shaun - 2015-03-21 06:03:27

One thing I really enjoy is cycling and one thing I'm really looking forward to is retirement, but I've still got over 10 years to wait for that. To be able to combine cycling with retirement is my dream.

Unfortunately I've not been back out on the road since my PM nearly six months ago, however I have been maintaining my level of fitness on the turbo trainer to the following video 4 times a week throughout the winter:
https://youtu.be/zSFYRiqodvU

Now the weather is getting better here in the UK, time to think about getting back out on the road.

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker interferes with your electronic scale.

Member Quotes

At age 20, I will be getting a pacemaker in few weeks along with an SA node ablation. This opportunity may change a five year prognosis into a normal life span! I look forward to being a little old lady with a wicked cane!