implant progress

• by pel
• 2013-10-22 09:10:56
• Exercise & Sports
• 1279 views
• 1 comments

I had a dual lead pacemaker implanted 1/15/13 following a stage 2 block (probably 2 weeks with a heart rate of 34 bps). After a 2-week total exercise stop (other than walking up and down stairs at work), I returned to rowing machine workouts - relatively long for 30 minutes or so. After 4 weeks I started doubles tennis again, and after 6 weeks I was back to full-scale workouts. I have increased my workload steadily, and this last weekend completed by 7th Head of the Charles Regatta, and then played a 90-minute singles match the next day. The pacemaker has made me healthier than I've been in 40 years - I had no idea how much my heart was holding me back. I have always been very athletic, but could never do endurance activity - my breathing just couldn't stand up to it. Now I understand it was my heart. I am a big proponent of people paying closer attention to their hearts now that I understand how limiting a malfunctioning heart is. I will be 63 in a month, and live is looking good.