Cycling with PM

I am 70 yr old male. I was a bike racer from the mid 70's-late 80's and quit riding for 23 yrs. The past 9 years I have been in persistent a fib. My last Holter monitor found a period of low hr, 24 bpm, and 3 instances of a pause of more than 3 sec. I am going to have a PM implanted on 6/13/2013.
I started back riding the bike 6 months ago and ride 4 days a week with a milage of 80-100 miles a week.
I am going to be anxious to start back cycling as soon as possible after getting the implant. Just want some ideas here as I will probably follow my Dr's instructions.

10 Comments

Jimmy.....................

by Tattoo Man - 2013-06-06 06:06:12


....................you sound fun...............

Cycling and Flying....such a heady combo..
Tell us about the bike racing..

So ..the 13th it is.. already in my diary..

You say that you are anxious about getting back on the bike....ok , about the Op ...??

Re Bike:

Keep gearing low ..spin, not slog.

Keep in the saddle, even if it feels really slow.

Lift your bars and drop your seatpost a little ..1/2 inch both ways.

Keep off the hills.

Enjoy the bike

Tattoo Man...one time 22.27 for 10 miles.......




Biking

by sugar - 2013-06-06 07:06:17

I believe there is some sort of padding to use when biking to use for a bit more security. Falling can dislodge and possibly disconnect the wires. Starting off slowly would help. I was told not to raise the arms for a month. I guess the scar tissue needs to settle around the wires which I think helps keep them in place.
Ask your doctor for activities that you can start sooner and those that need to have time to work back into your life.
My life changed dramatically after having this done.
Take care and always ask questions.
Sugar

Cycling.

by Selwyn - 2013-06-06 07:06:24

I was banned from driving for a week. Took to my cycle 2nd day back home. No problems. You don't want to pull the leads from the pacemaker that go into the heart by over stretching the arm, otherwise, sitting in the saddle, holding onto the handle bars, and peddling away, is not going to do any harm. The lead will not come away from the heart muscle with an increased heart rate associated with exercise. There is absolutely no reason why you should let your fitness deteriorate. I would continue as before, just watch out for over stretching of the arm. By the end of the week I was racing on my bicycle my 20+ year old son- if only to see if the pacemaker was up to it- and it was!

Yes, you can fall of the bike and do some damage, however you sound a serious rider and know the slight risk involved in cycling ( as any activity has risk).

Have fun,
Kind regards

No Worries

by mike thurston - 2013-06-06 09:06:17

Just be sure to let things settle in for 6 weeks or so before getting jiggy with it. I have a PM/ICD and am totally dependent and road cycle and mountain bike and rock climb. I am pretty slow but it is still fun. Have wrecked many times on the trails and broke 2 ribs in a bike collision last summer. Fell 40 foot climbing once and so far the device has taken it all in stride. Whenever I do wreck on the bike I tried to never put my hands down and just stay with the bike, getting my back to take the blow if possible.

AFib ~ ~ ~

by Carolyn65 - 2013-06-07 03:06:36

Just know that a pacemaker does NOT stop nor prevent AFib. A pacemaker does many things for you and your health, but know that Afib is not cured w/a pacemaker.

Since I have DVT, the blood was trying to all crowd up and stop at one 'tube' at my heart. After the PM, it is supposed to nudge, 'hiccup' or whatever to remind the blood to, "Hey, go ahead a flow thru or I will remind you since I am a pacemaker" ! ~ ha-ha ~ I also take Pradaxa tabs ~ a tab twice daily, which thins my blood so it will flow evenly and not clot, but I still have my Afib.

Good luck and have FUN!
Carolyn G. in TEXAS ~ ~ ~

The older I get the better I was.

by jimmyjr - 2013-06-07 07:06:50

Tattoo Man,
I was a serious 35+ rider in the Southeast, Georgia, during my racing days. I was able to win or place in most 3/4 and 35+ races most of my 12 year career. Was the Best All Around points leader in the Southeast one year and won the GA state TT championship 7 times, I quit when all the aero stuff started coming into use.

I was disappointed when the Dr told me the PM would not help my Afib, it would only protect me from the slow heart rates and pauses. I have been on Coumadin for the 9 years with Afib and really hoped to get off it.

Now time to watch the Dauphine.

It's done

by jimmyjr - 2013-06-13 10:06:54

Schedule changed implanted yesterday going home today.

It's done

by jimmyjr - 2013-06-13 10:06:55

Schedule changed implanted yesterday going home today.

Plan road ride today

by jimmyjr - 2013-06-22 09:06:34

Had the implant 12 June and have done some indoor rides on the LifeCycle and felt good. Plan on my first road ride today. It will probably be a flat to rolling 12 mi ride just to get the feel of things.

Cycling

by John Hassall - 2017-04-05 13:17:40

I have persistant AF and Pacemalerts

 Love cycling and can match my Co riders on the flat and normal undulations, however when we hit anything steep I really struggle, the difference in performance between myself and the others is not consistent. Could the PM be a factor? Could it be the AF or maybe a combination of the two! It's deflating because as I srated I can match the rest on anything other than steep stuff. 

You know you're wired when...

You trust technology more than your heart.

Member Quotes

Try to concentrate on how you’re able to be active again and feel normal, rather than on having a machine stuck in your body.