Yoga after pacemaker surgery

Hi everybody,
I'm a 58 year old woman who has been doing regular aerobic and weight lifting exercise for the last 38 years.
I had a dual lead PM implanted 16 days ago due to advanced heart block that was causing me to faint. My recovery has been good, I'm back to doing my daily walks combined with exercising on the elliptical machine and no problems so far. My yoga and weight lifting are a different story.
This is where i'm very confused:
1) before the pacemaker doing a light yoga routine ( no pretzel or really advanced postures) was part of my life since I tend to get really tight on my shoulder-neck and upper back area when I'm stressed about something. Stretching helped me a lot.
2) also, lifting 5 lb dumbells for biceps/triceps, 3-4 times a week is something I dont want to give up.

Now, whenever I've asked my cardiologist or the tech who checks my PM when can I go back to yoga and weight lifting workouts they both answer in a way that seems overly cautious, they keep bringing up the risks of dislodging the leads and that doesn't make me feel any good.
Has anybody been in this kind of dilemma? Does anybody know which kind of health care professional could I consult on this who can give me reliable advice on which moves/postures not to do or how to modify the ones in my routine as well as the weight lifting.
I'd deeply appreciate your insight into this. Thanks!

2 Comments

Exercise after implant

by Tick-tock - 2014-03-28 11:03:32

The general rule of thumb is 4-6 weeks post implant. Ease yourself back into your normal routine. Prior to my surgery, I did body pump. Post implant I can no longer lift the bar above my head due to lead issues. I do body flow, which is a yoga/Tia chia routine now. I do have some discomfort, so what bothers me, I simply just do not do. I do not see any problems with your workout; however I am not your doctor. I'm sure you will find that most of us have been told 4-6 weeks. Best of luck!
Stephanie

After six weeks

by Theknotguy - 2014-03-29 11:03:23

You should be able to continue what you were doing after the six week period. You want the leads to be well incorporated by your body and that takes about six weeks. If you really want to be cautious, wait 90 days.

Prior to the six week period, if you do something you aren't supposed to, the lead implant area will really hurt. So stop doing whatever caused the pain.

Pre 90 day period and post six weeks I was doing cardio rehab with four pound weights. Then increased to five pound weights post 90 days. Was doing rowing, overhead lifting, arm curls, all that stuff. No problem with the leads.

I was using five pound weights after 90 days - no problem. I was tossing a ball for the dog, leads started to hurt. After four months I can now toss the ball enough to wear out the dog.

Anything you would do to tear out the leads in your heart would cause a lot of other problems. (Think of a major car wreck. If you hit hard enough to tear out the heart leads you'd probably be dead. So I guess you wouldn't have to worry in that case.)

The leads going into the vein under your collar bone can be pulled. But once again, if you do something you shouldn't, they'll hurt. I mean they will HURT!!! That's your cue to stop doing what you were doing. They will hurt enough to warn you to stop. So if you get a pulling, tugging feeling in the lead area - stop what you were doing.

Post 90 days - in my case it was post 90 days - I am allowed to lift up to 90 pounds per shoulder. Since I'm not doing anything near that weight, I don't have to worry about what I lift.

I volunteer at a charity that has a woodshop. Went in Thursday with the cut crew and moved about 2000 pounds of wood. (All under the 90 pounds per piece limit.) Felt good when I finished. Slept really good that night. Took some extra aspirin to help.

Enjoy your exercise after six weeks. Life does get better.

Theknotguy

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