Running with CRT

Hello everyone. I am 62 yr female and was fitted with a CRT-D quad in July this year. I was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in June 2000 after contracting a virus. For the last 14 years I have continued with my exercise (boxing, spin, pilates and running). I participate in fun runs with my 4 brothers 3 sisters, 3 grown up children and 2 grandchildren now run. When I competed in my last 10k Fun Run in July noticed half way through run I couldnt feel my legs and was exhausted and had to walk last 2km to the finish line. (72 min). On my yearly checkup cardiologist found my heart was going into heart failure as had E.F. of 28. Surgeonr told me he would fit the PM so I could run, however a month after checkup told me he doesn't want me to run and to just walk. I feel good and am so depressed I can't go for my morning 7k. It is now 10 weeks since my PM was fitted can anyone tell me when they were able to resume running. I am new to this site so any positive posts would be so welcomed. I have no symptoms of breathlessness and can walk effortlessly and run up steps without puffing. Does the PM move if I run? Any experiences you can share would be so helpful.

4 Comments

Running

by golden_snitch - 2014-09-22 02:09:36

Wow, you are very active! That's great!

So, does the surgeon do not want you to run ever again or just for the healing process?

If he doesn't want you to run at all, could it be that this is due to the fact that you now have a CRT with Defibrillator implanted, and could therefore get shocked, if your heart rate gets too high? That's the only explanation I can think of at the moment. But if this is his reasoning, it's really nothing that cannot be solved. You can program the defibrillator part, so that it doesn't start shocking, for instance, below rates of 220bpm. Also, I guess you are on betablockers to help with the heart failure and cardiomyopathy, and these blockers should lower your maximum heart rate, too.

No other ideas. Usually, walking and running is what cardios/EPs would love us to do. Running has no impact on your CRT, it should not move.

I took up running about five weeks after my latest pacemaker surgery. Not doing 10k, yet, but that's my next goal (still quite new to running). I usually do 5k's in the mornings before work, and try to do 6-8 k's on the weekend.

Best wishes

Inga

Thanks Inga

by Sparkle - 2014-09-23 02:09:48

You seem to be so well informed. I have no idea how any of my wires of my CRT are programmed. I am on two beta blockers. When I was diagnosed with the cardiomyopathy 14 years ago my body rejected all the beta blockers, but these two new ones I have had no choice but to take, have been problem free so far, except they have definitely slowed down the blood flow.
My cardiologist that has been treating me for 14 years has encouraged my running and exercise, I was the only patient that he had with dilated cardiomyopathy that had the ability to run/exercise so he was very encouraging. My new cardiologist who fitted the $69,000.00 CRT device doesn't like running, he says it puts too much strain on the heart and besides he said at 62 my joints wouldn't like it. However I have been running with people in their 70's and 80's and they don't have any problem with their joints, so I guess it depends on the doctor. Some doctors/people are anti-running. Hence this has been my reason to reach out to this website and find out how other recipients have coped with running after their surgery. So thanks for your feeback Inga.

Thanks Inga

by Sparkle - 2014-09-23 02:09:49

You seem to be so well informed. I have no idea how any of my wires of my CRT are programmed. I am on two beta blockers. When I was diagnosed with the cardiomyopathy 14 years ago my body rejected all the beta blockers, but these two new ones I have had no choice but to take, have been problem free so far, except they have definitely slowed down the blood flow.
My cardiologist that has been treating me for 14 years has encouraged my running and exercise, I was the only patient that he had with dilated cardiomyopathy that had the ability to run/exercise so he was very encouraging. My new cardiologist who fitted the $69,000.00 CRT device doesn't like running, he says it puts too much strain on the heart and besides he said at 62 my joints wouldn't like it. However I have been running with people in their 70's and 80's and they don't have any problem with their joints, so I guess it depends on the doctor. Some doctors/people are anti-running. Hence this has been my reason to reach out to this website and find out how other recipients have coped with running after their surgery. So thanks for your feeback Inga.

Hi Paul from Sydney

by Sparkle - 2014-09-24 08:09:37

Thank you for your comments.
I have since returned to my cardiologist who has been treating my dilated cardiomyopathy for 14 years. It really does depend on your Doctor. The surgeon who implanted my CRT advised against returning to running, boxing and weight bearing exercise and only to walk. But my cardiologist of 14 years told me yesterday that I must return to the same attitude I had prior to my PM implant. Fight my cardiomyopathy - gradually ease back into all my running and exercise routines - listen to my body and learn to live with my PM and love the PM. At 62 I am not training for the olympics, I just want to run with my friends, do fun runs with my family and feel the joy of those endorphins that only running releases for me. So this morning went for my first walk/run in 3 months and feel so good, (going up a hill that was practically vertical was a little challenging) so I am going to accept the discomforts, twinges of pain etc and start living with my PM. Thanks for your comments - much appreciated

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