Crossfit

I have had my pacemaker only a month today. I am having a hsrd time accepting it. I have done CrossFit for 3 years and feel like it and everything I have worked for (my strength)has been taking away from me. Does anyone know if it will get better and ifvthere are any other crossfiters that have pacemakers are able to go back to what they were before the pacemaker?

6 Comments

Even stronger after the PM

by brushmore - 2015-01-27 08:01:24

I got my pacemaker 14 months ago and got back to doing Crossfit just over a year ago. Yesterday I just PR'd Fran again! I beating my times from when I was younger and didn't have a pacemaker. So not only am I back to where I was before, I have become even stronger than I was before! I have worked with my coaches and doctors to come up with modifications because of the pacemaker but those aren't holding me back but have made me even stronger. For example, I can't do anything with a bar in the front rack position. So I use dumbbells instead. It actually makes things like Fran even harder.

If you want to go over any specifics feel free to PM me.

Ditto

by Creaky - 2015-01-27 08:01:30

I'm 78 with PM and still hike and ski, FAST. Sure, I've had to modify some of my gym activities, but I still work out when I'm not out having fun. for most of us, it's finding what works for you now, then just go for it.
It took me many months for the docs to get my settings just right so that I could do almost everything I want to. You need to work on that with your EP.
Keep your spirit up and let us know how you do over time.

It takes time

by Theknotguy - 2015-01-28 04:01:43

It takes time for the body to heal and to adjust to the PM. And, if you've been given new medications, it will take time for your body to adjust to them too.

In the good ol' US of A, we're accustomed to walking into McD's, ordering what we want, tapping our foot three times, and walking out with what we ordered. We have microwave ovens, all sorts of stuff that gives us what we want instantly. Guess what? The body doesn't work that way.

The body heals on its own time, you can't push it, and you can't look at a calendar and get frustrated because you haven't gotten to a point you think you should be. Tried it, doesn't work.

I had a lot of trauma before the PM was implanted. Fortunately I had someone tell me it would be a year before I'd get anywhere near to "normal". Didn't like what he told me but it turned out to be true. There were a lot of times I'd get really frustrated but I'd be thinking, "It hasn't been a year yet." At the year mark I was about 95% of "normal". Now my new mantra is, "It hasn't been two years yet." Don't like it, but things are progressing well. Oh, and post PM implant it took two people to help me get out of the hospital bed. Walking 100 feet was a major accomplishment. At the year mark I was able to take a four mile hike. A lot of changes in that 12 month time but there were a lot of setbacks too.

Give yourself that time to let your body heal. How long it takes is how long it takes.

Get out and live

by Good Dog - 2015-01-28 07:01:40

After reading the previous comments, there is little more that needs to be said. However, I can identify so well with what you are feeling. I have had my pacer almost 30 years now, but remember them same feeling you have about a month after it was implanted. I viewed it (the pacemaker) as a negative turn in my life. I had no restrictions (except the first month), but I became pretty depressed until some kind folks explained to me that I can do anything anyone else can do.
Within about 3 months of having the implant, I decided to live my life like I didn't have a pacemaker. Here I am 30 years later and I can tell you that it has not held me back from doing anything I have wanted to do. I began working-out in my late 40's and I think that I was in the best shape of my life in my 50's (15 years after receiving it).
So get out there and live your life. You are fortunate that you have a very treatable disorder. Some folks are not so fortunate.
Sincerely,
David

Crossfit

by Tracey_E - 2015-01-28 08:01:07

Just got home from class, am typing this while I cool down and chug some water.

Talk to your dr about modifications. I do not have any limits because of the pacer. My pm is low enough that front rack is not a problem. I do have some limits but it's the medication I'm on, it lowers my bp too much so anything up/down like burpees and hspu needs to be done in moderation. I still do it, just not always the full amount.

Once you heal, you will probably find, like brushmore, that you surpass where you were before because now your heart is beating as it should. I was told to wait 6 weeks then ease back into it. It was about 3 months until I was fully back to normal.

Crossfit

by PeteFindlay - 2015-01-29 09:01:03

I'm heavily into Crossfit (isn't everyone? ;-) ). I have not encountered any limitations in any movements since having the PM. Mine is implanted sub-pectoral, so is completely hidden apart from the scar, and pretty well protected.

First 4 weeks, I stuck to walking (including fast-paced 'marches'). After that, I started running. Initially, I could feel the PM 'bouncing' when running, but this feeling subsided very quickly. 6 weeks I was given the all clear to move my arm overhead, and get back to normal. I spent the next few weeks working on range of motion at light weights to get confidence back. Building up weights gradually, listeing to my body. My chest still ached when doing press-ups, dips and the like, so I just took it steady. I think it was about 9 or 10 weeks when I got back into the WODs proper, still being cautious and scaling for confidence if I felt it was necessary. I found I was pretty quickly back to where I was, and haven't looked back.

I'd say I'm fitter and stronger than I was, though in my case I don't think that's due to the PM. It hasn't held me back, anyway!

Everyone's circumstances are different, and particular underlying conditions may lead to a different approach. I was fitted for bradycardia and heart block. Depending on placement, you may also need to watch out for direct impact on the PM site, but that should be an insurmountable issue with a bit of thought.

The principle of CrossFit is that everything is scalable, so I'm sure there will be a work around for any restrictions, and you'll be able to get back on it within a couple of months. Just take it steady, be patient and listen to your body.

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Member Quotes

I'm 35 and got my pacemaker a little over a year ago. It definitely is not a burden to me. In fact, I have more energy (which my husband enjoys), can do more things with my kids and have weight because of having the energy.