Problems with pacemaker and yoga

pacing

by Tracey_E - 2016-07-30 12:56:39

Pacing 100% is pretty normal for 3rd degree block, by definition 3rd degre means all the time. It's not uncommon to develop other little electrical issues as time goes by- who knows if it's from age, being paced or just because we have basically faulty electrical systems- but it happens.

Generally we don't need rate response because theoretically our sinus node works normally. I have 3rd degree block also, but sometimes my rate doesn't go up enough with activity so I feel better with rate response on but that is the exception not the rule. It actually sounds like maybe your rate response is not on, because if it was it should kick in on the hill. 

Write down the day/times you were racing. When they do your next interrogation they may be able to figure out what's up. If you continue to race for no reason and it bothers you, a beta blocker may help. 

How much caffeine do you get? If I have more than one, I can race for hours. If my mom has half a cup, she goes into afib. My husband can chug it all day long and nothing happens to him. We are all different, but that's a common thing to set off racing, even if it's never been a problem in the past. Alcohol and cold medicines can do the same thing to some people. 

Rule of thumb for yoga is stop if it doesn't feel right. You won't do any damage. Worst thing you are likely to do is irritate the scar tissue around it doing something new. If that happens, ice, ease up and try again gently in a week or two. Ease into it, use common sense, and enjoy your yoga.

A comment on yoga

by Fatty - 2016-07-31 13:07:30

I am in 5 weeks on my Pacemaker and I am looking forward to returning to my yoga.  I would suggest that you explore a slower pace yoga at first.  So I would suggest an "Ageless/gentle" style.  You may also want to look into Iyengar Yoga.  Iyengar teachers need to be certified to teach and they work with an eye toward alignment and proper placement of your own body structure.  They also use "props" liberally and encourage their use in their classes.  By props, I mean blocks, straps, chairs.  I have informed my teachers of my plan to return in a couple of weeks and have found a lot of support and a desire to help me with a successful return.  Good luck to you!

Pacing

by liz - 2016-07-31 15:07:58

Many thanks Tracey for your advise. I do know that the rate response is on which is what I don't understand, why would it not come on! I have just changed doctors and he changed my higher limit from 160 to 130 to try to conserve the battery life, is this a possibility? In my ignorance I also thought that if I was pacing 100% I was just relying on the pacemaker and my body had nothing to do. When the doctor turned the pacemaker down to 40 to see if my heart would kick in it did not.

many thanks Tracey for your help, it is much appreciated

more about pacing

by Tracey_E - 2016-07-31 17:08:21

If you have av block, then your atria is beating is normally but the signal doesn't get to the ventricles so we typically pace every beat ventricle but little to none atrial. The little for me (2-4%) is occasional rate response when I work out. The pacer plays follow the leader. The atria beats, it watches to see if the ventricles keep up. If they do, it just watches. If not, it kicks in with pacing. Here are some great animations that explain how the heart works, how av block affects it and how the pacer works

https://health.sjm.com/arrhythmia-answers/videos-and-animations

Upper limit is how high the ventricles will go trying to keep up with the atria. Yes, a lower number will preserve a bit of battery life. It's always best to turn off everything we don't use to make it last longer. However, 130 means you can't get above 120-125 when you work out. Always leave a cushion and don't get right up to your limit because if you go over it, it doesn't feel good. 

If rr is on but not helping when you need it, it needs to be adjusted. It has all sorts of sensitivity settings so it's normal to take a few tries to get it right. 

A thought... if the new doctor is in to conserving battery and he knows you have av block, he may assume you don't need rr and turn it off because it will eat up battery life. I see a cardiologist for regular care and only go to the ep when it's time for replacement.  He did not turn on rr with my new one because he said I don't need it with av block. The tech at the cardiologist's office knows my history and turned it back on at my first check up. 

Yoga and pacemakers ICD

by gbarger - 2016-08-25 20:03:31

I created a facebook group and my daughter did poses for implantation modifications.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/691963750892696/

Come join my group. 

RE; When I drink soft drinks late at night (caffine), My heart will really kick into high gear.  I try not to drink soda anymore (coffee/hot tea - no effect), but sometimes slip up.

I'm a yoga teacher and found a yoga therapist who told me not more arm balances, weight bearing behind the back.  She pulled out her leads due to keeping a very vigorous practice with these types of poses included.

Gail