Endurance exercise

Don't blame the pacemaker

by IAN MC - 2016-10-07 12:39:22

Hi PB   ( Good initials for anyone who exercises competitively ! )

If you can exercise for over an hour I would be amazed if your PM contributes in any way to your cramping and dizzyness. 

As you know exercise-induced cramps are very common among athletes and it seems to me that the real cause has never been proven. Some people think that dehydration is a major factor which then leads to electrolyte imbalances but the jury is still out. I have an ultra-athlete friend who adds salt to all his drinks and he claims that he no longer cramps.

As for dizzyness, it could be many things !   Low blood sugar maybe ?  I used to suffer from this after an hour or so of exercising and chocolate or some other carb- intake  seemed to quickly reverse it .. I understand that some people get low blood pressure induced by exercise and this could lbe the cause ( again increased salt-intake and hydration may help prevent that )

Best of luck, I hope you find the answer

Ian

fuel

by Tracey_E - 2016-10-07 18:58:43

I agree with Ian, if you can go over an hour then your pacer and heart are working well. I'm no expert but dizziness could be hydration or bp, cramps could be electrolytes, so I'd keep experimenting with amounts of protein and carbs before, during and after. This really sounds more fueling than cardiac. 

Have you tried coconut water? Sports drinks are mostly sugar, not the electrolytes they like to talk about in their ads, and sometimes we need more than plain water. I have 8oz coconut water with a scoop of animos half hour before if it's going to be a long one or a race, another after regardless of the length of the workout.

nutritian

by Gotrhythm - 2016-10-08 19:07:51

I'm sure Tracey and Ian are right about the PM. 

Many people find supplementing with calcium and magnesium, either or both, reduces cramps. For me magnesium makes the most difference.

Not so sure it's not

by AnninAz - 2016-10-10 18:36:18

Dear Ian:  I'm new to a pacemaker and was off my run for a month because the techs didnt know how to set up the pacemaker properly.  It certainly CAN be your pacemaker and more likely the settings that it is on.  Don't know why you'd be fine for so long and then have a change, but maybe something has changed in the pacing that is needed.  It took me a stress test while hooked up to the heart monitors to figure out what exactly was going on in my case; actually, mine was NOT pacing me at high bpm (setting was too low and not responsive).  It would be worth a checkin w ur cardiologist to be sure.  You give me such hope tho'.  Good luck! -Ann

Ann

by Tracey_E - 2016-10-10 22:34:25

Settings can absolutely make or break a workout! Anything is possible, however, if you can exercise a full hour before the problems start, it's probably not the pacer. JMHO