Swimming Strokes & Relative Risk to Leads

Advice

by Hamsquatch - 2017-02-13 23:06:28

Not a swimmer but I was told don't swim too much opinions vary a lot, one doctor told me no swimming and I could lift light weights but no chest flys, then the next doctor tells me do whatever I want. Very frustrating. 

I Swim

by dumb - 2017-02-13 23:27:25

No one told me not to swim, however I never inquired about a lot of things I enjoy.

I have never been told using my body would wear out my leads.  I swim and play hard.  I do use caution with my shoulders but not because of my leads. I dislike pools, I swim in rivers. I am a strong swimmer, not fast but strong, in nice weather I often make a 13 mile swim. My EP knows I have a kiteboard, he has never warned me about damaging my leads.  I was about 6 months post implant before I started pushing.

I do not do fancy strokes, no Butterfly or back stroke. Other than those two strokes all the rest are fair game.

I tried water ballet, it was fun but the pool and chemicals were awful, I gave it up after a few months.

Most of what my doctor's staff told a bunch of not true goop. Thanks to this group I learning the reality of living with my cardiac condition. I decided early on to keep an open mind, listen to my doctors carefully then make my own decision. 

There is a saying going around that irritates me, something about doctors practice medicine. Emphases on practice.  I expect my specialist to have a firm understanding of my condition and how to best treat the problem. What I have found is a lot of bullying and confused information. I have been told some out and out lies about my CRT, totally fabricated. There seems to be a lot of outdated information floating around, people often learned something years ago and never update their information. That is why you were given all sorts of cautions.

Let yourself heal for a few weeks to a couple of months before you stress tour ypper body. Keep strong, use your arms but do not stress for a while.  Strong muscles are less apt to be damaged.

Swim If Your Doc OK's It

by hjfarr - 2017-02-14 00:11:27

I had my PM implanted in January 2011. I am a triathlete and my doc knew that before the proceedure. By September 2011 I was back competing in Olympic Distance Tris, 1500meter swim portion, and the following year I completeted Ironman Texas, which starts with a 2.4mile swim. In October I did my 2nd Ironman at the World Championship in Kona Hawaii. The key to it was the leads were long enough not to be stressed by the stroke, Just ask your doc if it's ok.

Don't worry.. . . Be happy

by Gotrhythm - 2017-02-14 12:32:51

Swimming an hour or so a week is no where near the training required of of an Olympic swimmer! Just because extreme activity might be detrimental, you shouldn't assume moderate activity would be.

I think it is important for us all to not allow the pacemaker to cripple us and cause us to live less fully, less joyfully, less heartfully. In my opinion, if you have to do less than you could at the time you were diagnosed--just becuase you have a pacemaker--something has gone wrong. 

As for leads wearing out "sooner." Nobody knows how long any particular set of leads inserted in any particular person will last. All we know is a range or average. I see from your profile that you like sports and an active lifestyle. Would you really rather live for 15 or 20 years doing less than you want to, being less than you are, so that the leads might, and I emphasize might, last a year or two or three longer?

advice

by Cabg Patch - 2017-02-14 16:42:38

By your own admission, ""At time of implantation, many of my doctors and nurses were giving me conflicting information about what kinds of excercise I could and could not do. The only consistent message was that repetitive motion could cause the leads to wear out sooner rather than later. I was told, "Don't become an Olympic rower," and, "No weight lifting." I was also told by a couple of doctors "no freestyle" (American crawl) stroke and one nurse even told me "no breast stroke."", you state that medical concensus is anti repetitive motion. So I am puzzled why you are asking a group of strangers. Is it because you want someone to tell you it's okay? Your highly educated doctors and nurses gave you specific advice, what you do with that advice is your decision, you don't need us to tell you.

Swimmer

by Sarbear - 2017-02-14 19:09:50

I'm 26 and have had the pacemaker for about a year.  I swim regularly, row competetively, and compete in triathlons. I also lift weights.   At this point I have had no problems, and my doctor is very supportive of the activities I do.  In my opinion its better to do the things you love, and maybe need an extra surgery than to become an invalid this young.  I don't know much about your condition, but with mine if I broke a lead, it wouldn't be an immediate threat to my safety.  It may be worth having a frank discussion with your doctor about the risk vs. reward.  Good luck!

Thank you!

by Kcambridge - 2017-02-15 10:32:09

Thank you all for your advice and comments.

While my doctors and nurses are experts at the Pacemaker itself, none of them are exercise physiologists or avid swimmers. From you all, I was hoping for a little advice about why certain restrictions might be in place with respect to certain swimming strokes, how some among you have gotten clearance to competitively swim for miles, and what I would need to ask for from my doc to do the same.

I think I now have the information I need to better assess the risks and conflicting information I've received (e.g. three doctors telling me breast stroke would be fine, while one nurse asks me, "But you're not doing real breast stroke, are you?"; my EP and implantation docs telling me no freestyle ever, while another EP nurse casually dismisses their recommendations saying occasional frestyle would be fine).

I am 100% paced, and so I do have to be a little cautious. I will stick with a more casual breast stroke and take it easy for now. I look forward to next meeting with my doctor to dive a little deeper into the mechanics of swimming.

Thank you!

It differs...

by RandomICD - 2017-02-15 17:15:25

This differs a lot, and it's a case of opinions bring like noses-everyone has one! 

As above I was told one hour a week would be fine. I did breaststroke (apparently the kindest stroke to your wires), and it fractured my lead in a matter of weeks. Others do more swimming and are absolutely fine! 

It really is a case of your life being in your hands, and in the decisions you make.

Competitive Masters Swimmer

by iany - 2017-02-15 20:14:52

Hi kcambridge,

I am aged 65 and a competitive Masters swimmer (pool and open water) and golfer. I had a dual lead, dual sensor Boston Scientic Vitalio PM implanted just over 4 months ago.My Electrophysiologist was aware of my sporting background and so leads were placed, on my request, in the cephalic vein to limit risk of dislodgement or "sub-clavian" crush. I considered going sub-pectoral rather than sub-cutaneous for more protection of the PM but elected to go sub-cutaneous on docs advice (less interference and no muscle damage).

After a 4 week  recovery period I have had essentially no restrictions. I was permitted to start using my left arm after 4 weeks and  progressively increased duration and intensity of my training  sessions over the next few weeks (back to my normal 4-4.5 km per session). I was back doing butterfly after 6 weeks (the riskiest of strokes with a PM), did my first open water swim race after 9 weeks and my first pool competition after 11 weeks (and set an Australian National record in the 400m Free in my age group). So  I have been pushing it hard! I have had no issue with the leads (obviously); with a bedside "Communicator"  I would know immediately if there was a problem. There was some impingement of the PM initially (more so with my golf swing) but not a problem any more.  Had some adjustments made to the rate resonse settings (accelerometer and minute ventilator) after 8 weeks which has improved response though not quite as good as I had been hoping. Swimmers (and cyclists) don't benefit to the same degree as runners! Still hoping for further improvements so I can get my HR at a sustained higher rate.

So..... keep swimming

Broke Lead before

by Mittonm - 2017-02-19 03:43:18

i am 25 used to gym it everyday

basketball treadmill push ups pull ups bench press

til my Lead broke 10 years with Medtronic icd got it replaced a second time

the lead broke soon after resulting in humiliation and being shocked 30 times at work to the hospital. Steadily trying to get back in shape but it's so hard

swim 1500m every day

by Snake - 2018-03-30 10:02:29

Hi kcambridge,

a bit late reaction....but see this only now.

I have a PM now for 9 months and 100% paced.

10 days after implant I start again to swim. First 6 weeks only with right arm, which is quite hard. After that with two arms again, every morning at 7:00, 1500m free style. Not had any problems (up to now....).

Hope your swimming works out fine.