No endurance or stamina with after two pacemaker transplants!

No endurance

by unsinkable - 2018-07-04 13:00:52

Just by waking up every morning you are enduring, aren't you? Life is a choice to some degree and how we manage what it throws at us. I am a relatively new PM recipient, April        

 of this year. I am just now beginning to feel good enough to return to my normal routine. Be kind to yourself and challenge yourself. Set goals and stick to them. Surround yourself with positive people. Laugh often and loud. I don't think anyone here expected what happened but all are managing some better than others and from what I have read and seen posted those with  the most positive attitude seem to be faring the best.

Feel better

Exercise

by Jimmy Dinfla - 2018-07-04 16:48:37

Recommend discussing with your cardiologist.  Pacemaker settings can be changed based upon activity levels.  See your doc who is more insightful about your overall condition.

Good luck.

hi

by Bionic Beat - 2018-07-06 13:26:53

If you have an EF of 60%, congratulations!!   You are now at normal EF and are no doubt just de-conditioned for exercise and physical activities.

Knowing you have normal heart function should make you very happy.

Start slowly but join Curves or go on a Cardiac Rehab program.  You will get your stamina back and be able to do whatever you wish.

Many people think that 100% is normal but it's not.  55% and up are normal.

Is there a possibility that you are depressed a bit, if so get that seen to as well but I think 'doing' is the best hope for a good outcome.

Even 3, 20 minute walks per day plus simple things like carrying groceries, using laundry soap containers as weights and doing easy exercises will help build your stamina.

Make sure you are moving at least 50% of the time.  Resting is the worst thing you can do for yourself.   If the weather is bad, I go up and down the stairs every 15 minutes, wash a floor or scrub out the shower for exercise.   Not a fan of gyms, so I do housework.....not a fan of that either but someone has to do it.   lol

Best Wishes,

Bionic Beat

Endurance

by Jimmyjet - 2018-07-06 17:35:21

Thanks everyone for the feedback it’s been very helpful information!

NO Endurance

by Pookie - 2018-07-10 01:33:02

I had my pacemaker back in November of 2004 and had unbelievable issues for 5 and a half years before one of the Pacemaker Techs (who interrogates my pacemaker) said she thought she finally figured it out = low and behold she did. There is a setting called Optimization and for 99% of pacemaker patients it works absolutely fine when it is set to ON, but when she turned mine OFF I finally got my life back. I guess all you can do is ask for it to be turned OFF and see how you do, as it only takes about a minute of their time...as you may be just like me and be in the "rare" category.

I'm now on my 2nd pacemaker and I made SURE they kept the same settings and I'm doing fine.  I had NO endurance, it was awful.  Oh, and my pacemaker is a Medtronic if that helps.  And this (optimization) has nothing to do with Rate Response.  Just talk it over with whomever "interrogates" your pacemaker. 

Take care,
Pookie

perhaps there is another cause

by stevemerrill - 2018-08-23 12:35:14

Hi,

I have had a CRT-D pacer since January and run or walk every day.  When I was diagnosed about a year ago I was running daily and feeling good (but with an EF of 15% which shocked everyone).  I was diagnosed with ideopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and put on a b-blocker and ACE inhibitor.  I live in the north, so normally walk rather than run when there is snow & ice on the ground.   When I started running again, I could slog along without any problems, but have never returned to the "feels good to run" experience I had before the diagnosis (and my latest echo shows an EF of 40% which has been a steady improvement since my treatment started).  I attribute my sluggish feelings to the b-bloker.  That works by keeping the heart from over-running on rate and contraction force.  I am working with it and accept that I need them, but my point is that the pacer might not be the problem, it might be something else as I believe the b-blocker is in my case.  Also, my pacer has been adjusted so that the rate will follow my needs when I am running, so that is not the issue for me and I am pacing more than 99% of the time.

Just my own .02 worth. 

Best wishes,

Steve