Parachute jumping with a PM

I am now 82 years old and hade a tandem parachute jump for my 80th. Birthday. I was told that I should not have done that with a pacemaker. As I am now 100% paced after having an AV ablation. Can I still go for another parachute jump at 3000 ft. ? I had no problem before but now ?

Any advice would be welcomed.

8 Comments

who said?

by Tracey_E - 2018-11-26 22:31:10

Who said you shouldn't have done it and what was the reason? Unless it's brand new or the harness put a lot of pressure on the device, I don't know wy it woiuld be a problem. Next year I"ll be paced 25 years and want to do something to commemorate, this is on my short list.

100% paced

by Zanneblake - 2018-11-27 00:32:35

I am 100% paced and my EP is very cautious being that if one my leads or PM malfunctions I have 4 min until I am brain dead!!  

Being 100% paced is a whole different story imo. 

I would ask the md and then weigh the risks. 

100% whatever..

by donr - 2018-11-27 01:21:04

....,I just read bio of commenter # 2,  Sounds a bit more serious than being 100% paced.  I’m 99%+ paced, but nowhere near dependent.  Tracey,  aren’t you 100% dependent?  I have the same attitude you have- if I can do something, my PM has no choice- it does it too!  My leads survived me trying to stop a Jeep Cherokee w/ my right shoulder.  Impact darned near tore my heart from its moorings - but leads held on.  A properly fitted chute harness places  essentially zero stress on the shoulder area.  I’ve written about this at least twice.  The worst it should do is press against the device, straight into the body.  That should do nothing to stress the lead implant area.  BTW:  my accident was less than 12 weeks post lead implant.  The worst possible case will be if he  is body horizontal when the ripcord is pulled.  The pilot will deploy straight  up from the back, pulling the chute out .  The chute will deploy the risers full length before anything dramatic occurs.    The drama will be the chute filling w /air suddenly, rotating him vertically & suddenly stopping him.  The rotational force will be relatively minor.  The stopping   Force will all be felt at the crotch, not the shoulders where the PM is.   Further,  modern sport  chutes  are designed for minimum opening shocks.

Donr

100% whatever..

by donr - 2018-11-27 01:21:04

....,I just read bio of commenter # 2,  Sounds a bit more serious than being 100% paced.  I’m 99%+ paced, but nowhere near dependent.  Tracey,  aren’t you 100% dependent?  I have the same attitude you have- if I can do something, my PM has no choice- it does it too!  My leads survived me trying to stop a Jeep Cherokee w/ my right shoulder.  Impact darned near tore my heart from its moorings - but leads held on.  A properly fitted chute harness places  essentially zero stress on the shoulder area.  I’ve written about this at least twice.  The worst it should do is press against the device, straight into the body.  That should do nothing to stress the lead implant area.  BTW:  my accident was less than 12 weeks post lead implant.  The worst possible case will be if he  is body horizontal when the ripcord is pulled.  The pilot will deploy straight  up from the back, pulling the chute out .  The chute will deploy the risers full length before anything dramatic occurs.    The drama will be the chute filling w /air suddenly, rotating him vertically & suddenly stopping him.  The rotational force will be relatively minor.  The stopping   Force will all be felt at the crotch, not the shoulders where the PM is.   Further,  modern sport  chutes  are designed for minimum opening shocks.

Donr

Don

by Tracey_E - 2018-11-27 09:40:02

Yep, I'm dependent too, and my EP is the first to tell me to go live my life and don't worry about it. Remember the video that used to be on Heartbeat Inernational's site? I linked to it all the time before they took it down. A kid got shot in the chest. The pacer stopped the bullet and saved his life, and never stopped pacing. Your accident. Remember Susie, she was in a bad accident then too discombobulated after to stop them from taking her in for an mri. We've had other members with other crazy stories, not one ever said it stopped the pacer or broke a lead. These babies are not fragile and I can think of a lot of things that are harder on the leads than a parachute. I've done a few of them lol. 

I told my husband I want to either jump out of a plane or get a tattoo to celebrate having the pacer 25 years. I don't think he took me seriously. 

Go Go !

by ericnz - 2018-11-27 21:34:50

You will love it ! Make sure you go the highest you can because the free fall goes sooo quick !

I was going to put a pic in but I do not know how. I will try the Gallery.

Thanks for all the comments.

Escape

by Zanneblake - 2018-11-30 23:40:39

I failed to mention that I have no escape rate with my heart block.

That’s why my md is so cautious with me. This happens with 3% of patients following heart surgery...I happen to be the unlucky one.

I am also 4 months out so I am just learning and wary. 

  Do what you want within your safety net!!

happy free falling

This thread makes me SOOO happy

by Party hearty - 2019-02-18 16:00:10

Just wanted to say thanks to all who commented on this. Have had a PM since 1981 and have always wanted to do a skydive - looks like that won't be a problem! Cheers 

You know you're wired when...

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