Exercise

There is really no limit

by AgentX86 - 2019-10-17 22:45:50

Depending on your particular situation, there really is no limit.  Some doctors don't want you participating in full-contact sports and some don't like the idea of pressing free-weights.  The worry is crushing leads.

Also depending on the reason you got a pacemaker and the particular pacemaker, you may have trouble with competetive cycling or swimming. It's not dangerous, just that the pacemaker may not sense the aditional oxygen need well enough.  This is something you really should discuss with your EP before implant.  Tell him about your lifestyle and how you want to live. He can use this information to select the PM that's appropriate for you.  Better yet, learn the differences yourself and tell him.  Let him justify his choices.  If you've done your research, he should be more than happy to discuss this with you.  If not, find someone else.

Already have pacemaker

by Kimberly2019 - 2019-10-17 22:56:06

I already have a dual chamber pacemaker.  I wanted a exercise routine to do

I walk

by AgentX86 - 2019-10-17 23:05:32

I walk, a lot.  I started after my CABG surgery, five years ago, and kept upping the distance and frequency. My cardiologist sent me to cardiac rehab shortly after surgery and I found that I could actually exercise.  I joined a gym and go daily (except when I'm on vacation, like now ;-).  I found that Netflix and Prime Video would really well when one is on a treadmill.  ;-)  I now do about 20mi/day (around 500mi/mo), half of it on the treadmill at the gym n my way home.  My pacemaker isnt a limitation at all. 

Pacemaker pacing

by Kimberly2019 - 2019-10-17 23:09:22

Does your pacemaker still pace

You really can do *almost* anything

by crustyg - 2019-10-18 07:21:27

Cycling, running, swimming, Pilates, BodyBalance, weights, cross-train, dance, walk/hike, cut lumber, dig the garden, you name it, you can do it.

*Some* full contact sports can be a problem - US Football, Rugy Union, some of the Martial Arts - the risks of having the PM box hit very hard becomes real.

Your PM will pace you as it needs to (according to your settings).

You will almost certainly need your PM tuned/adjusted with the response factors that drive your HR up to what you need.

What do you want to do?

by Tracey_E - 2019-10-18 09:04:40

I do Crossfit and run, do the occasional yoga or spin class. Most vacations I hike or ski, I love to kayak and do ropes courses. I'm signed up for a mud run soon. As long as we are cleared for exercise and have healed from surgery, there is virtually nothing we can't do. Competetive martial arts and tackle football probably aren't a good idea but we've had members do it. Keeping ourselves fit is important to cardiac health and preventing additional problems. find what you like and go for it. 

depends on you

by dwelch - 2019-10-20 01:31:35

I would answer in general with a pacer you can do what you were doing before and most likely more than what you were doing before if you had any pre-pacer restrictions.  In general the pace makes you normal, so you can do normal things like whatever exercise you want.

Does the pacer still pace depends on your medical condition, folks like myself and Tracey_E the pacer is "pacing" every heart beat.  So I am 100% paced or close to it and there is nothing wrong with that, doesnt burn through the battery faster (they simply put a device in with a bigger battery).  I have complete AV block, so just about every heart beat the pacer paces the ventricles to match the rythm the natural pacemaker is trying to make.  Some folks have a single lead pacer just in case and it rarely actually "paces".   Depends on you and your condition.

Once you heal from the surgery in general you should at least be able to do what you were doing pre-pacer.   

The pacemaker itself doesnt need anything from you, you dont need to do any exercises to make it work or keep it working if that is what you are asking.  Like a computer it is a relatively dumb device, it is programmed to do a task, it doesnt need training or anything like that to tune to you nor your activities, its not a muscle it is a dumb computer with a fixed program.

Curious about this too

by CaityCait94 - 2019-11-27 15:41:29

I was 18 when I had my pacemaker put in and I notice every time I try to do anything strenuous, I feel like my pacer goes crazy and I have to stop because I get the feeling of passing out. I need to exercise to get myself in shape, but I'm scared to do it because I don't want to pass out 😩