pacer protection in sports

Hi, I just found this website. My son is 15 years old and has had a DDDpacer since he was 2. He has a 2:1 AV block. He has had 3 surgeries since 1994 for replacements and leads. He played baseball, ice hockey, soccer and swimming til he was 12. Now he concentrates on soccer and swimming. He played in a National Soccer Tournament this winter and plays for two teams at all times and swims in the summer. He will also be a lifeguard this year. I have read many comments here and went through many of your similar fears and concerns. Some coaches feared my son's potential health needs so I was always at every practice and game til he was 12!
I finally found a good chest protector online that I think everyone needs to know about. My pediatric cardiologist likes the company, has called them several times personally for other patients and the product is great and comes in youth sizes.!! It protects the heart and upper left chest area for patients whose generator is near the collar bone.
Please check it out at www.allsportsarmour.com.

4 Comments

lead replacement due to what

by axg9504 - 2008-03-18 01:03:32

Would like to know whether any of the lead replacements were due to his activity. If so did the docs pose any restrictions? Thanks.

lead replacement normal wear & tear

by DDDmom - 2008-03-19 09:03:47

My son's pacer battery needed replacement 7 years after the initial implant surgery. He had the generator/battery replacement during summer vacation(he was 9 yrs old) as an outpatient. His leads tested "fine" while he was in surgery, but at his one week post-op visit, his leads had stopped conducting(UGH) when he was in most positions! Near the connection to the generator, the leads had kinked and insulation was worn away so he had to have surgery asap (which took 2 weeks to find the doc & hospital we wanted) for new leads and another new generator! It was a frustrating and nerve wracking time. The kinking may have been related to his growth and a slight twisting of the generator as he grew more than any rough sports. We went to Duke Univ for the lead replacement, because in 2002 that was one of the few places that was taking OUT the old leads via laser burning of the scar tissue inside the vein to the heart and then putting in new leads into the same vein. We wanted to reuse the same vein since my son was so young and will need numerous replacemnts throughout his long life(we anticipate 70+ years ;o) )
All went well with his replacement leads and generator and he has had them since 9/11/2002 and they anticipate another 3 years of life with this generator. The leads are conducting well and have minimal impedance (measured at his office visits). He has grown from the size of an average 4th grader to a 5'11" teenager with these 2nd set of leads.

All Sports Armor

by mbiosis - 2008-04-15 07:04:21

Hi,

I just read your posting about All Sports Armor. I went to their website as well. Did you order the chest/rib protector or the Recoil system. I e-mailed them and they said to go with the Recoil system (for shooting) but I wanted to see what you ordered since your getting it for the same reason I am.

My 14 year old son and 12 year old daughter both received defibrillators in February and both play sports.

Thanks so much!

protective gear

by ZoieS - 2008-06-03 10:06:14

My name is Sharon Spinnler and my daughter Zoie has had a pm since she was 3. I am in the process of marketing a protective gear just for PM's. We are in the final stages of manufacturing and should be out with in 4-6 weeks. You can check out our website paceguard.com. It is almost completed so please bear with us. I am SOOO excited about our product as it has truley helped my daughter! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me any time! sspinnler@optonline.net or our website address.
"Play for LIFE!"
Sharon

You know you're wired when...

Microwave ovens make you spark.

Member Quotes

I have a well tuned pacer. I hardly know I have it. I am 76 year old, hike and camp alone in the desert. I have more energy than I have had in a long time. The only problem is my wife wants to have a knob installed so she can turn the pacer down.