New PM as of 12/10/08 - Fitness for Duty

Hello,

I am a 47 y/o fed agent, as part of my quarterly qualifications I am required to shoot my pistol (no worried about that), run 1.5 mile (less than 12 min), push-ups (50 in 1 min), situps (50 in one min), and pull-ups 8.

I'm currently woking on light duty. However, my work will require a fitness for duty in January 2009. My question is for those who workout, are these realistics goals for me post PM?

Thanks,
Steve

5 Comments

hi

by gaz649115 - 2008-12-30 06:12:34

i got my pm on the 17/12/08 and hoping to get back to my fitness the way i was before i found out i need a pm like getting my heart bk working to 70% of my training zone but you must speak to your doctor ....

might be pushing it

by Tracey_E - 2008-12-30 08:12:51

Can you stall until the end of the month? I start working out at 6 weeks, but it usually takes me a good three months for all the soreness to go away and be back to my pre-surgery condition. You shouldn't raise your arm over your shoulder or lift weight for 6 weeks post surgery because you can dislodge your leads. Running and sit ups should be ok, but I wouldn't even try to do a pull up or push up until you get to that 6 week benchmark. And then you're going to need to start back slowly. Good luck!!

exercise

by beauchance - 2008-12-31 07:12:46

Hi, I'm scheduled for my insert Jan 16. I'm 69 years old and asymptomatic. I work out regularly which includs six hundred yard sprints and climbing stadium steps. Until pulling a muscle in my shoulder I also did chin ups and walked on my hands 50 yards at a time. I've an enlarged left ventrical and miss every 3rd beat. I'm skeptical about this whole thing, but four cardiologists have recommended it. From what I've read, I'll be handicapping myself more than the "5% risk of a heart attack" is worth it. WHAT DO YOU THINK ?

beauchance

by Tracey_E - 2009-01-01 08:01:33

Why do you think you'll be handicapping yourself?? If you're missing every third beat, that means your body is looking for a third more oxygen than it's getting, not insignificant! That's why our hearts try to beat faster, when we need more oxygen.

Once you have recovered from the implant, you may have more energy than you do now. Sometimes we think we're asymptomatic, until we feel better and realize how tired we were. Even if you don't feel the lack of energy and you feel the same after, organs are damaged by the lowered circulation. There's more at stake than just a heart attack risk.

When I say I didn't workout for 6 weeks, I mean a full workout doing anything I want. I paced the halls when I was still in the hospital (while ignoring the nurses telling me to puh-leeez get back in bed) and I took a walk when I was released and every day after. I kept up the light aerobic exercise until I had full use of my arm again.

Fitness for duty

by Jonn - 2009-01-06 09:01:53

Hey Mean-Dude I had my pm implanted in December of 2007-currently no physical restrictions (bike 50-60 miles/week) -but if I were you I would consider putting off the fitness for duty test. You have to give enough time for the leads of your pm to firmly attach themselves to the heart wall. I am surprised your cardiologist has not warned you about this. Pull ups or push ups might put undue strain on the leads that need to firmly embed themselves in the heart muscle. This is a critical time so be very careful about movements lifting the arms. Give it time. There is no rush. Oh hey -just thought I'd ask....... Is there a real X-File??? LOL-Take care my friend and take it slow.
Regards,

Jonn

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