Pacemaker/icd

[[old] Paul S]

Anybody else out there erging with a Pacemaker or ICD??<br><br>Cheers - Paul S

[[old] drkcgoh]

I had 2 patients on IUCD implants after Cardiac Bypass Surgery. One was pullling well at around 2:20 pace for an hour 3 times a week. Heart rate tracings showed no spikes at all. Previously he had triggered off his IUCD while swimming, & had been found floating face down in the pool. He also had another attack when on land, and each time he says it was like being kicked by a mule. Fortunately it never happened while erging.<br>The other guy preferred walking on the treadmill & indoor cycling, His heart rate spiked above 200bpm twice without triggering off the IUCD, & he put it down to a malfunctioning heart rate monitor. He always felt some pain in the shoulder where his IUCD had veen implanted, & stayed off erging.<br>KC 62

[[old] raverlaw]

Paul,<br><br>I have an artificial aortic valve, but no pacemaker yet. I do have RBBB according to my post-surgery EKGs but don't seem to need the pacemaker. I do use a heart rate monitor while exercising, including erging, just to make sure I'm not overdoing it. I'd like to hear from other rowers who have an artificial valve.<br><br>

[[old] drkcgoh]

Hi, Paul,<br><br>Sorry about the worng acronym. it was an AECD implant (Autmatic External Cardiac Defribrillator), & not the contraceptive IUCD. <br>I have another rower in the Netherlands with a pacemaker implant who has been advised by his cardiologist (also a keen rower) to lay off erging for 3 months after the implant. <br>KC62

[[old] Paul S]

My implant was Dec 2, 2002. I started erging again two months later with no problems. My times are not the best. My best time for 30 minutes is 2:38 average,<br>but I don't think that is too bad since my cardiologist says I have an ejection fraction of around 30%. For those of you out there with no heart problems, ejection fraction is what % of blood is pumped out of the heart on a heartbeat.<br>Normal is considered to be 50 - 60%. I know one thing, as long as I can drag myself to the rower I will be on it.<br><br>Cheerrio, Paul S aka Goguiness

[[old] drkcgoh]

An ejection fraction of 30% is very low. I can't recall the exact figures, but in cardiac rehab, this would be in the high risk category, and would need continuous EKG monitored exercise. By comparison, I had an ejection fraction of 100% when I had my stress Echocardiography done 10 yrs ago when I was 52. Since then I have been training & competing at small races. While the general health is improving, the times are not improving that much. I guess not all of us have that natural talent to win. <br>Happy rowing,<br>KC<br>

[[old] raverlaw]

30% EF is very low and could indicate a valve problem; 100% is abnormally high and is a symptom of left ventricular hypertrophy. Normal EF is between 55% and 75%; a little higher during maximun exercise effort.<br><br>My EF was at< 45% when my valve was replaced and is now 55% at rest and 75% during exercise.

[[old] Paul S]

When my cardiologist told me my EF was 25-30% I was surprised because I really didn't feel too bad. I know my Concept times are not very low but I figured, damaged heart muscle, PVC's, all these things probably are the reason that my times are what they are. Maybe it is time to shop for another Cardiologost.<br><br>Cheers - Paul S

[[old] kamdo]

An ejection fraction of 100% is absolutely impossible Doctor. That must have been an error. <br><br>kamdo<br>(Emergency Medicine Physician)

[[old] Paul S]

In order to have an ejection fraction of 100% your heart would have to be a piston or capable of deflating completely.<br><br>Paul S

[[old] kamdo]

Not only would the heart "deflate" completely, the inner cardiac walls would literally touch in the process. In doing so this would be a perfect set up for damage and clot formation. I'm sure that he didn't mean 100%.<br><br>kamdo

[[old] drkcgoh]

You're quite right. I was quite sceptical of the 100% figure given by the cardiologist who just eyeballed it instead of specifically measuring it objectively. It is time to shop around for another cardiologist.<br>KC62.