I'm set to get a pacemaker next week, what lifestyle changes will I experience once I have it?

[robcleaton]

[wpw62]

When I had my pacemaker fitted the only things I could not do were scuba diving and working on a running car engine. Neither of which I wanted to do! It's basically common sense. It took me a month to be able to raise my arm above my head but this was twenty years ago and technology has improved dramatically so your pacemaker might be much smaller than mine. Good luck with your recovery and enjoy good health.

[mumknowsbest Volunteer in reply to wpw62]

My brother in law scuba dives with his.

[CDreamer in reply to mumknowsbest]

I am amazed as no dive shop I know would take anyone with a hole in the heart or a pacemaker. I assume he dives independently?

Both my husband and I scuba dived and I now cannot because of the AF and hole in the heart and he because of a pacemaker inserted in Jan, though at 80 he hasn't dived now for about 3 years.

[mumknowsbest Volunteer in reply to CDreamer]

Hi he lives in Australia, and this was years ago, but he had to do a ? Repeat course closely monitored, and I think in an indoor pool. As he completed this with no ill effects he was allowed to continue diving, but of course never alone.

His pacemaker was not for af though

Eileen

[CDreamer in reply to mumknowsbest]

Interesting.

[Christo4]

Please can you tell me why you had to have a pacemaker as I have been having problems with my pulse and BP a Dr told me I may need a pacemaker.

Good luck.

Christo

[anneliz]

Hi - I'm 61 and I've had my pacemaker for 8 years now. You need to carry your card with you as you'll need it at the airport or any other scanning security device. Nothing terrible will happen (I am told) if you go through one but it may just reset your settings back to default and you'd have to have a reset. Other than that, I don't have any restrictions though I have noticed, in the past few years, that I get some activity in the way of some brief runs of tachycardia and ectopics if I am using my tablet or laptop for a while on my knee! I got the PM after an infusion of amiodarone which stopped my heart. It's set to not allow my rate to go below 60 but it can't help me with afib episodes (which I hope are over now after two ablations). Hope that helps.

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Hi robcleaton,I was told to avoid any magnetic doors,as in don,t hang around them but it is safe to go through them,as it could alter the settings.