I am 59 with paroxymal afib with a pacemaker/ICD. For the last 3 months, I had been using saunas. However, this week as I suffered covid, I took a hot bath. I got shocked multiple times by my ICD. Now, I definitely will stay away from saunas!
I am even afraid of swimming 🏊♂️ which I have been enjoying few times a week. Swimming pool cleaning system and lighting, according to Google could trigger shocks in rare occasions.
I would call doctor, as well as device manufacturer. Both to get usage guidelines and to make sure those shocks in the bathtub was not an ICD malfunction.
Jim
Thank you Jim. I saw both, the EP and the ICD manufacturer in the ER... It was real. I did go into Afib at HR 200. My doctor told me to avoid bath. I will call his office and Boston Scientific for the pool. Since I have not got a covid booster this year, covid was really severe this time.
I read avoid bathing for first week or two. You might want to ask about long term. On one hand, you don't want to do anything you shouldn't, but on the other, you shouldn't avoid activities that are ok with the ICD, just out of fear alone.
You are right James. I just feel I have been too bold with my heart.
Hello Andy. being sick with covid with fever, my body got hotter quickly, which triggered a high heart rate. This was a very frightening experience. Can you even believe that 911 put me on hold for about 3 minutes. It was a Monday and they were overwhelmed...
How very frightening for you. Even without having pacemaker/ICD I'm sure a sauna would finish me off !
Hello Jalia. Yes it was frightening. I just hope it can help other forum members be aware that covid is still dangerous and we should be cautious with bath when sick.
If taking this facility in an organised environment the staff should have requested you complete a form outlining any medical problems/history, they in turn would have advised you accordingly. Any activity which raises body temperature to such a degree needs to be closely monitored and of course with Covid should be avoided altogether,
Thank you Opal for bringing to awareness the risks of high temperature.
You are very welcome, I used to be a Leisure Centre Manager and always very keen to observe the appropriate health and safety rule/regs to care for our customers hence the form filling and the motto....if in doubt don't do it lol. Good luck
So sorry to hear what's happened. Poor you. 😢 I would never take a hot bath with a viral infection. This is because your body is already in a weakened..... So I'd be worried about being able to climb out of the bath afterwards. Showers all the way for me.... So scary re the high heart beat. Glad it's settle down. Hope you manage to contact the team next week.
Thank you Wavey for raising the awareness of heat.
when I developed afib and tachycardia I was advised to never have a sauna with heart problems anyway (not that I ever had)
Under normal conditions is it okey to take a bath or swim with a pacemaker. .just got one.
Unfortunately, I do not recall such advice.
I have had a Medtronic Pacemaker since 2007. Been replaced once when the battery got low. I live in Florida and exercise in the pool almost every day of the year without any problems.
hello - it’s yours an ICD?
I had one fitted 3 weeks ago and have an appt with pacer team at 6 weeks. If all ok then I want to continue swimming training. Maybe not competitive level anymore but training maybe a few miles a day. I’ve had the ICD placed under muscle beneath collar bone. I’m worried about inappropriate shocks in water and repetitive arm movements- how did you get back into swimming? Have you had any scares? Did it feel I to swim with?
Thank you
Hello, shocks may happen when the pool is not well grounded or the underwater lighting is being fixed. I have been swimming for the past year almost every day whith no problem. I asked the pool owner if anyone had ever been shocked in her pool, she said no one. I asked the same question on the Facebook ICD support group and only one person had been shocked when the underwater lighting was being fixed. I don't swim for long, you should be very progressive in increasing your swimming time.
Good to know it is working well with your pool. I also enjoy swimming 🏊♀️ and find it very relaxing.
I hope that’s not true about swimming pools although I only have a pacemaker. That must’ve been a nightmare for you. Getting shocked when you were not expecting any problems.
Hello Dawn. The problem with pool is only with defibrilator, and very rare. I want to check with my ICD manufacturer. Being shocked is really traumatizing. Thank you for your support.
Andy, it is great that we can comunnicate with each other to avoid those shocks... Diet is the best help I got from the forum. I keep working on my slow diaphragmatic breathing to keep my HR down and out of Afib. Except for dramatic events like covid, stopping my meds or poor diet at the beginning, I stayed clear of afib and shocks for the last 2 years.
Thank you for your speedy reply. I’m sorry you have to deal with that and I can’t imagine getting a shock when needed. We all need to support each other especially when we have devices because we all have questions that aren’t necessarily supplied when we get the device. I am waiting for an answer from my team because twice in the past week I have had a lump where my pacemaker is or just above it. I suspect it is the way I lay. I am a side sleeper and lol. It may just be some of my fat near my arm that gets pushed over. The first time I thought I had a nightmare the second time I was awake, laying on the bed with my dog. when I got the pacemaker, I was told about movement and how serious it could be especially the leads. I have a new kind of pacemaker just released so I am paranoid. This was the first time in two months since I got the p.m. that I had gotten such a thing. Thank you for sharing so quickly I wish you the best and I wish they would come up with some thing to protect you from that so you could enjoy what you love to do.
Sorry to hear that. Here, I could not drive only for the first 6 months.
Afib and hot tub/sauna
saunas and steam room
Multiple heart issues
What a day …. Icd fired 24 times .. ablation for atrial flutter,now getting pvi done Monday 
