Swimming after having a pacemaker fitted then getting pericarditis

[Westie2012]

I really enjoy swimming, I haven’t been since I started having cardiac symptoms , I ended up going to a&e by ambulance (in my swimsuit )🤣 as my heart started racing and it got worse from there, over the next few months my symptoms got progressively worse and 18 months later I needed a pacemaker . A week after that I ended up with pericarditis and an effusion . 7 months on I’m still on colchicine , I’ve recently been started on beta blockers as my heart was going too fast and I was having strong palpitations , chest tightness, dizziness and shortness of breath on slight exertion , it’s only been two weeks but the beta blockers are helping . I have a cardiologist appointment July 13th, I’ll be asking him about starting swimming but to members on here who enjoy swimming did you ever get back in the pool and after how long ?

[Hidden]

I don’t know answer to your question but hoping others will post as I have also been thinking of taking up swimming but a little apprehensive. It’s not something I did before HA (STEMI) and stents but feel it might help. So I would love to hear from others as well who can offer advice. I’m not a competent swimmer!

[Robotman1 in reply to Hidden]

Heart attack December 2020..x 1 stent installed and on numerous medication..Been 6 months since in around month 3-4 I introduced myself to swimming, Makes me feel great during and after session..I was doing 3 times per week..However maybe to much to soon..I was very tired next day (In bed most of it) so reduced to 2 times per week..I think medication plays its part in tiredness also tho.All I can say is give it a go and you'll know when enough is enough..

[Hidden in reply to Robotman1]

Many thanks for that. I’m always tired anyway so maybe the cold water would wake me up 🤪. My HA was end of October last year. LAD STEMI stented. Then stent in RCA. Numerous setbacks since which stopped me trying the swimming earlier. Now feel I’d like to give it a go. Of course, I’d rather be trying in the Med 🤣. Thanks again

[Skertchly in reply to Hidden]

Some pools have aqua classes. Small group gentle activity

[Sunnie2day]

I don't have a pacemaker but I do have recurrent pericarditis, was diagnosed in the late 1990s. I did continue swimming for years, both in swimming pools and at the beach and rivers, but I never swam alone again - I always-always-always made sure I had a 'spotter' especially if swimming in the sea or river but also when using a swimming pool. The pericarditis combined with my 'angina with normal coronaries' (presumed by the cardiologist to be microvascular) means an angina attack or the fatigue (from pericarditis) could render me incapable of making it to shore or the pool ladder/steps. A spotter means I can swim knowing someone is making sure I don't drown.

I've not been swimming in years but that's down to not having a home swimming pool (yes, I am a serious germaphobe) plus the shocking cold of the North Sea. At a certain point the cold seawater became too much, I'd have angina within a few minutes of entering the water. Even the most comprehensive 'wet suit' wasn't enough to protect me from the shock of the cold water temperature.

If I had a pacemaker I'd be even more careful to have a spotter and I'd forgo sea or river swimming altogether, spotter or no spotter. The thought of being off-shore should the pacemaker 'fire' is terrifying to me - everyone I know who has had their pacemaker 'fire' says they make an involuntary 'gasp' and that is the very last thing you'd want to have happen when in the middle of a river or a few metres off-shore.

Keep swimming in a swimming pool - but be sure to have someone whose only purpose poolside is to keep watch on you in case something happens and you need help.

[Westie2012 in reply to Sunnie2day]

I live in the uk and it’s never really warm enough to swim in the sea or a lake, I’d never dream of open air swimming , only an indoor pool with lifeguards . My cardiac symptoms started when I’d gone swimming so I had two lifeguards and the management team looking after me until the paramedics arrived and took me to hospital

[Skertchly]

Have been to pool several times since pacemaker fitted. No real problem. 75 years can’t hold breath too well now.