Pacemaker 😩

[AllyS]

Hi Guys, do any of you lovely runners happen to have been fitted with a pacemaker? If so, are you still able to run well with it? I was ill a couple of years ago and docs discovered I have a low heart rate caused by a condition called Sinus Node Disease. It’s a degenerative condition and I was told I’d eventually need a pacemaker fitted. I only started my running journey 10 months ago and just beginning to become a tad addicted to it however it seems to be affecting my heart rate making my resting rate low - sometimes around 39/40BPM! GP referring me back to cardiologist and says I may need pacemaker fitted sooner than expected. I’m OK (ish!) about this but I really want to be able to continue running. Any advice from anyone in the know please? Thank you 🙏🏻

[molly1973]

Sorry, no specific advice. I am a cardio-respiratory physio and generally moderate exercise is recommended for cardiac conditions but as this is a pacing issue rather than lifestyle I’d ask the cardiologist for advice and be very careful. Watch out for dizzy spells. Can you track your heart rate? It would be interesting to see if you have a normal response to exercise

[AllyS Graduate10 in reply to molly1973]

Thanks Molly X Yes I do track my heart rate through the HR monitor on my Apple Watch. The alarm buzzes on it if I’m resting and my HR falls below 40BPM which it does fairly frequently through the night when I’m asleep. I’m doing 3 runs a week 3.5K, 5K and between 5 and 10K at weekend. My average HR is around 139BPM mid run at a pace of 8.2KPH . Not sure if this is a normal sort of rate or whether it’s still on the low side? I have the odd dizzy feeling and but not when I’m running 🏃🏼‍♀️ Back to cardiology clinic on 26/3 for another 24hour Ambulatory ECG 🥺

[molly1973 in reply to AllyS]

That all sounds promising, apart from the low resting hr, but at least you don’t have symptoms while running. The ecg will be fine, just inconvenient and will give them a lot of data. Maybe ask if they are happy for you to run during that 24 hours? Fingers crossed for you x

[lexi6 Graduate10]

Hiya Ally, I don’t think she would mind me mentioning her but Mountaindreamer has a pacemaker and I’m sure she will reply to you when she gets back from parkrun. She’s amazing and so are you👍

[AllyS Graduate10 in reply to lexi6]

Oh Lexi thanks for your reply 😘 That’s really encouraging news to hear of Mountaindreamer 😃😃

[damienair Administrator]

Have a good chat with your cardiologist. Explain that your running more and getting fitter. Loads of people exercise perfectly fine with Pacemakers and Pacemakers themselves are getting smarter, smaller and developing all the time. I used to sell Pacemakers for 10 years. Pacemakers are able to tell when your exercising and have loads of different rate detection algorithms build into them.

Best of luck, and happy running.

Damien

[AllyS Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

Thanks Damien. Its really encouraging to hear how pacemakers have developed. My GP hasn’t told me to stop running just to be sensible and to ensure I don’t run anywhere too remote and to have my phone with me and GPS switched on 👍🏻

[SlowLoris]

An old colleague of mine is a lifelong runner. He had a pacemaker fitted later in life for a slow heart rate. He still runs marathons. I guess it all depends on individual circumstances and your doctor will let you know.

[AllyS Graduate10 in reply to SlowLoris]

Thank you Loris that’s brilliant to know 😃 I just really don’t want my running journey to have to end because of the pacemaker 🤞🏻

[Knittingrunner Graduate10]

This is what I know about pacemakers from when I was a ward sister in cardiology. They kick in when you’re heart rate drops too low. My dad has one fitted fora similar problem to yours and that’s what his does. You definitely need to talk to the cardiologist but logically it shouldn’t stop you running as your heart rate increases in response to running. Therefore you should be ok. Good luck.

[AllyS Graduate10 in reply to Knittingrunner]

Many thanks for your reply Knittingrunner x I’m really hoping that it won’t interfere with my running if I need to have it fitted sooner rather than later 🤞🏻

[Knittingrunner Graduate10 in reply to AllyS]

Good luck. It’s scary but you will be in good hands I’m sure. My dad who is 92 said it was fine and was surprised how easy it was to have it fitted. He had it fitted last year.

[AllyS Graduate10 in reply to Knittingrunner]

Thanks again. Glad to hear your dad doing well with it and that having it fitted wasn’t a problem ☺️

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

mountaindreamer may be able to help you here, and I’m sure she’ll be along soon.

[AllyS Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy ☺️

[Wimborne]

AllyS I have no useful advice as usual but just wanted to say Hi. Hope you get to see the cardiologist soon. Waiting for the appointment is always a tough time. Take care and hope all goes well.

[AllyS Graduate10 in reply to Wimborne]

That’s very kind Wimborne - thank you 😊. I’m due to have 24hr ECG done on 26th March so it’ll probably be a few weeks after that before I see cardiologist but I intend to keep on running until I’m told not to! 😉

[Hanzy]

Have you had one fitted I have and wondering when to start running?