LQT and Exercise

• By ShannonEH
• Posted August 27, 2009 at 1:08 pm
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Hi - My doctor told my after 3 months I had the go ahead to start getting back to my regular exercise routine. I get nervous about my heart rate getting to high, but it hasn't. My ICD is set at 220, so I would have to be going pretty strong to get a shock. I get myself to where I feel comfortable. My doctor definately recommends exercise, but I wouldn't do anything to extreme for myself because I get pretty nervous. I have felt great after I have exercised. Good luck and take care.

Shannon

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• By Tammy1
• Posted August 28, 2009 at 10:49 am
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Hello!
Let me start off by saying your ICD will know the difference between a high heart rate – from exercise and tachycardia – which leads to dysrhythmias. So it should not provide a shock while you are exercising. There is a difference. And I agree with Shannon, Dr’s usually recommend exercise. Moderate exercise should be fine as long as your Dr agrees with you about your routine and level.
Exercise can be on a case by case basis, sort of. For instance, my kids and I have type 3. This affects us when we are at rest or during the ‘resting’ phase of exercise. We are all active; my son weight lifts and runs 3-5 miles a day. He is watched when his heart rate starts to slow and then in resting phase. (I say he has it, he has all of the symptoms and is in the process of getting tested. He is in the military so he is physically fit.) My youngest that was just diagnosed has been a competitive cheerleader and gymnast since she was very young. She is watched in much the same way as my son. You get the idea.
Some people with long qt type 1 & 2 may need to be monitored during exercise. This will have to be up to you and your cardiologist. You need their full agreement of your exercising and the routine before you start. If you attend a gym, make sure they are aware of your condition and have appropriate safety devices.
Hope this helps.

Tammy

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• By jencava
• Posted August 29, 2009 at 9:23 am
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Thanks ladies for the replies. I'm actually in the process right now of trying to get the genetic testing done, so I don't know what type of LQT I have. This may end up being an insurance battle as so far they are not wanting to cover the testing 100%. I really need them to as I also have a 4 year old son that I need to have tested. Right now I exercise moderately about 30 minutes 6 days a week. I have not experienced anything from my ICD, however at the time of my SCA I was not exercising..I had been resting for a few hours after exercising. Anyways, I appreciate the feedback and hopefully my insurance will come through for me so I can become more educated on what I have.

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• By Nutbeem
• Posted August 30, 2009 at 2:03 am
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Hi there,

I've been through EXACTLY the same thing you're going through right now.

First, go ahead and exercise your brains out. No restrictions, light it up.

Second, the genetic testing thing is a joke. The insurance company won't pay for it, the company wants $6000 cash for the results, and as my EP says, what would you do if you had the results? Give your kids ICD's?

We ended up taking them to UCLA and having echo's, cardiograms, etc. and they all checked out great. We're going to keep an eye on them, get them a cardio workup every couple of years, and that's where it ended for us.

After my SCA, I wanted two things: a diagnosis, and to know my kids wouldn't be affected. I ended up with a "diagnosis" of long QT, and they can't find anything wrong with the kids, so that's what I'm going with now.

Just know it gets better. If I didn't see the ICD when I got out of the shower every day, I might never believe it had even happened....

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• By VMP
• Posted August 30, 2009 at 11:06 am
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Hi ; I have been asking about same issue for quite some time. The answers I get are really quite general. Do what I think I can handle (?) and keep checking the heart rate not exceeding twice the "set" rate of 50. All exercise I do is either on my personal machine (recumbent bike and rower combination) which has a monitor attached or with a portable pulse meter for other exercise such as walking.
Back in Oct. of '07 had SCA 30 days after implant, extraordinary timing. Never felt the two shocks it took to restart the heart due to the fact I had flat lined for 25 seconds. Had nothing further until 1-09 when I did feel the "kick of a horse". As you know we with the faulty (recalled) lead all feel a bit apprehensive about a failure but, hopefully, life goes on.
Thanks for sharing. VMP

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• By mery
• Posted September 1, 2009 at 9:18 am
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I guess it depends on if you have the pacemaker function as well. I do have the "dual" and about 3 months after my implant I started back exercising by just some walking every day. Well, I couldnt go very far before getting totally out of breath and feeling really weak. I thought it was just because of the surgery, blah blah. So when I went to have the device checked, I told the tech. She went and got the doctor, and they talked to me quite a bit about exercise, what I wanted to do, what had I done before the SCA and implant ... Anyway, they set the pacemaker function to "exercise" I'm not sure what it will allow, I cant remember what they said. At any rate, now if I get breathless and tired it's because I'm pushing it. Ask you doc again.

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• By lover_of_tinkerbell
• Posted September 10, 2009 at 12:58 pm
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Hey,
I have been told by my cardiologist that i can exercise but i can't over do it. This basically means that i don't need to push myself as much as i used to but i can still keep myself in shape. Since i'm still in High School my cardiologist let me still do PE but just told be to be careful.
You know when your pushing yourself to hard so if your careful you should be fine with everything.. Hope this Helps..
Tracy

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