Training & Nutrition - Constant bonking due to pacemaker

So whenever I tackle a hill I bonk HARD like have to stop to catch my breath, problem is with my pacemaker it has a 30 second time delay so by the time im at full power im gasping for air. Any suggestions on how to tackle hills using less oxygen until my heart can catch up to my lungs.


****, who wants to move this to training/nutrition for me

I don't have a pacemaker so it's tough for me to help you, but I would suggest getting and using the proper gearing for your situation. You need to be able to use the easiest gear possible for hills. It may take you a long time to get up hills, but if you can spin just enough to make it easy riding and stay upright, I would think you would have the best chance.

Using a triple in the smallest gear might work.

Better move the question to a sports medicine physician and your cardiologist.

Moved from General to Training & Nutrition.

Better move the question to a sports medicine physician and your cardiologist.

^^This. I have no experience, and little knowledge, of pacemakers.

I do know that with my perfectly normal, unpaced heart, if I go to full power cold, without warming up, I will be toast very soon. One's system takes time to respond to the demands placed on it, the blood vessels aren't fully dilated, the HR isn't high enough, and the muscles therefore don't get the oxygen etc. they need. So my speculation (and it is pure speculation) is that if there is a lag on the pacemaker, you may need to increase your effort gradually, and by stages.

But really, a cardiologist is the person to ask.

So whenever I tackle a hill I bonk HARD like have to stop to catch my breath, problem is with my pacemaker it has a 30 second time delay so by the time im at full power im gasping for air. Any suggestions on how to tackle hills using less oxygen until my heart can catch up to my lungs.


****, who wants to move this to training/nutrition for me


Are you also on a beta blocker?

Better move the question to a sports medicine physician and your cardiologist.

+10

You obviously have a significant cardiac history and need to consult the appropriate physician(s) to determine your course of action, or even if hill climbing is an appropriate activity for you. Whether you climb at high cadence or mash, hills are going to make demands on your heart and only your doctor can determine if it is going to be able to deliver.

My mothers pace maker had a motion sensor in it. When she walked the rocking motion of her walking caused it to speed up. If yours has a motion sensor maybe you can rock your body back and forth before you get to the hill to get the pace maker up to speed. Also while you are climbing try to rock back and forth. If you are smooth with no rocking the pace maker may just sense that you are sitting and resting.

The sensitivity of her motion sensor could also be adjusted by the technician so you may need to ask about any adjustments that could help you.

Being out of breath is not bonking. Bonking means running low on glycogen. It takes a while to bonk- most people can go 2-3 hours if they start well fueled.

You have to start up the hills slower. If you're already in your lowest gear, you need lower gearing. The amount of oxygen you require is determined by the amount of power you are putting down. You need to go slower so you use less power.

The normal non-pacemaker heart response also has a delay.

Check this forum dedicated sports enthusiasts with pacemakers: http://www.pacemakerclub.com/public/jpage/1/p/storycat/a/storypage/scat/4/content.do

The normal non-pacemaker heart response also has a delay.

This. The delay is about the same. The issue may be the upper limit setting. You need to talk to your cardiologist and ride slower in the meantime.