RE: Stroke restrictions with a pacemaker

ourswimmer — Sun, 10 May 2026 22:14:12 GMT

I have had a pacemaker since early 2022. I also was advised against swimming butterfly, or doing anything else that involves extreme thoracic extension. I used to like fly but I can live without it. Any swimming is going to risk lead damage because of the repetitive arm motion, but I told the surgeon that I would not entertain the idea of no swimming unless I actually needed a lead revision.

Right after surgery, my surgeon told me not to lift my elbow above my shoulder for six weeks, and not to swim for another six weeks but I could kick. I swam at short course Nationals in 2023 and also in the National Senior Games that year and I performed OK, not great. I depend on my pacemaker for rate response, which you may not. Although I think we've optimized the settings, it will never be perfect. I haven't done a lot of racing since then because it's a little demoralizing TBH.

Instead I have leaned into OW swimming, which I did before but I do more now. The device rate response supports that kind of steady-state effort better than it supports short bursts of extreme effort like most pool races. I've enjoyed getting better at cold swimming, and being able to go sightseeing in the water with paddler support.

If you use Facebook, there's a private group for Cardiac Athletes that is mostly runners but also includes some swimmers and triathletes. A lot of those people have atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease but some have arrythmias or other conduction issues, and pacemakers.