I had open heart surgery (quadruple by-pass) in 2004 and was given a pacemaker. I weighted 265 lbs. at the time. (I weighted 305 lbs. in 1992). I started rehab and lost 35 lbs. I started swimming (no high school or college experience).
My heart continued to grow weaker and in 2006, they gave me an ICD
(Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator).
By 2008, I had dropped my weight to 195 lbs. and had learned all the strokes. I went to the Nationals in Austin that year and won 5 medals including a medal in the 50 yard butterfly. (I had disc surgery on my back in 1976).
Yale Medical School is conducting a study on athletes from ages 10-60 who compete on a regular basis. (I am 69 and there is a runner who is 80). After several years of recruiting, Yale currently has 300 athletes in the study, but only two (2) swimmers. They need 100 more athletes for their study.
I would like to hear from any swimmer who competes with these devices or from anyone who might know of someone who competes with these devices. There are 100,000 ICDs implanted every year and almost all receipents choose to sit on their big fat sofas!
I want to get the word out that this device is not a "death sentence".
Jim Oster
a/k/a - Mr. Pacemaker
