Hope you have some vibram soles on those walking boots. Was slipping about last night in trainers on a dog walk.
Nice to see the photos, and that you are putting in the paces again Foxy.
Yeah Annie, I’ve been walking in my rough terrain shoes for a couple of month now after falling on some leaves and then falling again on some mud in the wood, I landed heavily and bust a rib… 
I had been walking with a bit of jogging in my trainers, but they are road running shoes and don’t have much grip.
I can still jog in these Merrells…
Thanks Spitty, I managed to hobble round a five miler in the fog today. Was quite pleased with the time, my quads felt like the old days and was able to crack on a bit. I think this ICD is beginning to produce results.
Those are very handsome boots OGF. I’m getting hiking gear envy as I type! 
1 Like
Visited the diagnostic centre at the Sheffield Northern General Hospital today for my month and final checkup to make sure the ICD was working correctly and had bedded in nicely.
I was very impressed with the slip of a girl who was performing the tests, she appeared very capable and intelligent and younger than my daughter. Something resembling a small table tennis bart was rested on my shoulder and plugged into a desktop computer. Information was downloaded from my device and the girl studied the screen intently.
After a short silent pause she explained that the device was working perfectly and she was very happy with the results. The internet router on my bedside table had successfully made contact with the hospital computer and had displayed a month of recorded activity from the device implanted in my shoulder. After inspecting the incision where the device had been placed I was informed that I could resume driving and even try some gentle jogging while out on my walks.
Unless anything unusual was noticed on my nightly download, it would be a year before I will need to visit the hospital for my next appointment, and the biggest surprise of all was that the battery was expected to last for 13 years…Blimey! I’ll be 85…
A good outcome I think…Lets get on with some training.
that’s great news OGF but disturbing how much the whole thing relies on the internet working…
1 Like
Foxy, I would have been happier with 14 years. 
1 Like
Not necessarily Annie, It was mentioned that the internet connection is not an emergency service, it is for diagnostic purposes only, and should I notice any changes or unusual activity concerning my heart I should use the existing channels for emergency help.
One of the main problems that could occur is if the defibrillator has to activate, that would mean a serious problem and 999 should be used immediately. I think minor problems and adjustments to the device can be identified using the internet, but adjustments can not be made remotely, and a visit to the hospital will be necessary.
The cardiologist also made it clear that if I start jogging and notice a sharp raise in heart rate, I must stop immediately. The defib is set at 200 bpm and takes no prisoners if it’s called into action. It would also mean an instant ban on driving for six weeks.
1 Like
Yes, I can see your concern now Spitty…Rather an unfortunate duration…
Crikey you have a built in defib? Good luck going through airport security! x
1 Like
Great news Bob 
Pleased to hear everything is working well and you are now able to get back to the life you are used to.
Just don’t overdo things, you’ve been given another chance 
2 Likes
Walking’s been going well since last Mondays all clear from the hospital.
Although walking was a bit painful with a swollen ankle last Tuesday (possible gout) with the help of the occasional ibuprofen it’s been getting better all week. So only a short painful jog on Tuesday, but a better effort on Wednesday with longer bits. Yesterday was even better, but I did experience a bit of a wobble early on. After jogging through the wood and onto the cycle track I was out of breath and my heart rate reached 140 bpm. So I walked to recover, but after maybe half a mile I felt a bit of a flutter in my chest, and after glancing at the monitor saw that my heart rate had reached 170 bpm while I was only walking.
It soon subsided and I was able to continue a few jogs over the last couple of miles, keeping a max heart rate of 140 bpm before allowing it to return to normal.
Interestingly, that was the first time that had happened since having the ICD fitted.
I’ve just got time to try and defrost the bird bath before I go out on my next walk before lunch, there have already been some very annoyed Blackbirds, Thrushes, Starlings and a Robin giving me the evil eye through the kitchen window.
And why am I getting adverts from ‘Long Tall Sally’ and pictures of very sexy ladies?
I’ve never bought anything from them…
I think I’ve just found my 2022 summer running kit…
1 Like
After a decent week of walking interspersed with the occasional jog, I find week 3 to be a record mileage of 33 miles. I haven’t done so many miles in a week since back in the 80’s and 90’s.
It’s not all good news though, after a good Wednesday and Thursday I turned out yesterday for my usual five miler. My heart rate was a little higher than normal before I set off, and it became very erratic as I progressed down the lane. Sometimes dropping down low into the forties, and then over 100 bpm in the space of just a few minutes. I continued to walk, and as I reached the one mile mark I could feel some unusual activity in my chest, I glanced at the monitor and it revealed over 160 bpm, and that was before I had done any running.
Feeling jaded and tired, I resigned myself to walking with no running for the rest of the journey home.
Today was totally different, I decided to keep to my 3 mile route, and I knew from the very start that it was going to be a good day. With lots of short jogs, taking my heart rate to around 130 bpm it remained stable and immediately returned to normal once I had stopped jogging.
I think it’s going to take some time to gradually increase the distance I can maintain a jog.
Just a bit worrying that the pacemaker seemed to allow my heart to go out of range, although the defibrillator won’t kick in until either it stops or goes above 200 bpm.
Feeling good most of the though…
A mixed week this week with good runs and not so good.
Although last Sunday and again on Friday, my heart rate went very high when I started jogging. 171 bpm on one occasion, but I pushed through and felt really good. It’s been quite mild on a couple of days and I was able to go out in the shorts, but today I had to battle through gale force winds and with it just being a walking day, I put on the bottoms. A big mistake, the sun came out and the temperature rose to a heady 12*C. Sweating by the time I arrived home. Mileage for this week was 36…
A really good performance today with plenty of jogging, although I couldn’t keep up with the lady jogger who passed me half way around my course. I knew the lady and we passed the time of day, and I answered her inquiry concerning my health and apparent come back… I tried to hold on to her pace, but the legs gave out, and my heart was getting to max output so I had to let her go and walk…
The howling gale was behind me on the first half of the loop with twigs and leaves going faster than I was, but as I turned for home onto the lane I fell victim to the full force of the wind. It was a bit of a struggle, but I dug in and still managed a few long stretches of jogging.
I managed to capture this visit from a bunch? of Starlings as they flew in for a bath, rest, and a poke around on the lawn…I wouldn’t like to have been a grub today…
Has anyone seen the sop!
1 Like
Hi matey how ya goin just been readin a bit - knowing you and speaking man to man I think you are a] being your usual obtuse self and b] over doing it a bit and yes I do have a medical background - take it easy laddie don’t push so hard ; don’t challenge yaself so much - just enjoy nature as you slowly walk/gentle jog along. OR the alarm bells will go off I predict - so don’t be a predic!! with love brother! gummy
ps: we don’t wanna see bobs bits strewn all over the place ?
1 Like
Whoa…It’s great to see you in here Gummy, I thought everyone had got me on ignore. Sometimes it feels like I’m flogging a dead equine…
I know where you are coming from Gummy, and I am probably a bit hard on myself at times, but I’ve always been used to doing stuff and I’m frightened that I’m going to lose it. I must admit that since I’ve started adding some jogging I’ve not been feeling quite so good as I did.
Anyway, I’m off out for a walk this morning and won’t be doing any jogging. So I’ll go a bit further to make up for it…
