wearing a backpack over a pacemaker -- any problem?

BrianLCrabtree said:

I'm having a pacemaker implanted March 10 to correct a slow heart rate, sometimes in the 20s. My cardiologist says I should be fine for the Camino in late May. The device will be placed just below the left clavicle. I'm wondering about the pressure of the left shoulder strap of the backpack on the pacemaker, either being uncomfortable or in any way affecting the safety and function of the pacemaker. I'm hoping somebody on the forum who has a pacemaker has experience with this. I see the cardiologist March 2 and will ask the question and even take my pack to the appointment for discussion, but there's nothing like hearing from experienced hikers who have dealt with the issue. My training is going very well and looking forward to the Primitivo.

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BrianLCrabtree said:

I'm having a pacemaker implanted March 10 to correct a slow heart rate, sometimes in the 20s. My cardiologist says I should be fine for the Camino in late May. The device will be placed just below the left clavicle. I'm wondering about the pressure of the left shoulder strap of the backpack on the pacemaker, either being uncomfortable or in any way affecting the safety and function of the pacemaker. I'm hoping somebody on the forum who has a pacemaker has experience with this. I see the cardiologist March 2 and will ask the question and even take my pack to the appointment for discussion, but there's nothing like hearing from experienced hikers who have dealt with the issue. My training is going very well and looking forward to the Primitivo.

Click to expand...

BrianLCrabtree said:

I'm having a pacemaker implanted March 10 to correct a slow heart rate, sometimes in the 20s. My cardiologist says I should be fine for the Camino in late May. The device will be placed just below the left clavicle. I'm wondering about the pressure of the left shoulder strap of the backpack on the pacemaker, either being uncomfortable or in any way affecting the safety and function of the pacemaker. I'm hoping somebody on the forum who has a pacemaker has experience with this. I see the cardiologist March 2 and will ask the question and even take my pack to the appointment for discussion, but there's nothing like hearing from experienced hikers who have dealt with the issue. My training is going very well and looking forward to the Primitivo.

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AllanHG said:

My wife has a pacemaker and it was actually pretty challenging to carry a backpack before we figured out a way to do it so that there was no pressure on the leads or battery (she is thin so can feel the leads and the battery just below her clavicle). She ended up not carrying her backpack on our first Camino and did a lot of research before our second one.

She used the waist straps to take most of the load but it was still difficult to do up the thin strap across her chest that attaches to the shoulder straps. She contact Osprey and their team made a modification to the strap pattern so that there was a small strap attached to front of each of the shoulder straps - these criss-crossed across the front of her body in a way that missed the area under her clavicle and therefore the leads and the battery.

In addition to this, she bought small sponges at a dollar store in Spain (they were dense cleaning sponges that were covered with terry cloth) to raise the straps further off her shoulders and this also helped to keep the straps away from the pacemaker battery and leads.

So, in our experience, it wasn’t as simple as getting a backpack that fit well. Osprey was amazing in helping us to figure out a way to adapt the straps so that her backpack worked for her. I believe there is also a company out of Australia that makes a pack that has this sort of strap pattern but it‘s been years since we looked into it and I can’t remember the name of the company.

Good luck!

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BrianLCrabtree said:

I'm having a pacemaker implanted March 10 to correct a slow heart rate, sometimes in the 20s. My cardiologist says I should be fine for the Camino in late May. The device will be placed just below the left clavicle. I'm wondering about the pressure of the left shoulder strap of the backpack on the pacemaker, either being uncomfortable or in any way affecting the safety and function of the pacemaker. I'm hoping somebody on the forum who has a pacemaker has experience with this. I see the cardiologist March 2 and will ask the question and even take my pack to the appointment for discussion, but there's nothing like hearing from experienced hikers who have dealt with the issue. My training is going very well and looking forward to the Primitivo.

Click to expand...

BrianLCrabtree said:

I'm having a pacemaker implanted March 10 to correct a slow heart rate, sometimes in the 20s. My cardiologist says I should be fine for the Camino in late May. The device will be placed just below the left clavicle. I'm wondering about the pressure of the left shoulder strap of the backpack on the pacemaker, either being uncomfortable or in any way affecting the safety and function of the pacemaker. I'm hoping somebody on the forum who has a pacemaker has experience with this. I see the cardiologist March 2 and will ask the question and even take my pack to the appointment for discussion, but there's nothing like hearing from experienced hikers who have dealt with the issue. My training is going very well and looking forward to the Primitivo.

Click to expand...

BrianLCrabtree said:

The pacemaker was implanted Mar 10, then a left atrial appendage closure device (Watchman) Mar 25. I hiked with a pack today for the first time since the surgery, 10.5 miles (17 km), and had no problems with the shoulder strap over the pacemaker. There is still the slightest tenderness along the incision but the strap didn't irritate it. The pacemaker made an obvious positive difference in strength on steep hills. Heading to Villaviciosa 19 May to begin the Primitivo.

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