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I've possibly had cardioversion done more than most - remember to tell them before you go under what your normal resting pulse is - they were always worried that I was too slow, until they understood my sport. Check some of the posts on the 'High Heart rate' thread. All the best.
Really interesting to read about your experiences Chris. When Steve was first diagnosed we didn't know any other runners with AF and it's very comforting when you realise that it's not that uncommon and certainly something that can be managed and overcome.
All the best
Brett I think this and the High Heart rate thread should be joined together as it has lots of cross over.
See you next week Chris? should I bring my Defib..:)
officially booked in for cardioversion on 20th March
they had trouble getting an anaesthetist, plus the saga of my getting started on anticoagulants is Kafka-esque, but everything sorted now
19 days...
Good luck once again Daz! :)
so Friday 20th March: equinox, eclipse... Daz's Cardioversion!
all went well
heart restored to regular rhythm
still a fat f*ck*r and completely unfit, but intend to work (gradually) on those things over the next few months...
Good News Daz...Healthy thoughtsQuote:
Originally Posted by DazTheSlug
Great news, Daz.
Good news DTS. Just in time for September 5th
Thanks Guys :)
doing regular slow jogs now
intend to try Wirksworth Incline next weekend (will probably keep the sweeper company but gotta start somewhere!)
will play it by ear after that, but haven't ruled out certain longer events later in the year... ;)
Enjoy this weekend Daz, try not to 'listen' to the imagined hops, skips and jumps your heart may make and celebrate when your rate drops sweetly at the end of the race!
Nice one Daz and long may your recovery continue and your confidence grow :DQuote:
Originally Posted by DazTheSlug
That's fantastic news Daz! Look forward to seeing you bumbling around Bullock Smithy! If you fancy having just a walk round Karen would love your company, and you might get her under the 20 hours she wants to get around in.
Just resurrecting this thread.
My background is that I used to get the odd tachycardia attack in my early 20s Always put it down to drinking, smoking and party drugs. In my thirties it was terrible at times and I put it down to the drink and smoking. I finally quit the drink 5 years ago and took up running. Within a year I was getting them when running and occasionally at night
Then three years ago I was getting them regularly, Fast and hard for days on end. In hindsight I should of gone to the doctors then but I put it down to caffiene and sugar. I finally went to the doctors and took a heart rate trace off my ambit. He referred me to the cardio
I had one attempt at the ablation and this was unsuccessful as he could not track the reentry (I think that is what he said). I was then put under another cardiologist and he promised to get this sorted. So August 2015 I went back and spent nearly 5 hours in the Cath lab. He managed to chase down the cause on the left side but the right side was a problem and he was not sure about the right side
Fast forward to now and I get a couple of "attacks" when I run. I stop straight away and get the heart rate down. I can then carry on running. It is annoying as it really limits my fitness as I think it affects the stroke volume. Come to the conclusion that I will never be as fast as I can be and will have to stick to the long steady stuff.
I go back to the cardio this weds to have another holter monitor out on. Will push for the albation again
A few people have been asking me how I am since my heart helpfully tripped out on me back at the beginning of March (after 3 solid months of good training :rolleyes: )
Thankyou all for your concern :) , and to save repeating myself I will summarise here:
My heart "self-righted" after 6 days, but decided to get it fixed anyway
I had my "ablation" procedure 2 weeks ago and it went fully to plan
I am now doing regular short jogs and will be steadily increasing my training over the next few weeks
Hoping to return to racing near end of May/early June...
seesyall out there :D
Great to hear Daz.Quote:
Originally Posted by DazTheSlug
2 weeks is good, my doctor wouldn't let me run for 4 weeks and then only slow runs...some would say that's all I have in me now..:)
right!
my cardiologist said no racing for 8 weeks... so it's now 10... so guess it's time to get back out there!
This is dead interesting - had on/off AF for years, undiagnosed, then diagnosed Sept '14 - then I had AF solid for over 6 months which just stopped any exercise at all, cardio version may '15, ablation July '15. couldnt push it on any runs for rest of the year,but I have done a bit more on the flat but my times are well poor. I've heard it can take 6 months + for the ablation scars to heal. However I've made some progress in the last two months so maybe I'm not ruling out a return to the fells just yet. Reading your accounts and your efforts gives me hope thanks guys ����
Hello, I have lots of fellow-feeling as I suffered for years from paroxysmal AF, currently controlled by taking Flecainide, but I fear I will probably end up having an ablation. HERE is a post from the blog of the electro-physiologist John Mandrola, who as well as being a very thoughtful writer is a keen amateur cyclist and himself suffers from AF. Very best wishes for your future in running.Quote:
Originally Posted by alanj
Didn't realise you'd had a bit of a set back Daz!! Glad to see you're re-recovering good luck. We'll almost certainly be at Bullock Smithy again, might see you there!? :)
After my MI and bypass I found this place very usefull
https://www.facebook.com/groups/cardiacathletes/
Another resurrection.....
After two years of behaving, went in to AF on Wednesday afternoon, hoped it would just be a blip, tried all the methods to try and self 're-boot' without success and spent a miserable night trying to sleep with a pretty constant 112bpm (with the usual jumps to 200+ from my old monitor). Phoned the GP in the morning who was brilliant, booked me into Ambulatory Care - they assessed things and agreed cardioversion could be done, however no beds in CCU, would I mind being done in the heart attack bay? After dealing with two heart attack victims, are you ready? Lets walk down to the bay and get it done. 6pm done and by 7.30pm was discharged and on my way home. Fantastic service from all concerned and no bed taken up! Now just a bit tired and some referral work to done in due course.......
sorry to hear it Chris...any chest soreness, Mine felt like a minor burn and was tender for a couple of days.
One of those things Ian! Chest not too bad, though the shaving pattern looks odd, just a bit tender - its that general fatigue after a prolonged (25 hours) of high heart rate that I don't like.
Are you classed as mended now Chris?
I had bradycardia and was fitted with a pacemaker.
Job done heart wise.
Only head and fat belly to fix now.
Your right about the running community, some dam nice folks out there.
Get well soon ��
I was until Wednesday! Just two weeks short of two years clear. I now have some medication to help keep me in normal sinus and a review of options will be in the pipeline. Glad your heart is under control, your head is square on your shoulders and your belly........well I can't see it from here so can't be too bad! You will get through this current pressure and you have some very good friends more than willing to help - and some of us in the current 'non -runner community'!
..........and now only two weeks after being 'zapped', I've gone back into AF. Fingers crossed for this afternoon and the wonderful NHS hopefully getting me back into normal sinus!
How did the Zap go Chris?
Thank you for asking, it didn't. Despite my own protest and the timeline of multiple 'chemical tries' that failed provided by my GP, the locum cardiologist insisted that another supplementary pill would put me back in normal sinus with in 48 hours. It hasn't and this will be six days with a resting pulse of about 110. I can walk round the block and do short days of light work (lots of sitting and resting) and then just fume at feeling completely jiggered all the time. However the mechanical bits seem to be fine and I hope that I can see another cardiologist in the next day or so, and then get referred back to The Freeman in Newcastle to look at options.
Arrrr sorry to hear that.
Hopefully your next visit is more productive.
I asked for a referral and was sent to Leeds General.
Brilliant service. Pacemaker works fine.
I think a pacemaker may be my only option - four ablations means that I possibly only have scar tissue around the pulmonary and nothing left to safely burn.
Nothing to fear from a pacemaker.
40min opp, while still awake.
Back to running after 12 weeks.
All the best Chris.
Just to clarify: in general, pacemakers - which are for hearts that go too slow - do not "treat" AF, but occasionally they do help when
1/ the AF is, in a complicated way, the result of the heart going too slow, and/or
2/ the drugs needed to keep the heart out of AF result in it going too slow.
Best wishes to all!
A variety of reasons, but my visit to the cardiologist on Thursday was a complete waste of time, except the ECG confirmed my old Polar HRM is still working and I'm still at 110 resting pulse. Having still not read my notes (not his entire fault), his only way forward was to swap one pill for another. Being patient, I explained why I rejected this idea and suggested it may help if he spoke to the team at the Freeman........
He hadn't at close of play on Friday, so looks like it'll be me and great support from my GP to make progress!
Mike T, I'll let you see my 'history' if we ever meet up!
After 16 days in AF at 110, I am tired. AV node ablation and permanent pacemaker has been suggested as an option, though I've yet to see the team at Freeman - letter was sent four days after my visit. My GP checked and he wasn't included in the Carlisle letter, but he is now going to receive a copy. At least all my overworked other muscles are having a rest!
Hope you get sorted soon Chris. Sounds very unpleasant and tiring.
Re pacemakers and AF I should have included:Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris K
3/ occasionally AF is persistent despite ablations and trials of multiple drugs, and the heart rate is too high, so the AV node is damaged - ablated - to slow/eliminate conduction from the atria to the ventricles - and a pacemaker is inserted so that the ventricles do not go too slow/stop - the pacemaker can also incorporate a degree of exercise responsiveness.
Thanks Mike, that has answered what I've been trying to get from Carlisle - the system there seems to be so much under pressure - I'm still waiting for any communication since my visit on 23rd March. GP has still not had a copy of what was sent to the Freeman, despite request and promise, he is trying direct to Freeman, may hear something today. The nursing team at Freeman have been supportive by phone and email but until they've actually seen me and/or had current diagnosis from Carlisle, its all 'may be' or 'possible'.
A 'round robin' of phone calls between respective secretaries in Carlisle and Newcastle this morning and I now know where letters have been sent and received, I should stop taking one set of pills and I'm on a priority list in Newcastle. Oh and I can tell my GP that Carlisle are in the process of letting him know. Its only taken three weeks of hell, but what a relief to find out something is happening!
Fitted into an extra clinic today and am now a 'work in progress', much more informed, another clinic after this current trial, limited options, but pleased to have the positive input. Still nothing from Carlisle........