Back in AF :( ... a few garbled thoughts

[Mejulie69]

No sooner than I had convinced myself yesterday that my recent AF attacks were probably panic attacks, at 9pm last night I went back into AF and at 8am this morning as I write this, I remain there. Last time I was in constant AF was 3 weeks ago. Every run-in with AF I have had has been "moderate" exercise induced. I can't identify a single other trigger. Perhaps I should have followed advice and completely laid off the exercise, but would that lead me to full recovery? Everything I have read states that AF is a chronic disease.... a ticking time bomb. So, am I silly to grab a bit of exercise whilst I am in NSR? Would changing to a sedentary existence not be the worst compensation illness of all?

I only have two objectives : 1, staying alive, and 2, being happy (which means being able to exercise)

I am finding life difficult not being able to exercise as I please. It is already affecting my quality of life, and soon it will start affecting my mental health. Endorphins are my drug addiction; they have been for years, and I don't know any other method of getting them than exercise.

After a long wait, I am finally seeing a cardiologist on Thursday, and hoping he can help me find a path through this disease. It'll be a huge blow if he doesn't show any interest in my recuperation. I have no idea what to expect really. I'm guessing a cardiologist in Gateshead probably hasn't seen too many 37 yo endurance athletes with AF

Enough rambling for now. Thanks for reading.

[pottypete1]

I totally understand your feelings it is good that you have a consultation planned for Thursday make sure you write down all your questions.

Whilst not being anything like an athlete I too really enjoy exercise and would find a sedentary existence intolerable.

After all the work my EP Team carried out on my heart last week they 'revved up' my heart to try and enduce bad rhythm so we know it can be a trigger for some types of bad rhythm.

Of course we are all different and often exercise is not a trigger and is good for us and our hearts.

Pete

[Zozzy]

I feel exactly the same as you. Not least because the exercise has so many positive health benefits, that (in my opinion) there's a significant choice to be be made in the trade off you're facing:

Either

1. You lay off the exercise, become unfit, hope you stay healthy without it, and hope the AF keeps away.

Or

2. You keep exercising, take the benefits that it gives you to the extent you're able to get them, and accept that the AF is likely to progress over time to a level where you need to treat it: which may or may not impact your ability to exercise.

Each of us makes that choice at some point, and you're probably approaching it now.

I can tell you that I chose 2 and to go for treatment sooner rather than later in order to keep on choosing 2. I judged that once I chose 1 it will become increasingly more difficult to choose 2 later. Whereas by choosing 2 the option for 1 remains. Plus if 2 succeeds I shall be happier than I think I will be with 1.

Good luck with your choice.

Steve

[Mejulie69 in reply to Zozzy]

Steve, you have crystalised my thoughts perfectly there. Very many thanks.

[Zozzy in reply to Mejulie69]

I should also add that I tried bisoprolol and found that it slowed my HR so much that it made me tired both when in AF and not, because all it seemed to do was reduce my HR and thereby the flow of blood ... which I need! Since I can live with the AF (except when trying to run - when the bisoprolol didn't help), I decided to go without it as I have no other risk factors.

Unfortunately my AF had been progressing (occurs more frequently) over the last few months so a couple of months ago I opted to go for an ablation - which is scheduled for this afternoon.

[Mejulie69 in reply to Zozzy]

Fantastic. I wish you a swift recovery, and keep us all up to date with your progress.