I'm posting on behalf of my hubby. Diagnosed with PAF in April and on 2 x 100mg Flecinide daily which appear to be suiting him. (Sees consultant in July)
Always a fit & active 58 year old 40+ marathons, cycling challenge etc, we have a 4 day challenge cycling North to South Wales next week that his consultant said 'maybe not' when Ged asked him. He's In 2 minds whether to go for it (it's all or nothing- I can't persuade him to do just 2 days).
Not sure I'm allowed to ask your advice on whether he should do it but he's threatening to go for it..... He's a serious cyclist & the group is made up of novice and regular cyclists . Any advice welcome. Thanks everyone.
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Ged1
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I'm no athlete nor am I a serious cyclist. I understand the draw of being competitive but I've got to an age when I truly value the time I have left. I think you both know what is the sensible and right thing to do......will be interested to hear if common sense prevails!!!
Hi Flapjack. Common sense has prevailed and everyone's comments are confirming what he knows is the right thing to do. Very difficult for him to accept nonetheless. Thanks for the feedback.
IMHO - I would agree with the EP - probably not - unless you/he really wants to aggrevate the AF (at the least). Sustained high HR + AF + endurance exercise = excellent recipe for a sudden cardiac event. Doesn’t really matter how fit you are.
There are a few keen endurance cyclists who post on this forum who may be able to give more informed view.
I can only agree with the others Perhaps it's your husband's way of not letting AF get the better of his life but I honestly think this time it will win .Too many don't take a step back It's in a way a denial process It's a compulsion to compete.Its time to let his heart rule his head and take a reality check I'm afraid
Personally, and I'm not medically qualified in any way, I think having AF and putting extreme stress on your heart is a very dangerous thing to do. A friend who cycled with a club told me about the time one of their members went hell for leather up a hill ahead of everyone and when they got to the top they found him dead.
Your husbands heart is not beating correctly and he should take his consultants advice. If he wants to play Russian roulette, then go ahead.
Sorry to be so blunt, but he has a lovely wife looking to help him and he should also think of how she feels about him doing such a long cycle ride.
Thanks Jeanjeannie50 . It hurts him to accept the situation he's in and that he's got to ease up. Difficult when sport is his passion. Thanks for the sensible advice.
I understand that hurt, as my love was long distance walking and cycling (not to your husbands standard, but I went out with a group). Now I do shorter walks which are mostly on the level or may incorporate short inclines. Honest, I could swear, I'm so cross about it! Your husband doesn't have to give up cycling, just the long strenuous rides.
One has to consider, in the light of much evidence, that it has most likely been his athletic activities which caused the AF in the first place. If he must go buy him an electric bike.
Had to laugh the other night Flapjack. All the OMILS (Old men in Lycra) flogging up the local steep hill sweating buckets and looking half dead. Bloke in work clothes with fag in mouth powers past all of them nonchalantly on electric bike. Love it. Want one!!!
I am on the same dose of Flecainide and gave up various sports very reluctantly but 4 years down the track have found alternatives and the best thing is I have remained AF free. I would advise a break from cycling for a couple of years, you can always go back if the pull is stronger than the risk.
I cycled 450 miles in 5 days through France a few years ago. I was on sotalol and had AF episodes quite a bit of that time. It wasn't fun! I've since had an ablation and moderated my exercise a lot. Anything I do is non-competitive (against others or the clock!) and typically a local 7 or 13 mile loop, a lot of fairly fast walking with the dog and a gym and swim once or twice a week. Since my ablation 8 years ago I haven't had any AF, just some runs of ectopics every month or two.
So, as others have said, it is a case of moderation I'm afraid!
I'm thinking this is probably part or most of his social life as well? My son-in-law belongs to a cycle club and it definitely is, not saying what my daughter thought of his weekend with the lads on a sunny island......If the electric bike is allowed under the circumstances why not go for it? Obviously as regards a 'challenge' it is cheating but he could be a mentor to novice cyclists and cheer others on 😀
Thanks. He'd never entertain electric bike (although I would 😁) . Hes very sensible, never pushes himself & cycles as he feels. Hes also still going along as support driver/navigator but started thinking 'shall I do it'... we've had some great advice from this post which has confirmed what he knew all along not to do it ☹ cheers.
I too am a serious cyclist who needed a replacement aortic valve nearly three years ago followed by a new left hip a year later. Now on the way to a total 10000 miles since 2016.
Cycling has undoubtedly helped return to fitness in the past 18 months for sure.
You are clearly a mad cyclist so in your position I would most probably ride it; it's only
130 miles per day after all, which isn't a lot for mad cyclists is it ? With a tad of common sense you should be alright. If not presumably your ever loving wifey will come and pick
you up ??? Ignore the daft comments about old men in lycra and enjoy the ride ( drink plenty of water ), and I am quite envious !!
Btw I am 75 and along with my aging mates riding the London Sightseer Audax event this
next Wednesday which is 100k and door to door (home) approx. 130k.
I fully agree with you cycleman 73. My cardiologist is a cyclist and i asked him about cycling. (Still try to get PBs on Strava.) He told me to carry on and enjoy it. If i get tired i stop abd rest. Ive never had any issues when out on the bike.
You'll be fine Chris, when I was 54, I was doing 24 Hour rides. My best was 354 miles. May be it could have been more had it not been for the A Fib, who knows. Cycling is
the best thing ever. Keep at it don't stop. You'll live forever !!
There are two trains of thought in life - 1) life is not worth living if I can't be the person I want to be and enjoy the things I like the most....... 2) I've had the life I enjoyed and now must live the life I am advised so that I can enjoy the rest and thinking of others rather than selfish endeavours which I do for myself alone ......... I know which one I would choose
Hi Ged1, IMO the key thing here is that it isn't necessaily the distance its more the pace. If you decide to go ahead with it give yourself plenty of time to complete the ride each day, a lot of cafe stops, eat and rehydrate appropriately, have a great ride 👍
I’ve been on hold for the last year until I recently had another ablation now I’d prefer to get on with MY life regardless, if I’m found dead in the saddle on my horse it was good day to die and I am sure all my love ones would appreciate my need to go happy and not on half throttle.
Absolutely not!! Sorry to be so definitive but as an AF sufferer and long distance cyclist (I was diagnosed at age 59), I highly recommend that he not embark on this 300 mile ride. While I now ride modestly (usually 25 to 35 miles) and no more than 100 miles in any particular week, I used to ride (preAF) as much as 10,000 miles per year with lots of climbing (10 century rides in one year plus the Tahoe Death ride with 15,000 feet of climbing). While AF can arise from many causes or for no apparent reason at all, there is a known connection between extreme sports such as long distance cycling or marathon running and AF. I believe that my AF may have been caused at least in part due to my extreme cycling.
After I was diagnosed with AF and put on Flec and Metropolol, I felt that I could immediately go back to my riding as before. Big mistake, and I ended up back in ER. While my two ablation ultimately failed , my meds are keeping me very stable (AFIB free with no noticeable ectopics) and riding at a moderate pace with limited climbing, causes no issues and keeps me in shape.
By all means, your husband shouldn’t give up cycling and running, but he needs to pare it back and gradually build up to a modest level. Doing 300 miles after being recently diagnosed for the first time is asking for trouble and potentially a trip back to the ER. Life with AF can be enjoyed but moderation is the key. It’s tough especially if he is a competitive cyclist like I was, but minimizing AF episodes and my quality of life is more important. It took me time to figure that out, hopefully my advise might help him avoid some episodes that he might otherwise be exposed to.
Jeff
PS -as an aside the medication will limit his performance so that in itself May help drive towards a more modest approach. Getting an ablation works as a solution to get off meds (albeit temporary) but that also doesn’t imply that one should go back to previous levels of extreme exercise
Many thanks for the sound and sensible advice. He's a sensible man who listens to his body and only cycles as he feels as he did when he ran marathons (he no longer runs after tearing his hip running resulting in a hip replacement in 2016).
I asked the question as Ged organised and took part in the event I speak about and it's been difficult for him to accept the situation he now finds himself in although he's realising slowly. He'll be part of the support team which will probably put more strain on his heart knowing he can't do it!!🤨
He's doing around 40 miles a week building up to around 60ish so will take it from there.
It's his life his choice.. i cycle 50 miles a day 5 days a week 25 miles before work then 25 miles after work all on an exercise bike at home. just to keep fit and at an ok weight. My afib has completely stopped last few weeks ironically i have a cardiologist appointment mid july and i am seriously thinking of canceling it as my symptoms have all but disappeared !!
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