Exercising with A-FIB - and after affects

[Jonathan_C]

I have had 2 ablations (2017, 2019) and (I think) 7 Cardioversions and discovered (confirmed) today that I am back in a-fib unfortunately.

I have aortic stenosis and a parachute mitral valve ("the structure of my heart is not normal" in the words of my EP) which we think is the reason for the ablations not working (the ablations may have worked, but the valves are messing up the electrics).

So we are working out what to do next.

But my question is this: when I exert myself above a certain level of intensity for long enough, I will end up feeling like I have flu or haven't properly recovered from a flu the next day. Does anyone else (living with afib) experience this?

And how do you manage this?

[jeanjeannie50]

Yes, I can feel that way sometimes. Walking up hills too quickly when carrying heavy shopping can trigger it and unfortunately I live at the top of a very steep hill. Then feeling totally exhausted I really don't want to move for the rest of the day and can take a while to pick up again. The only reason I can think of that causes this is my heart doing something silly because of the exertion. It totally wears me out. I've had three ablations and been told by my EP that they wont offer me any more.

How do I manage feeling this way - well after an episode last week, I've decided I'll walk home from town a different, more scenic and longer route, or catch the bus. I wont carry heavy shopping and with winter approaching I'll be driving my car more.

Jean

[LaceyLady in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Jean do you have a shopping trolley ?

[FancyPants54 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

As LaceyLady said, you need a shopping trolley. Not one you drag, but one with 4 wheels that you push. My Mum can go a long way with her trolley. She's 88 and full of arthritis but that trolley is her friend. No way should anyone be carrying heavy shopping up hills if they aren't training for something.

[Snowgirl65 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Jean, I was thinking after reading your post responses through the months and knowing your condition, do you think that getting a second opinion from a different EP might be in order? Maybe you are able to have another ablation after all. I "fired" my first EP and am so glad I did so, as my new one had a completely different approach. Just a thought.

[CDreamer]

Adapt to not doing as much & pacing - rest & recuperation is much underrated. Tune in to the messages your body is saying rather than your mind which wants to revert back to a time when your body could cope. Difficult to come to terms with.

[Buffafly]

Exercise less until you don’t have the symptoms any more? If you feel like that the exercise is not doing you any good.

[Jonathan_C]

Thanks all for the comments. I need to adapt / shift my expectations.

[CDreamer in reply to Jonathan_C]

And that really is hard to come to terms with and to change behaviour. I found that it helps to focus on what you CAN do and look for alternative and gentler activities because I am very competitive and found sliding down the pack very painful - so had to completely disengage from competitive sports.

[Buffafly]

The British Heart Foundation website has a lot of information which might be helpful, or you could post on their forum as your basic problem seems to be the valves. I am not at all athletic but I have to pace myself - I have a leaky mitral valve and haven’t sought a second ablation as I suspect it wouldn’t improve my QOL.

Best wishes 💜

[Mjlarson11]

Jonathan

Not sure if this is a helpful answer

since I do not have the same aotric issue as you.. I did, however, have a successful ablation and i currently exercise about (7) hours/week.

I will feel the way you do ( post flu like symptoms) after a hour workout if I have NOT hydrated properly. I am much more cognizant of that since the ablation.

Also my cardio also tells me to never exceed my chrono aged-based HR max at any time, and to keep my average HR rate to less than 85% of max when exercising one hour or more.

[Jonathan_C in reply to Mjlarson11]

This is interesting. I don't know when I went back into afib, but for the last few months I have been thinking that I had a virus that just wont go away (this was the afib). So I have tried many different fever and flu remembers (mostly natural) and I have noticed that hydration has played a major role in how I feel, much more so than previously.

[Hairem]

I have some of the same feelings after doing a long hilly walk. The last time I was down for two days. I try to resist the hills during walks, use weights at home and try to keep that flu feeling away. I am new in the Afib world, one cardioversion and now on chemical cardioversion.

[Jonathan_C]

So after a few months of not knowing what the F%$^ is wrong with me, now knowing that it is a-fib means I am able to manage both my expectations and my exercise so much better - and get so much more enjoyment from it. Most of the time its just knowing that you can go to 80% or 90% and have to stop there for a short break to recover. And planning your exercise around that.