I'm back after a bit wondering

[RiderontheStorm]

I'm tired of being tired. Usually have light headedness that put me off during the day to do what I want. It is getting worse with time and have had to resort to Pill in the Pocket for relief now. Wondering about having device implanted to control the afib soon. Has anyone sought relief that way? Thanks.

[CDreamer]

By device I assume you mean pacemaker? Yes but it is a last resort option here in the UK. I have a 3 lead CRT - cardiac resynchronisation therapy. Worked very well for me and my AF burden reduced from about 70% to 2% but I still tire quite quickly as my HR is reduced whilst exercising so I just have to go slower and rest more which means doing less. Age and another condition are also big factors for me.

I’m afraid there is no magic bullet to reduce exercise fatigue.

[RiderontheStorm in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for the input CD. Yes, talking about a pacemaker or "the Watchman" as I also take pill for coagulation for stroke protection. It has been very hard coming down from being a competitive athlete and getting "older", not wanting to blame that. Daily fatigue even before exercise is a real drag. I live alone and my world is getting smaller with time. Not unexpected but jarring all the same. . .

[CDreamer in reply to RiderontheStorm]

I get that, adjusting is hard. My answer was to turn my attention elsewhere and get good at something else I could do, although no way was I ever an elite athlete I competed against many in my dinghy sailing. I had fatigue from AF way before I started taking anticoagulants, could be that but unlikely. Bisoprolol and rhythm control for sure causes breathlessness and fatigue - by their very nature they control the HR causing muscle oxygen starvation.

Read up about Watchman, some people have to continue to take a/c’s regardless after implant and sometimes aspirin as there a quite a few studies showing that that Watchman causes clots to form on the device in some people.

Pacemaker will still restrict HR and although my fatigue is less, it is there.

Watching the Olympics this week and having a step-grandson who was a triple Olympian who had to retire through ill health who is now a filmmaker specialising in sport we are now much more aware of the mental stress athletes go through.

I get the driven mind, so many elite athletes struggle with mindset when their body starts to restrict their activity and I was especially struck this week when Adam Peaty revealed that winning Gold Medals didn’t make him happy after he struggled with mental health after Tokyo, yet he came back.

The world doesn’t reduce in size but sometimes our view of our world narrows and restricts our minds, if I might be so bold as to observe.

Best wishes