Exercising with arrhythmia

[CambournePat]

I have arrhythmia. I had an ablation last year and am on Diltiazem & Flecainide. Following mild exercise I experience an irregular heartbeat but for some reason the symptoms then reoccur at night, even if the exercise was many hours before. Doctors tell me that my condition is not life threatening and exercise is a good idea but I have stopped doing anything other than walking now. This is frustrating as I used to do half marathons. Has anyone had similar experiences?

[Czech_Mate]

Hi PatI had a pacemaker fitted in May this year after I was diagnosed with Bradycardia.

I have been trying to exercise and come to terms with the fact that I can't do the cycling, weight training and long distance walking I enjoyed all my life. Feeling that I've had that taken away from me makes it so hard to accept.

As soon as I feel a bit better I forget that I should be careful and overdo it. Yesterday I spent a couple of hours breaking up a small concrete surface and then I realized I'd overdone it in the heat. I am on Metropol and the side effects of fatigue seem to be worse in hot weather.

All very frustrating. I am trying to learn compromise, but it's so hard not to push it a bit when I feel good. In the past it's always done me good physically and mentally. But that was the past, it seems I have to change.

I do go to yoga classes once a week and do a bit at home. I'm thinking maybe I can l learn a different approach from that. The class is for seniors and we are encouraged to see how we feel and just stretch a bit when it feels right and definitely not try to push it. If I can learn to use that approach to life in general then hopefully I'll get better rather than bitter.

Sorry to go on, I just felt maybe we understand eachother.

👍

[CambournePat in reply to Czech_Mate]

Thanks Czech_Mate. (I've been to Prague, or are you a chess fan?) I guess I'll try walking faster and see how it goes. As you say, it's frustrating but your advice on not pushing it, is good advice.

[Czech_Mate in reply to CambournePat]

No, not a chess fan; an expat (rather than a Cambourne Pat.) There's more to this country than Prague. I sort of ended up here with a back pack in the early 90s, somehow settled down and never left.Yes it's good advice: I'll let you know when I manage to follow it.😏

Cheers

[CambournePat in reply to Czech_Mate]

I'm glad you stayed. Take care of yourself.

[Simcoxh]

Hi there yes me too ... I havnt had any procedures done yet ..but I am frustrated by the same..although I am short of breath just walking up small inclines..it gets me down ..as I love walking ..

[RG72]

Hi Pat, I have exactly the same. I used to be a pretty handy athlete and I’m hoping I can return to something athletic in the future. For me it seems to be an indicator of whether I am overdoing it or not. I can exercise pretty freely (ride a bike for 90 mins, swim 2km, run for 40 mins). Generally I can do any of these in a day and feel fine, but if I do 2 days in a row I start to get evening arrhythmia, nothing dramatic but enough to get my attention and remind me. 2 months ago this would happen if I exercised every other day, so I’m seeing 2 days every 3 as progress!

To try and remedy the situation I do all of the normal good advice for arrhythmia- stay away from caffeine/alcohol, try to sleep well, don’t eat too much or too late, try to avoid stress. At the moment the heat is the biggest concern (I live in a hot place) so I’ve brought down the intensity/duration to try and avoid side effects and also try to keep well hydrated.

Coming back to the point, personally I see the arrhythmia as a notice from the body that the training load is too high and I need to back off a little and take a day or two off (and maybe not push so hard next time), or that something else that impacts arrhythmia is under stress and needs review. Obviously, this is personal to me and anyone taking on exercise should seek clearance/advice on their own condition. I also think that although the arrhythmia may be more regular if I am exercising more, the intensity and duration of the arrhythmia is lower, and exercise (for me) seems to moderate it and make the whole thing more bearable.

Hope this helps and hope you make it back to running some day soon!

[CambournePat]

Thanks that's really helpful advice. I shall try going for brisker walks and see what happens.