Brandane
Legendary Member
- Location
- Costa Clyde
Hopefully there might be a heart specialist out there to help with this!
At the age of about 35 I was diagnosed with an atrial fibrillation. That was 15 years ago, and since then I have been taking 2 x 100mg tablets of flecainide acetate (Tambocor) per day. Done mostly all the recommended stuff like avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and generally trying to keep a bit fitter by cycling. All was well until last week, when the medication seemed to stop working!
I got an emergency appointment with a Doctor (not my regular Doc) who basically told me that he would refer me for an appointment with the Cardiologist, and if things get any worse then get myself to A&E. I told him I had been for a 30 mile cycle the day before, and he told me to avoid strenuous exercise until this sorts itself out. I asked if a gentle 20 mile cycle on the flat would be OK, but apparently not . I do not feel unwell, just the odd missed heartbeat every 15 minutes or so, and a slightly washed out feeling.
I am just wondering whether cycling (or any other strenuous exercise) is a good idea with this underlying condition. My understanding is that Flecainide Acetate has some sort of beta-blocking effect as well, thus limiting my heart rate (I don't wear a monitor). I always wondered why my fitness level doesn't seem to have improved much despite cycling about 12k miles in the last 3 years!
At the age of about 35 I was diagnosed with an atrial fibrillation. That was 15 years ago, and since then I have been taking 2 x 100mg tablets of flecainide acetate (Tambocor) per day. Done mostly all the recommended stuff like avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and generally trying to keep a bit fitter by cycling. All was well until last week, when the medication seemed to stop working!
I got an emergency appointment with a Doctor (not my regular Doc) who basically told me that he would refer me for an appointment with the Cardiologist, and if things get any worse then get myself to A&E. I told him I had been for a 30 mile cycle the day before, and he told me to avoid strenuous exercise until this sorts itself out. I asked if a gentle 20 mile cycle on the flat would be OK, but apparently not . I do not feel unwell, just the odd missed heartbeat every 15 minutes or so, and a slightly washed out feeling.
I am just wondering whether cycling (or any other strenuous exercise) is a good idea with this underlying condition. My understanding is that Flecainide Acetate has some sort of beta-blocking effect as well, thus limiting my heart rate (I don't wear a monitor). I always wondered why my fitness level doesn't seem to have improved much despite cycling about 12k miles in the last 3 years!