Cycling and Atrial Fibrillation.

[Brandane]

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!

 

[fossyant]

A and E.

If you have been OK for a long time, then this starts, then go to A&E. yes you are fit, but the sudden change could mean something, and GPs aren't the best folk for specific problems.

 

[ColinJ]

I don't think that many of us are qualified to advise you, and the odd specialist who might be reading this isn't likely to volunteer much of an opinion online!

I'm interested in the problem though because I developed it big-style when I got ill last summer. The paramedics hooked me up to an ECG in the ambulance and as soon as I got into hospital, the doctors commented that my heart rhythm had irregularities in it. Since then I have had numerous episodes of arrhythmia and a very rapid pulse rate. Fortunately, the frequency and severity of these are diminishing as I recover. I'm still worried that I might be left with long-term problems.

Is a skipped heartbeat 3 or 4 times an hour really a problem? I thought it had to be a lot worse than that before doctors started to worry?

Were you never offered the kind of treatment that Tony Blair had where they zap some nerves in the heart? I thought that I might end up having something like that done if I don't get back to normal, but I wouldn't fancy being on beta blockers long term.

I found a forum the other day which might be of interest to you, though obviously you should listen to your doctors, or change them if you don't trust what they are telling you! Take a look at the heart palpitations forum.

 

[ColinJ]

Oh, er - those comments were more about your longer-term issues. Yes, sudden changes after such a long time - get checked out properly ASAP!

Another thing - are you on Warfarin or aspirin? If not, then that's another reason to get checked out because atrial fibrillation can sometimes cause clotting in the heart and you do not want that!