I was recently diagnosed with a Long Q Rhythm. I'm wondering if there is anyone else out there with this problem.
My Dr. recommends Beta Blocker and no more racing. He also commented that I've had this condition all my life so I'll probably be ok.
I would like to PM with anyone out there who is swimming with a similar situation. I am feeling very conflicted and would like to talk to someone in the same boat.
I read the paragraph about the sisters who swam in Nationals with a Long Q diagnosis, in fact that article motivated me to go to the electrophysicist (sp) and get this checked out by a specialist.
I understand this might be inherent to being in medicine (and having to give out unwanted and frightening diagnoses all the time), but sometimes medical people seem to lack the ability to really put themselves in the shoes of someone getting these diagnoses.
Yes. We get it. There is a risk - though no one can say how great. On paper it's been proven. Ok.
So, think about being over 45 with three successful pregnancies, a bunch of marathons or years of swimming at an elite level and intense activity levels for years after that. Think about how it is to not have symptom one of any kind of problem and to be told that suddenly you are this fragile creature who needs to live in fear of what might happen. Can you see how incredibly annoying, frustrating and creepy this diagnosis is? At this point in the lives of people like Robin and I, is there any greater danger of death from LQTS than there is of driving on the highway?
Can you really say you'd just up and quit swimming if this happened to you???
Without a doubt I would quit swimming and find an activity carrying less risk. That is just me, and i would never impose my opinion on someone else. I'm not sure what you expect doctors to say or not say. Would you prefer that the EKG result not be divulged to the patient? Or the patient to be told " you have Long QT but don't worry about what it is"?
You are probably familiar with Pete Marovich, no? He had anomalous coronay arteries I think. Great athlete, no problems until he dropped dead well into retirement. Past health does not always predict future events.
Your argument about how death can happen from anything else is flawed. Yes, life can throw danger in our direction daily, via mundane and necessary activities. But it is simple math that the more risks you throw in, the greater the chance of death. If I do motocross jumping AND I am a police officer or fire fighter my risk of death is higher than either alone. Another way to think of it; since i could die in a traffic accident, does that make the risk of driving drunk meaningmess?
I personally try to limit myself to life's unavoidable risks. If swimming to someone is unavoidable or the equivalent of oxygen to him, by all means swim. If you can be happy in life finding other activities, quit. I love basketball but quit playing pickup ball because a sprained or broken ankle would be incompatible with my job in the ER. Simple as that.
I understand this might be inherent to being in medicine (and having to give out unwanted and frightening diagnoses all the time), but sometimes medical people seem to lack the ability to really put themselves in the shoes of someone getting these diagnoses.
Yes. We get it. There is a risk - though no one can say how great. On paper it's been proven. Ok.
So, think about being over 45 with three successful pregnancies, a bunch of marathons or years of swimming at an elite level and intense activity levels for years after that. Think about how it is to not have symptom one of any kind of problem and to be told that suddenly you are this fragile creature who needs to live in fear of what might happen. Can you see how incredibly annoying, frustrating and creepy this diagnosis is? At this point in the lives of people like Robin and I, is there any greater danger of death from LQTS than there is of driving on the highway?
Can you really say you'd just up and quit swimming if this happened to you???
Without a doubt I would quit swimming and find an activity carrying less risk. That is just me, and i would never impose my opinion on someone else. I'm not sure what you expect doctors to say or not say. Would you prefer that the EKG result not be divulged to the patient? Or the patient to be told " you have Long QT but don't worry about what it is"?
You are probably familiar with Pete Marovich, no? He had anomalous coronay arteries I think. Great athlete, no problems until he dropped dead well into retirement. Past health does not always predict future events.
Your argument about how death can happen from anything else is flawed. Yes, life can throw danger in our direction daily, via mundane and necessary activities. But it is simple math that the more risks you throw in, the greater the chance of death. If I do motocross jumping AND I am a police officer or fire fighter my risk of death is higher than either alone. Another way to think of it; since i could die in a traffic accident, does that make the risk of driving drunk meaningmess?
I personally try to limit myself to life's unavoidable risks. If swimming to someone is unavoidable or the equivalent of oxygen to him, by all means swim. If you can be happy in life finding other activities, quit. I love basketball but quit playing pickup ball because a sprained or broken ankle would be incompatible with my job in the ER. Simple as that.
