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.
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.
Didn't mean to antagonize. It just seems very easy to sit on the outside of a situation with dispassionate and clinical opinions. It's a whole different animal when you are going through it.
Like you said, it's a matter of personality and priorities. I have just found medical people to be very dismissive of the real personal struggle this situation causes when evaluating what should be done. The cut-and-dried easy answers seem dismissive, anyway. Apologies if I offended.
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.
Didn't mean to antagonize. It just seems very easy to sit on the outside of a situation with dispassionate and clinical opinions. It's a whole different animal when you are going through it.
Like you said, it's a matter of personality and priorities. I have just found medical people to be very dismissive of the real personal struggle this situation causes when evaluating what should be done. The cut-and-dried easy answers seem dismissive, anyway. Apologies if I offended.
