Hi, I'm a 57 year old male swimmer with atrial fibrillation taking rhythmol twice a day. (I'm in sinus rhythm most of the time.) I also do a 2,800 yard workout four times a week and aspire to NQT for the 50 and 100 freestyle.
I can't seem to get straight answers from my cardiologist. He says that it is fine to swim, but deeper questions are beyond him.
For example...
Is it OK to really press myself in my workouts?
(I'm out of breath at the end of some of my sets, but who isn't?)
Should I be thinking of long even swims rather than sprint swims?
(I do mile and two mile open water swims, but they're not very exciting for me.)
I'm fighting for breath sometimes during my sets. Is this just a matter of conditioning, or is there a direct link to the a fib?
I have the low side of normal blood pressure. Is there any relationship between blood pressure and whether people are better constituted to be sprinters vs. distance swimmers?
Any information from M.D.s and/or others who have heart conditions would be appreciated.
See you at nationals!
I had an attempt at an ablation with 2 local cardiologists. They were not able to get my heart to beat irregularly under anesthesia so they could identify the problem. It was very disappointing. I then went to a doctor at a university teaching hospital who had a great deal of experience. My a-fib was not dangerous, just interferred with my lifestyle (swimming/racing). I did not stay in a-fib, it would flip out of rhythm for a few hours, then flip back. I had no symptoms and no medication (except aspirin) for over a year after the ablation. Then I had several short incidences and one extendend one. I had to have a conversion and then they put me back on 2 medications. Several months later I was able to stop one (that suppressed my heart rate). The one medication I am still on does not seem to have any side effects for me. I feel the best I have in years and am training and racing well.
My teammate went to a teaching hospital also. He is also doing well. Again, it was a lifestyle nuisance more than a danger with the a-fib. It seems the cardiologists don't think the ablation is always necessary. I think it was necessary for my well-being. I think it is only a week or two out of the water.
Betsy
I had an attempt at an ablation with 2 local cardiologists. They were not able to get my heart to beat irregularly under anesthesia so they could identify the problem. It was very disappointing. I then went to a doctor at a university teaching hospital who had a great deal of experience. My a-fib was not dangerous, just interferred with my lifestyle (swimming/racing). I did not stay in a-fib, it would flip out of rhythm for a few hours, then flip back. I had no symptoms and no medication (except aspirin) for over a year after the ablation. Then I had several short incidences and one extendend one. I had to have a conversion and then they put me back on 2 medications. Several months later I was able to stop one (that suppressed my heart rate). The one medication I am still on does not seem to have any side effects for me. I feel the best I have in years and am training and racing well.
My teammate went to a teaching hospital also. He is also doing well. Again, it was a lifestyle nuisance more than a danger with the a-fib. It seems the cardiologists don't think the ablation is always necessary. I think it was necessary for my well-being. I think it is only a week or two out of the water.
Betsy
