Re:A Fib begins afer excercise

April 22, 2004

Have you had a stress test during excercise to confirm your suspicions that

you only get AFTER excercise (and not during)? I'm only wondering as I also

thought I got AF after exertion/exercise, until I went on a treadmill stress

test.

Although I couldnt feel it, my cardiologist who was watching the heart rate

print out as I paced, told me when I went into AF, and I couldnt tell while

excercising.

I have no explanation as to why I dont feel it while I am excercising but I

sure do afterwards!

I wondered if it is triggered simply because as you put the body under

duress, it pumps with certain hormones and chemicals, which may trigger a faster

heart beat or stronger heart chamber contractions etc. If that is the case

then the fitter we get, the more physical duress the body will take before it

releases stress hormones etc.......so that MAY be why your cardiologist thinks

the fitter, the less Afib?

Just a personal thought, not a tested theory!

It's a darn nuicence as I feel wary of excercise and I used to enjoy being

fit, but like you, feel that some excercise still has to go ahead, Afib or

not. My cardiologist said I should excercise, Afib or not....so although I am

apprehensive, I do still do things that I know are virtually guaranteed to bring

Afib on..but I need to, for my qualitry of life.

Im trying to ignore the Afib but sometimes its easier than others, and it

makes me feel like NOT exerting myself at all.

Haze , 47yrs, UK, Plavix, Cardicor.

============

In a message dated 22/04/2004 14:47:21 GMT Standard Time, trudyjh@...

writes:

> In a message dated 4/21/04 8:39:16 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

> cleaner@c... writes:

> I'm one who

> gets a-fib after exercising, not during. So I get worried I'll do

all this

> exertion and then get it after we wrap up for the day.

Me, too. Has anyone figured out/found out why this delayed effect?

I asked my new cardio last time, and we got sidetracked into a

discussion where he said if I were in better physical condition I'd

have fewer afib problems. (I am trying to exercise more, and have

lost 20 pounds, 38 to go.) I've heard different things about whether

better physical conditioning helps afib, but it's obviously good for

other reasons, so it's worth a shot.

April 22, 2004

In a message dated 4/22/2004 3:37:01 PM Central Daylight Time,

whisper2Uxxxx@... writes:

It's a darn nuicence as I feel wary of excercise and I used to enjoy being

fit, but like you, feel that some excercise still has to go ahead, Afib or

not. My cardiologist said I should excercise, Afib or not....so although I am

apprehensive, I do still do things that I know are virtually guaranteed to

bring

Afib on..but I need to, for my qualitry of life.

Im trying to ignore the Afib but sometimes its easier than others, and it

makes me feel like NOT exerting myself at all.

Haze , 47yrs, UK, Plavix, Cardicor.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Good for you Haze I'm glad you are able to not let afib mess up your life.

Early on when I had afib full time, and didn't know it, I quit wearing my heart

rate monitor so it wouldn't depress me. I didn't have the stamina that I had

earlier but I still rode my bike and played tennis.

Guy

April 22, 2004

> In a message dated 4/22/2004 3:37:01 PM Central Daylight Time,

> whisper2Uxxxx@a... writes:

> ... but like you, feel that some excercise still has to go ahead,

Afib or

> not. My cardiologist said I should excercise, Afib or not.......>

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> Good for you Haze I'm glad you are able to not let afib mess up

your life.

> Early on when I had afib full time, and didn't know it, I quit

wearing my heart

> rate monitor so it wouldn't depress me. I didn't have the stamina

that I had

> earlier but I still rode my bike and played tennis.

> Guy

Haze and Guy, the thing that worries me about exercising into afib is

the " afib begets afib " problem. What are your thoughts/experience

with this? It sounds like our cardiologists agree, but they aren't

the ones with afib :-)

April 22, 2004

> Have you had a stress test during excercise to confirm your

suspicions that

> you only get AFTER excercise (and not during)?

Actually both things can happen. (In my last stress test I threw 0

pacs and 0 pvcs and went into afib about ten minutes after the test

was over.) This afternoon I made a heroic :-) effort to mow the

grass with a push lawnmower (the guy was I hired to cut the grass has

vanished from the planet) and soon stopped when it was clear this was

a mistake, but have been " fragile " the rest of the day.

April 23, 2004

Good for you too Guy!

Your encouragement feels good. It's certainly an isolating condition,(despite

so many overall sufferers!), so it's nice to feel someone who has it,

understands!

I think that it is maybe because we look okay and there is nothing visibly

'wrong', that others expect us to be as we always were. Of course that must

help in some ways, to keep our expectations of ourselves as near normal as

possible, and I want to be as I was and hope one day that ablation will take me

back

there.

I admit I used to play tennis, and havent done since the stress test showed

excercise triggered the Afib. I admit too, that I tend to do excercise that

doesnt involve a competitive element now, so that I can pace myself and stop if

I feel I want to.

Its the mental attitude I'm working so hard on at the moment..one of 'feeling

normal', thinking 'normal thoughts' and not holding back on going places and

doing things, 'incase' Afib starts, and expecting normal day's activities of

myself. Like you, I have had times when I stopped using my heart rate monitor,

and am trying to maintain 'normality' . I keep hoping that as time passes &

longer I live with it, the more accepting I will be, of it. Do you still play

tennis or ride your bike?

Haze

In a message dated 23/04/2004 02:38:06 GMT Standard Time, guygooch@...

writes:

> Good for you Haze I'm glad you are able to not let afib mess up your life.

> Early on when I had afib full time, and didn't know it, I quit wearing my

> heart

> rate monitor so it wouldn't depress me. I didn't have the stamina that I had

>

> earlier but I still rode my bike and played tennis.

>

April 23, 2004

Good for you too Guy!

Your encouragement feels good. It's certainly an isolating condition,(despite

so many overall sufferers!), so it's nice to feel someone who has it,

understands!

I think that it is maybe because we look okay and there is nothing visibly

'wrong', that others expect us to be as we always were. Of course that must

help in some ways, to keep our expectations of ourselves as near normal as

possible, and I want to be as I was and hope one day that ablation will take me

back

there.

I admit I used to play tennis, and havent done since the stress test showed

excercise triggered the Afib. I admit too, that I tend to do excercise that

doesnt involve a competitive element now, so that I can pace myself and stop if

I feel I want to.

Its the mental attitude I'm working so hard on at the moment..one of 'feeling

normal', thinking 'normal thoughts' and not holding back on going places and

doing things, 'incase' Afib starts, and expecting normal day's activities of

myself. Like you, I have had times when I stopped using my heart rate monitor,

and am trying to maintain 'normality' . I keep hoping that as time passes &

longer I live with it, the more accepting I will be, of it. Do you still play

tennis or ride your bike?

Haze

In a message dated 23/04/2004 02:38:06 GMT Standard Time, guygooch@...

writes:

> Good for you Haze I'm glad you are able to not let afib mess up your life.

> Early on when I had afib full time, and didn't know it, I quit wearing my

> heart

> rate monitor so it wouldn't depress me. I didn't have the stamina that I had

>

> earlier but I still rode my bike and played tennis.

>

April 23, 2004

Good for you too Guy!

Your encouragement feels good. It's certainly an isolating condition,(despite

so many overall sufferers!), so it's nice to feel someone who has it,

understands!

I think that it is maybe because we look okay and there is nothing visibly

'wrong', that others expect us to be as we always were. Of course that must

help in some ways, to keep our expectations of ourselves as near normal as

possible, and I want to be as I was and hope one day that ablation will take me

back

there.

I admit I used to play tennis, and havent done since the stress test showed

excercise triggered the Afib. I admit too, that I tend to do excercise that

doesnt involve a competitive element now, so that I can pace myself and stop if

I feel I want to.

Its the mental attitude I'm working so hard on at the moment..one of 'feeling

normal', thinking 'normal thoughts' and not holding back on going places and

doing things, 'incase' Afib starts, and expecting normal day's activities of

myself. Like you, I have had times when I stopped using my heart rate monitor,

and am trying to maintain 'normality' . I keep hoping that as time passes &

longer I live with it, the more accepting I will be, of it. Do you still play

tennis or ride your bike?

Haze

In a message dated 23/04/2004 02:38:06 GMT Standard Time, guygooch@...

writes:

> Good for you Haze I'm glad you are able to not let afib mess up your life.

> Early on when I had afib full time, and didn't know it, I quit wearing my

> heart

> rate monitor so it wouldn't depress me. I didn't have the stamina that I had

>

> earlier but I still rode my bike and played tennis.

>

April 24, 2004

In a message dated 4/24/2004 12:24:19 AM Central Daylight Time,

whisper2Uxxxx@... writes:

I keep hoping that as time passes &

longer I live with it, the more accepting I will be, of it. Do you still

play

tennis or ride your bike?

Haze

Yes I do but not as intensly as I once did . Probably more because of age

than anything. Although I first noticed the slow down when I started taking

atenolol for blood pressure.

Guy

April 24, 2004

In a message dated 4/24/2004 12:24:19 AM Central Daylight Time,

whisper2Uxxxx@... writes:

I keep hoping that as time passes &

longer I live with it, the more accepting I will be, of it. Do you still

play

tennis or ride your bike?

Haze

Yes I do but not as intensly as I once did . Probably more because of age

than anything. Although I first noticed the slow down when I started taking

atenolol for blood pressure.

Guy

April 24, 2004

In a message dated 4/24/2004 12:24:19 AM Central Daylight Time,

whisper2Uxxxx@... writes:

I keep hoping that as time passes &

longer I live with it, the more accepting I will be, of it. Do you still

play

tennis or ride your bike?

Haze

Yes I do but not as intensly as I once did . Probably more because of age

than anything. Although I first noticed the slow down when I started taking

atenolol for blood pressure.

Guy

April 24, 2004

>

> >Yes I do [still play tennis and ride a bike] but not as intensly as I once

> did . Probably more because of age

> than anything. Although I first noticed the slow down when I started taking

> atenolol for blood pressure.

>

Hi Guy, Ahh the beta blocker slower-upper!

You must overall be really fit then with even some tennis and cycling,

despite the Afib.

I'm impressed!

Unfortunately allergies prevent me cycling as I once did.

I also was run off the road by a drunk driver in '98, and apart from a

broken sternum, received back injury that made me lose all feeling in my legs.

Spinal nerve damage was diagnosed, but with intensive physiotherapy, after ten

weeks in hospital, I was gowned up for an operation on my back, when the

surgeon

decided I was showing signs of improvement on the scans.

I wasnt glad that he cancelled so late at the time but it was the best

decision, as today I have no problems, but I did lose my 'habit' of playing

tennis

while I had years of recovery and back pain.

In the summer too mostly, I have allergic asthma which is usually fine

until the pollen count goes up, so I tend to want to limit my exposure to

those lovely summer evening cycle rides I used to be able to take when the

allergies werent so bad.

Those are my excuses! I do wish I didnt have any!

I'm seriously considering moving to the coast where the pollen counts are

lower.

Haze 47 yrs UK, and just a general wreck really that's just keeping on

keeping on!

April 24, 2004

>

> >Yes I do [still play tennis and ride a bike] but not as intensly as I once

> did . Probably more because of age

> than anything. Although I first noticed the slow down when I started taking

> atenolol for blood pressure.

>

Hi Guy, Ahh the beta blocker slower-upper!

You must overall be really fit then with even some tennis and cycling,

despite the Afib.

I'm impressed!

Unfortunately allergies prevent me cycling as I once did.

I also was run off the road by a drunk driver in '98, and apart from a

broken sternum, received back injury that made me lose all feeling in my legs.

Spinal nerve damage was diagnosed, but with intensive physiotherapy, after ten

weeks in hospital, I was gowned up for an operation on my back, when the

surgeon

decided I was showing signs of improvement on the scans.

I wasnt glad that he cancelled so late at the time but it was the best

decision, as today I have no problems, but I did lose my 'habit' of playing

tennis

while I had years of recovery and back pain.

In the summer too mostly, I have allergic asthma which is usually fine

until the pollen count goes up, so I tend to want to limit my exposure to

those lovely summer evening cycle rides I used to be able to take when the

allergies werent so bad.

Those are my excuses! I do wish I didnt have any!

I'm seriously considering moving to the coast where the pollen counts are

lower.

Haze 47 yrs UK, and just a general wreck really that's just keeping on

keeping on!

April 24, 2004

>

> >Yes I do [still play tennis and ride a bike] but not as intensly as I once

> did . Probably more because of age

> than anything. Although I first noticed the slow down when I started taking

> atenolol for blood pressure.

>

Hi Guy, Ahh the beta blocker slower-upper!

You must overall be really fit then with even some tennis and cycling,

despite the Afib.

I'm impressed!

Unfortunately allergies prevent me cycling as I once did.

I also was run off the road by a drunk driver in '98, and apart from a

broken sternum, received back injury that made me lose all feeling in my legs.

Spinal nerve damage was diagnosed, but with intensive physiotherapy, after ten

weeks in hospital, I was gowned up for an operation on my back, when the

surgeon

decided I was showing signs of improvement on the scans.

I wasnt glad that he cancelled so late at the time but it was the best

decision, as today I have no problems, but I did lose my 'habit' of playing

tennis

while I had years of recovery and back pain.

In the summer too mostly, I have allergic asthma which is usually fine

until the pollen count goes up, so I tend to want to limit my exposure to

those lovely summer evening cycle rides I used to be able to take when the

allergies werent so bad.

Those are my excuses! I do wish I didnt have any!

I'm seriously considering moving to the coast where the pollen counts are

lower.

Haze 47 yrs UK, and just a general wreck really that's just keeping on

keeping on!

April 25, 2004

hi

not sure if i am the only member with a broth that also has af.

but I suffer quite badly and constantly ( using sotalol 160) I am

55 yrs old.

My broth. is 59 and also has af, but he has been on Amiodarone

for the past 15 years!!!!!!!! No side effects and lives a totally

normal life, but he is in a different part of the Uk to me, where

they absolutely hate amiodarone.

Neither of us has any other heart probs.

> In a message dated 24/04/04 guygooch@a... writes:

> >

> > >Yes I do [still play tennis and ride a bike] but not as intensly

as I once

> > did . Probably more because of age

> > than anything. Although I first noticed the slow down when I

started taking

> > atenolol for blood pressure.

> >

>

> Hi Guy, Ahh the beta blocker slower-upper!

> You must overall be really fit then with even some tennis and

cycling,

> despite the Afib.

> I'm impressed!

> Unfortunately allergies prevent me cycling as I once did.

> I also was run off the road by a drunk driver in '98, and apart

from a

> broken sternum, received back injury that made me lose all feeling

in my legs.

> Spinal nerve damage was diagnosed, but with intensive

physiotherapy, after ten

> weeks in hospital, I was gowned up for an operation on my back,

when the surgeon

> decided I was showing signs of improvement on the scans.

> I wasnt glad that he cancelled so late at the time but it was the

best

> decision, as today I have no problems, but I did lose my 'habit' of

playing tennis

> while I had years of recovery and back pain.

> In the summer too mostly, I have allergic asthma which is usually

fine

> until the pollen count goes up, so I tend to want to limit my

exposure to

> those lovely summer evening cycle rides I used to be able to take

when the

> allergies werent so bad.

> Those are my excuses! I do wish I didnt have any!

> I'm seriously considering moving to the coast where the pollen

counts are

> lower.

>

> Haze 47 yrs UK, and just a general wreck really that's just

keeping on

> keeping on!

>

April 25, 2004

hi

not sure if i am the only member with a broth that also has af.

but I suffer quite badly and constantly ( using sotalol 160) I am

55 yrs old.

My broth. is 59 and also has af, but he has been on Amiodarone

for the past 15 years!!!!!!!! No side effects and lives a totally

normal life, but he is in a different part of the Uk to me, where

they absolutely hate amiodarone.

Neither of us has any other heart probs.

> In a message dated 24/04/04 guygooch@a... writes:

> >

> > >Yes I do [still play tennis and ride a bike] but not as intensly

as I once

> > did . Probably more because of age

> > than anything. Although I first noticed the slow down when I

started taking

> > atenolol for blood pressure.

> >

>

> Hi Guy, Ahh the beta blocker slower-upper!

> You must overall be really fit then with even some tennis and

cycling,

> despite the Afib.

> I'm impressed!

> Unfortunately allergies prevent me cycling as I once did.

> I also was run off the road by a drunk driver in '98, and apart

from a

> broken sternum, received back injury that made me lose all feeling

in my legs.

> Spinal nerve damage was diagnosed, but with intensive

physiotherapy, after ten

> weeks in hospital, I was gowned up for an operation on my back,

when the surgeon

> decided I was showing signs of improvement on the scans.

> I wasnt glad that he cancelled so late at the time but it was the

best

> decision, as today I have no problems, but I did lose my 'habit' of

playing tennis

> while I had years of recovery and back pain.

> In the summer too mostly, I have allergic asthma which is usually

fine

> until the pollen count goes up, so I tend to want to limit my

exposure to

> those lovely summer evening cycle rides I used to be able to take

when the

> allergies werent so bad.

> Those are my excuses! I do wish I didnt have any!

> I'm seriously considering moving to the coast where the pollen

counts are

> lower.

>

> Haze 47 yrs UK, and just a general wreck really that's just

keeping on

> keeping on!

>

April 25, 2004

hi

not sure if i am the only member with a broth that also has af.

but I suffer quite badly and constantly ( using sotalol 160) I am

55 yrs old.

My broth. is 59 and also has af, but he has been on Amiodarone

for the past 15 years!!!!!!!! No side effects and lives a totally

normal life, but he is in a different part of the Uk to me, where

they absolutely hate amiodarone.

Neither of us has any other heart probs.

> In a message dated 24/04/04 guygooch@a... writes:

> >

> > >Yes I do [still play tennis and ride a bike] but not as intensly

as I once

> > did . Probably more because of age

> > than anything. Although I first noticed the slow down when I

started taking

> > atenolol for blood pressure.

> >

>

> Hi Guy, Ahh the beta blocker slower-upper!

> You must overall be really fit then with even some tennis and

cycling,

> despite the Afib.

> I'm impressed!

> Unfortunately allergies prevent me cycling as I once did.

> I also was run off the road by a drunk driver in '98, and apart

from a

> broken sternum, received back injury that made me lose all feeling

in my legs.

> Spinal nerve damage was diagnosed, but with intensive

physiotherapy, after ten

> weeks in hospital, I was gowned up for an operation on my back,

when the surgeon

> decided I was showing signs of improvement on the scans.

> I wasnt glad that he cancelled so late at the time but it was the

best

> decision, as today I have no problems, but I did lose my 'habit' of

playing tennis

> while I had years of recovery and back pain.

> In the summer too mostly, I have allergic asthma which is usually

fine

> until the pollen count goes up, so I tend to want to limit my

exposure to

> those lovely summer evening cycle rides I used to be able to take

when the

> allergies werent so bad.

> Those are my excuses! I do wish I didnt have any!

> I'm seriously considering moving to the coast where the pollen

counts are

> lower.

>

> Haze 47 yrs UK, and just a general wreck really that's just

keeping on

> keeping on!

>

April 25, 2004

In a message dated 4/25/2004 2:22:48 AM Central Daylight Time,

bbbbbbb_b@... writes:

My broth. is 59 and also has af, but he has been on Amiodarone

for the past 15 years!!!!!!!! No side effects and lives a totally

normal life, but he is in a different part of the Uk to me, where

they absolutely hate amiodarone

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I hope I can be so lucky. I have taken it for 2 years and so far so good. I

take 150mg/day, what is his dose?

Guy, 68yrs

April 25, 2004

In a message dated 4/25/2004 2:22:48 AM Central Daylight Time,

bbbbbbb_b@... writes:

My broth. is 59 and also has af, but he has been on Amiodarone

for the past 15 years!!!!!!!! No side effects and lives a totally

normal life, but he is in a different part of the Uk to me, where

they absolutely hate amiodarone

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I hope I can be so lucky. I have taken it for 2 years and so far so good. I

take 150mg/day, what is his dose?

Guy, 68yrs

April 25, 2004

In a message dated 4/25/2004 2:22:48 AM Central Daylight Time,

bbbbbbb_b@... writes:

My broth. is 59 and also has af, but he has been on Amiodarone

for the past 15 years!!!!!!!! No side effects and lives a totally

normal life, but he is in a different part of the Uk to me, where

they absolutely hate amiodarone

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I hope I can be so lucky. I have taken it for 2 years and so far so good. I

take 150mg/day, what is his dose?

Guy, 68yrs

April 25, 2004

It's certainly an isolating condition,(despite

> so many overall sufferers!), so it's nice to feel someone who has

it,

> understands!

> I think that it is maybe because we look okay and there is nothing

visibly

> 'wrong', that others expect us to be as we always were. Of course

that must

> help in some ways, to keep our expectations of ourselves as near

normal as

> possible, and I want to be as I was and hope one day that ablation

will take me back

> there.

> normal', thinking 'normal thoughts' and not holding back on going

places and

> doing things, 'incase' Afib starts, and expecting normal day's

activities of

> myself. >

******************

Haze, you are so correct when you mention that other people look at

us , and we look normal to them ( my boss says, you are walking and

talking--but he knows another lawyer and a judge in town who have

afib, and he has been really quite terrific with me, as bosses go)

I think you are also correct that other people's expectations of us

seem to help keep us on an even keel. But, sometimes, it just becomes

very hard to go on. As for me, I just try to get on with life. I work

full time, I travel with my husband and friends, lead as normal a

life as much as possible. But there are days that I just curl up into

a fetal position in bed and wait til afib passes. Thankfully, not

many of those days. But it is quite a relief to me to come on these

websites and find support. I also have a wonderful, young, board

certified EP who keeps me going. Fortunately, I am in NSR most of the

time. Yesterday was a beautiful day here in the Delaware valley. I

weeded and mulched and bought geraniums for my two big pots outside

my front door and planted those. Bought some tomato and pepper plants.

Husband says he will till the vegetable garden today. Looking forward

to a week on the the Outer Banks of North Carolina, first week of

June with my husband and my sister and her husband. I have also gone

on cruises to Hawaii and the Caribbean, since I was diagnosed with

Afib in October 2001. I'm looking into having an ablation. Am already

on the list at U of Penn. Will probably check out Dr. Natale at the

Cleveland Clinic. And Dr. Caulkins at s Hopkins, who is doing a

different procedure. It sounds like its more difficult in the UK to

find a good place for an ablation or a good doc, or maybe it is just

your health care system. Anyway, Haze, my best to you.

April 25, 2004