Training after an ablation

[Halfdoesyn]

Sorry for the hijack but I would also like to hear from someone about training while on beta blockers, doc wants to prescribe them to me for hypertension.

 

According to my GP, the use of beta blockers for the treatment of hypertension MAY cause you to feel tired if on a regular training program. That is part of the reason I'm now on an ACE inhibitor in stead.

 

Obviously, other conditions may mandate beta blockers.

[Blue Monster]

i was 48 years old when I had my ablation in March 2016, two days after CTCT.  Highly successful.

My first ride was a 45km cradle ride, at about 70% threshold, 10 days after op.  I rode at this intensity for about two weeks.  I did my first Suikerbosrand ride three weeks post op.  I did my first 100km ride 5 weeks post op.

 

I have not been medicated since my op.  I am low to no risk on the stroke profile.  My surgeon is also a cyclist, and did the Cape Epic the weekend after my op.  Cycling docs tend to have a different outlook on things.  He said keep it slow, when I can sit on a saddle, and build up from there.

 

During my treatment, the year before my op, i was on beta blockers for about 4 weeks.  I landed up with a resting heart rate of 42.  If i stood up, I would have to wait 10 seconds before walking.  Cardiologist took me off them and followed another protocol, that keept things stable for about 11 months.

 

I have been ring flat out since then and race VC when I get a chance, and have taken up mountain biking since December.

[montyzuma]

There are various options but they are dependent on whether you have any underling cardiac pathology, what form your AF takes, whether it is continuous or paroxysmal, whether it happens at rest or is provoked by exercise, etc etc.

 

Giving up exercise can reduce incidence.

Detraining can reduce incidence.

Meds can reduce incidence.Whether you are prescribed rate controllers (eg B-blockers) or rhythm controllers (eg Tambocor) depends on underlying pathology.

 

None of those options are particularly attractive to lifelong athletes (the individuals most at risk!)

 

However the bottom line seems to be that ablation is the best option in most cases, especially athletes who want to exercise again.

[Help.Me.]

i was 48 years old when I had my ablation in March 2016, two days after CTCT.  Highly successful.

My first ride was a 45km cradle ride, at about 70% threshold, 10 days after op.  I rode at this intensity for about two weeks.  I did my first Suikerbosrand ride three weeks post op.  I did my first 100km ride 5 weeks post op.

 

I have not been medicated since my op.  I am low to no risk on the stroke profile.  My surgeon is also a cyclist, and did the Cape Epic the weekend after my op.  Cycling docs tend to have a different outlook on things.  He said keep it slow, when I can sit on a saddle, and build up from there.

 

During my treatment, the year before my op, i was on beta blockers for about 4 weeks.  I landed up with a resting heart rate of 42.  If i stood up, I would have to wait 10 seconds before walking.  Cardiologist took me off them and followed another protocol, that keept things stable for about 11 months.

 

I have been ring flat out since then and race VC when I get a chance, and have taken up mountain biking since December.

If you don't mind who is the surgeon. Very informative thanks

[Blue Monster]

Dr Ruan Louw, Midstream Midiclinic.

Real nice guy, with state of the art equipment.

 

I was on Tambocor for the 11 months leading up to my ablation.  I started getting some of the side effects, so we planned the ablation for after CTCT.  Managed to sub 3 it, so was worth the wait.

 

It took a few months to get back to normal strength, but no ill effects since the op.

 

My AF was primarily triggered by exercise, or soon after.  I did have my worst one while watching TV, but this was while on beta blockers, and before Tambocor.

 

For most of the last year I have been training 5 days a week, and has some of my best results, and power profile since before the op.  In my case was definitely worth while.

 

One thing I did learn from the HUB and forums in general, if you are an athlete, see a doctor who understands what that entails, and preferably is an athlete as well.   

[Help.Me.]

There are various options but they are dependent on whether you have any underling cardiac pathology, what form your AF takes, whether it is continuous or paroxysmal, whether it happens at rest or is provoked by exercise, etc etc.

 

Giving up exercise can reduce incidence.

Detraining can reduce incidence.

Meds can reduce incidence.Whether you are prescribed rate controllers (eg B-blockers) or rhythm controllers (eg Tambocor) depends on underlying pathology.

 

None of those options are particularly attractive to lifelong athletes (the individuals most at risk!)

 

However the bottom line seems to be that ablation is the best option in most cases, especially athletes who want to exercise again.

Yes i do think that ablation is the best option , pills and their side effects is not worth it.... as i sit here i am tired, my eyes are dry and i tend to see funny patches. This is only 4 days on 5mg Bilicor. Hopefully i can convince my doc to send me for an ablation ?!

[Fitbull]

Quick update from my side.

 

I also went to Dr Ruan Louw at Midstream Mediclinic for my ablation. I had the op done at the end of November and the advice was to take the first 2 weeks off and rest and I could then start cycling again but had to keep it easy for the rest of the month of December with rides no higher than zone 2 and no longer than 2hrs max. I kept well away from my zone 2 max in this time.

 

The first week back on the bike was a bit "challenging" and I felt very flat managing to do 8hrs for the week. I then decided to take an additional few days off rather than pushing things and allow for a longer recovery process.

 

I then started back and did 2 weeks of easy riding and this time round felt much better. After the first week I was back in the flow although still only riding zone 2. I started to ramp my training up again from the first week of January which was 6 weeks after my op. So far things have gone really well and I am now into doing longer sessions(4 - 6hrs) on weekends and intervals during the week.

 

As montyzuma mentioned previously they dont consider you "cured" until after the holter ECG at 3 months. I am still only at 2 months but I am feeling great thus far and have not had any major re-occurrence of AF. I did have some uncomfortable feeling/arrhythmia post op but this is to be expected but it was always very brief(less than 30 mins). I also put this down to over eating a few times which seemed to create the uncomfortable feeling like I had an air bubble in my chest. I also wonder whether it was perhaps caused by the drugs they give you post op, when I googled the side effects of the drugs, heart arrhythmia is one of the side effects listed and the uncomfortable feeling/arrhythmia always seemed to occur within 1-2hrs after taking the meds.

As an avid cyclist I can only recommend this op to anybody who feels like AF has become a hindrance to their lifestyle. For me this was purely a lifestyle choice and nothing further. I had paroxysmal AF which I originally tried treating with beta-blockers(sota-hexal) but one of the side effects was fatigue on longer rides as well as not being able to maintain higher power outputs for extended periods. The real problem for me was the beta-blocker did not completely stop the AF and I still had recurrences which cut my Berg and Bush short as well as Wines2Whales. Going forward I want peace of mind that I can enter stage races without having to worry about missing a day due to an AF episode.

 

My only regret is not listening to the first cardiologist I went to who told me to go for an ablation but rather delaying and trying beta-blockers first. If you have the option I would highly recommend going for the ablation as a long term "cure". I say cure here because it is not successful in all cases but go and see a cardiac electrophysiologist it may be your answer to what can be a very frustrating condition.

Not where I was before the op but I am getting stronger all the time.

[Help.Me.]

My procedure is booked for the 10th September with Dr. Lorgat in Cape Town.

[webs]

I'm on Calcium Channel blockers since Feb. 

It helped my PVC's until 3 weeks ago. 

Now it's back, worse than before.

Can't train as i use to. Feel dizzy and out of breath. Even when climbing stairs.

Seeing my cardio on Friday. Hopefully he can  do an ablation.

 

Can you get your fitness back as normal after the ablation?

Worried that I won't be able to compete again.