[biggles3]

I would like to chat with others who take medication or have had ablation for A-fib or similar conditions, with regard to continuing athletic activity. I am treated with Propafanone and Verapamil to control paroxismal A-Fib and am trying to evaluate the effect of these drugs on strength and stamina. I am male, 52 years old and working hard to maintain excellent cardiovascular conditioning. In particular, I am wondering if abandoning medication in favor of ablation might be a good idea.

[heartdoc]

Fatigue : Both medications are known to cause fatigue which I believe you are able to ovecome with exercise.

Medication vs Ablation : Radiofrequency ablation has become more available and success rate is getting higher than in the past. You are young and taking medications for rest of the life is diificult. Though ablation is an invasive treatment, you may consider consulting Electrophysiologist, a subspecialist of Cardiology .

[biggles3]

Heartdoc; thank-you, the advice is much appreciated

[UMCanesRKW]

Hi. I am a 41 year old athlete with persistant A Fib. I have been cardioverted 3 times, each trying a different drug, Flec, Rhtmol and now Tic. Personally I am trying to beat this without the ablation. Or at least delay it a bit longer. I have spoke with many specialists and feel that I rather take a few pills for a while unil this procedure is perfected. I hear they are woking on some major advanced using robotics for this procedure, so a couple years it might be nuch more safe and effective. Or maybe they find a newdrug?

[cparys]

I felt the same way, finally had to have ablasion, it worked awesome for six months then it returned, back on lopressor now, still able to run 1/2 marathons for now anyways. There was a important break through at the mayo clinic where they found the gene that causes AFIB.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/47764.php

[GV_Man]

Hey, how is your A-FIb going, i am recently diagnosed. I'm 19 years old, a full time student at Grand Valley State University, don't smoke, don't drink, never done drugs... I excercise, I'm currently on flekanide or something, and lopressor. Doing the ablation in december, i was wondering if you had that done, and what it was like? Thanks guys, God bless
-Matt

[strat_attack]

i am 40 and have been living with tach, fib and flutter for about 15 years. On Flecainide and Toprol which worked great for 10 years or so but it drives me crazy that they keep switching drug manufacturers and lately have been symptomatic again. I had the ablation about 12 years ago or so and it didn't do a bit of good. Sorry to say that, I don't know what the success rate on those but in my case, symptoms returned right after I left the hospital. I wouldn't consider myself an athelete but I'm pretty good about regular cardio. Usually a half hour 6 days a week. Not sure how much good it does for the arrythmia, per se but I guess it would be a bad idea to have heart disease and arrhythmia at the same time, right? I read somewhere that about 1 in 2000 or so have irregular rhythms. Most common heart problem in younger people. I wonder how long I can expect to live sometimes but doctors don't like to answer that question for some reason. Dealing with this had definitely changed my perspective on life.