Atrial fibrillation

I’ll pony up and offer my participation as a non-AF subject, but with wonky training-induced test results (ECG and nuclear stress tests).

Thanks @mattscardiostuff.

Hope to participate. Heart problems (including AF) run in my family, but I have not displayed any symptoms yet.

No known AFib episodes here, but happy to participate in any way I can.

Had 1st episode of AF whilst cycling in Dec 18. Knew straight away what the issue was as have 5 or 6 other cyclists in my Saturday bunch ride who have had it (mostly 45-60).
After numerous episodes had one that started on a stressful day at work &, after 11 days, decided it was time to get reverted. Didn’t go that well - went into asystole for 42 seconds - luckily I didn’t know about it.
At that time decided it was time for an ablation. Had a standard pulmonary vein ablation (was in a randomized double blind study comparing standard vs more aggressive ablation - found out which group I was in after 12 months. Took twice daily single lead ECGs for 12 months post ablation.
Have had 2 echocardiograms - one early on to check for issues prior to Flecanide Tx and one 12 months post ablation as part of the study.

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they used Adenosine?

Defibrillator

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I’d sign up for someone that hasn’t had AF (at least I dont think I have!).

Also based in Vancouver FWIW.

I do not have A-Fib. I have had multiple EKGs (I’m a paramedic, so I also perform and interpret them in the field, and of course we do them on each other from time to time.). So, if you’re looking for people to take part without a history of A-Fib, I wouldn’t mind. I also had an echocardiogram, which was normal, but other than that, I don’t know much about the results, and it was about ten years ago.

I’m in the Midwest USA.

That’s very scary

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Hi Matt,
Interesting subject . My husband experienced it for the first time in a 10k running race. He was an elite masters over 60 runner, and did high intensity interval training. He had been a runner for 15 years with no problems. It was very scary and his heart was way above maximum, and he couldnt keep running. He had another episode while training on the track a couple of weeks later. He saw a specialist and they got him to wear a monitor for 24 hours. It turned out he had another attack during the night but want aware of it. He gave up competitive running at that point, and couldnt be persuaded (by me) to have surgery to cure it (if possible).
I am 64 and runner, turned cyclist. I train high intensity on TR and race mountainbike and cyclo x. I also do some extreme challenges eg. ultras, and bikepacking . I have read that pushing your body for many many hours can cause heart damage/death in some cases. Forgive me if Im talking rubbish). I have met 2 others who have experienced the same as my husband Both are over 50 and train hard. I have not experienced it and would be happy to be included in your research . Sadly my husband cant take part, as he died a few years ago (not from heart failure)

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I’m glad to participate. No AFIB, but several ecg’s over past few years.

I’m happy to help out. No formal diagnosis of AFIB, but I’ve experiences numerous bouts of rapid heart rate (>250) while on the bike. I’ve been through a stress test, calcium score, and holter monitor.

I would be interested to assist or participate.
I do not have atrial fibrillation.
I am also in the Vancouver area.
I have a curiousity and slight concern in the long-term with limited awareness of this condition in endurance athletes (I have connection to someone who works in the areas of cardiac failure and a-fib in Fraser Health).

Would be happy to participate!

I’ve been having episodes for the last 2.5 years (I’m 40 now). Been seeing a couple of cardiologist who advised me to detrain. For 12 months, I stopped completely endurance training and switched to strength training. I saw very little improvement to the recurrence of the episodes. I am getting an episode once every 2 or 3 weeks and an episode lasts usually for 2 days sometimes 3 (more or less). My HR isn’t super high when having an episode ~75-85bpm resting but is super irregular. I’m super tired and trying to run jack up the HR to 170 very quickly on super easy jog.

It’s been impacting my training and mental health training a lot. I’ve tried everything from arginine, magnesium, Q10, taurine etc… Did nothing.

I’ve tried to identify the triggers but it’s been pretty random except drinking alcohol which almost trigger an episode.

I’ve tried to find what could stop an episode as well and that’s where it’s super interesting for me right now! When I get an episode, if I do a strength session then the episode stops!!! I’ve managed that’s for the last 3/4 months and I’m super happy about that! I used to scrap weeks of training if I was getting an episode on the wrong day… But now I can manage the episode within a day.

Sorry for the rant but I’ve been meant to post about this finding but couldn’t find the time…

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could very well be that you basically do a vagal maneuver when lifting stuff

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Thanks all for your comments, stories and willingness to participate.

There has been tremendous interest despite only asking a week ago.

As far as next steps, ideally we would have everyone have an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram) to see their heart function, take a survey and then examine their workout regimens (this is the real strength of using TR is that we all are doing similar structure and based on our own FTP). This may not be feasible for reimbursement reasons (for the ultrasound).

As an aside I had an echocardiogram last week that showed that my left atrium (where AFib starts) is large…Does that mean I will get AFib?

There are so many questions that we can answer as a community. Let’s continue to see how much further interest there is to make sure that we can answer these questions.

Thanks again and I will keep in touch via this forum
Matt

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Quite possibly. I’ve tried multiple times different vagal maneuver without much success. Holding breath, breathing through a straw, massaging the vagus nerve a the neck level…
It feels like it’s the combination of holding breath with a slightly elevated HR (but not too much).

I’m unsure tbh… I know I’m doing the exact same strength session now every single time now :slight_smile:

The impact is so big that if I discovered that if I was running in blue shorts it would trigger less episodes… I would wear blue shorts day and night!!

you can try the modified valsalva maneuver, which I think will be closest to lifting and got a high success rate to bring you back into sinus, but check with your cardiologist to get the ok beforehand :slight_smile:

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Burp.

:+1:

That’s the one with the legs raised right? I tried on my own but without much luck… I might try to ask my boss at home to lift my legs next time