Atrial Fibrilation

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Da Big Guy May 2012 5:35pm, 19 May 2012 403 posts	0 Da Big Guy Anyone had atrial fibrilation? How bad, How often, how long does it take to go, what causes it for you, what treatment do you have. I had AF fir the first time on Sunday in the Chester half after 9 miles. I had to walk, then resumed at a jog (still with AF). I coul dhave raced the last 1/4m but almost walked it. 10s after crossing the line, HR was 120 and stayed there until A&E started treatment about 60 mins later. It took at least 10 hrs to return to normal, At the moment I have decided not to have any mediaction and will see how it goes, running slower. Will be interested in anyones experiences.
Scottynbn May 2012 5:53pm, 19 May 2012 2,769 posts	0 Scottynbn I got it 3 days after my first 10k in May 2008. Ended up in hopsital for 24 hours, got various bags of drips attached until it went back to normal (around 18 hours later). I was cycling 3 days later and running again 2 days after that. It was never proven to be connected with my running as it happened so long after the race itself. I started training for my first half marathon (Gt North Run in October that year) and got a final all-clear from the consultant in the August. I still get the occasional fluttery feeling after particularly strenuous races and have had it all checked out again, but all is fine. On average I run 25 to 30 miles a week and cycle around 80 miles upwards so I seem to be fine now
macca53 May 2012 12:31pm, 20 May 2012 16,180 posts	0 macca53 I suffer from AF. You have f-mail
MH May 2012 1:42pm, 20 May 2012 94 posts	0 MH I have it too. For me it goes in phases and there are periods of time when I would be in AF most of the time. I'm assuming you have been cardiology and had all the appropriate tests? (if not, you should). Happy to detail more on fmail if you like. However, I don't run when in AF, which the cardiologist agrees with. Also worth bearing in mind that AF can be a bit of a catch all term.
JohnnyO May 2012 9:33pm, 20 May 2012 12,945 posts	0 JohnnyO AF is very variable and different people suffer to varying degrees. The main risk is related to turbulent flow of blood caused by the irregular heart beat which can cause the blood to clot which can then cause strokes. This is rare and usually only a problem for people who are always in AF, not flitting in and out (paroxysmal AF). In terms of running, well it has the potential to limit your VO2 max and hence your maximum effort, hence you might be slower. For now, the big issue for you is that running might trigger the AF, which is clearly affecting you. I think you should take it easy until you have had a chat with your doc and preferably a cardiologist. Make sure they know you want to run, not just Poole around Sainsburys and mow the lawn. Medication options are not unlimited, but better than they were. I would imagine you were recommended beta blockers. These would possibly slow you down even more. There are options for very aggressive treatment, but these are reserved for the cases where the AF is particularly limiting. I think your approach of taking it gently for a while is sensible. It may never come back, but don't be afraid to ask your doc for more help if it recurs.
SpeedyMel May 2012 9:56pm, 20 May 2012 2,015 posts	0 SpeedyMel I have/had it. Something I've had most of my life, but had a really big attack in 2009. Was between 140 and 160 for 3 hours. I had to lay own and it was the longest I ever had to endure it. I was fitted with a monitor surgically which I still have, and prescribed beta blockers, which I didn't take. This did coincide with me starting running, but I was fat and unfit back then, and I have only had a few minor episodes since, and instead of being prolonged it just kind of jumps out briefly and jumps back in again! I think it has improved as I have got fitter. It's not something that really bothers me any more. Need to get the monitor taken out, but not a hospital fan, should have come out a year ago!!! An ice cube on the back of the neck or wrists pops it back in if it's not bad.
Iris May 2012 10:12pm, 20 May 2012 4,746 posts	0 Iris Not me but my Dad. He's had it for about 25 years, maybe more. He has the sort that JohnnyO talks about- constant rather than in and out. He's been on warfarin and digoxin all that time and will be for life, they even tried shocking his heart back into rhythm but it wasn't successful. He's not a runner but he's in pretty good shape generally and it hasn't really had any adverse effects on his life.
macca53 May 2012 3:23pm, 29 May 2012 16,188 posts	0 macca53 I thought I'd had a couple of very short episodes in April but went to see the cardio yesterday with my Garmin traces and she said they weren't long enough to really tell whether they were episodes or not - so they are going to try to induce an episode basically by sending me away with a permanent monitor for a couple of days with orders to run as much as I can and as hard as I can This they swear poses virtually no risk to my health. I'll let you know what happens......(hopefully;))
DrDan May 2012 4:07pm, 29 May 2012 962 posts	0 DrDan I had SVT (not AF) and eventually had an ablation (which cured it 100%). I had a thread about it here ... runnersworld.co.uk ... which includes contributions from a few folk who had AF. I was also hooked to a 3-lead ECG gadget up and told to run. I recorded two episodes, one in the Pudsey 10K and another when getting off my bike at work. I was also put through a stress test on a treddie with a 16-lead ECG but I didn't go tachy, despite hitting my max HR. I tended to go tachy on downhill stretchs, while recovering just after a hard section ... or when getting off my bike. A typical HR trace is here: http://www.fetcheveryone.com/gallery-showphoto.php?filename=23931_29754.jpg
plodding hippo May 2012 6:00pm, 29 May 2012 42,461 posts	0 plodding hippo Speedy mel, it sounds likely that you wil hav had SVT too, not AF Good luck Macca