Category: Triathlon Training

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Triathlon Training – Managing Arrhythmia Part 2

Heart NodesToday is an extremely sad day for me…

My waking HR is still all over the place for the last 3 days now – 32bpm to 119bpm. Further research indicates that the drug Verapamil may not always be the way to go in treating arrhythmia, and in fact in the long term may even worsen the condition and increase the likelihood of sudden cardiac death!

I stopped taking the medication and re-evaluated the situation.

My heart specialist also indicated that one or two months of “de-training” may well sort out much of my ventricular bigeminy (low HR).

I feel this should now be my first course of action.

I also have SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia) causing in my case fast HRs up to 240bpm (or more), and the only alternative other than the unacceptable drugs would require heart surgery involving cryoablation (freezing) of heart tissue around the SA / AV nodes that are responsible for the extra signals and high heart rates.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supraventricular_tachycardia

I feel this should be my second course of action (medical aid permitting).

As today is the last day for 70.3 late registrations, I decided that it would be very unwise for me to continue with training for this and IM 2010 until my heart conditions have been properly sorted out.

So basically that’s it for now. I will be spending the next two months trying to get a lot of rest and doing  only light short duration stuff (not more than once a day), and a lot of that mainly Pilates and Yoga. During this time I will also see to getting the surgery done if and when possible.

There is still 2011…

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Triathlon Training – Managing Arrhythmia

Arrhythmic heart rates have plagued me all week, causing me much concern and lost training.

Went for a scheduled 16km run after doing marshaling duty for the ECTA tri development race on Sunday.  Cruised comfortable with HR at 124bpm for 7km before a sudden increase up 240bpm and feeling light headed.

I Walked 500m to settle things down, then started running again and felt something “click” right with a surge of strength and energy and return to normal HR. Nevertheless I decided to cut the long run short after 10km.

So yesterday (Monday 23/11) I went back to my doctor to discuss the whole issue and re-evaluate the specialists report of the examination I had done before going to the WTC in Australia.

The report definitely found no reason for me to discontinue high intensity sport, so the doctor prescribed a very low dose of Verapamil (Verahexal 240 – half tab daily) which is used to manage certain arrhythmia conditions such as mine.

Of interest, it was my own internet research that lead me to this drug recommended by a sports cardiologist:-

http://books.google.com/books?id=VyIgc1udcwUC&pg=PA309&lpg=PA309&dq=doing+sport+with+MVP+and+arrythmia&source=bl&ots=rT6qcjFjY6&sig=pbS0Vyjxa5kR48tSMbBVo9mQgkU&hl=en&ei=MpQFS9zvGcaC4Qb93ZDQCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CA0Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Maybe it was just in the head,  but I felt almost immediate relief with palpitations and HR fluctuations subsiding. Swim session yesterday evening also felt much better and waking HR was a steady 54bpm this morning. As I type now it is sitting comfortably between 50 – 55bpm.

Took an easy 40km ride to Schoenies (with drills) this morning in strong easterly (hey, this wind just doesn’t want to let up!). Time was rather slow with legs feeling quite lethargic (perhaps due to no riding and lots of sitting last week) and I actually battled to get my heart rate up to 124bpm (70%). This of course may also be the effect of the drug…

I have been delaying my registration for the 70.3 being unsure of my injury/arrhythmia/progress allowing me to be ready in time. Friday 27 November is the last day for late registrations, so it is decision time soon. I am still not confident and will need the next 3 days to see how things go….

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Triathlon Training – Swimming and arrhythmia

ORS Race Day 3This is so frustrating!

Been looking forward the whole week to doing the ORS 2km ocean race on Sunday, then woke in the morning with headache, tight chest, cough and marked arrhythmia, and so had to cancel the idea.

Having MVP and associated arrhythmia, my heart is very sensitive to my body being anything less than 100%. I had this thoroughly checked (again) before going to the Gold Coast WTC by a heart specialist, who considers my condition not life threatening, but rather what is known as a “normal abnormality” (about 8% of population have it, and most of those don’t even know).

This is good news if right, but very bad if something is being missed…

So I nevertheless remain concerned about doing open water swimming when it’s playing up, especially in the light of an article I read which states:

“Twenty of the total 25 deaths associated with triathlons as recorded by USA Triathlon occurred during the swim portion of the events. So, what’s the deal with swimming?…

…A lot of suspicion is placed on a peculiar heart rhythm disorder known as “Long Q-T syndrome.” This is a peculiar problem that occurs as heart pauses between beats, and the cells of the heart tissue are getting ready to squeeze again when signaled to do so by the heart’s own electrical circuit. In Long Q-T syndrome, something goes wrong, and during that pause the heart cannot continue beating. For unknown reasons, this phenomenon seems to occur more often during swimming.”

Read full article here: Swimming Deaths and the Triathlon

Mike