heart diagnosis help

This is my first time writing here, so i hope i explain myself well.....i am 51 y.o. male, i compete in tennis on a national level and am in very good shape...I have noticed on occasion as early as my 20's that after a vigorous run, my heart would start racing and not stop till i layed down and focused on making it stop (just 5 minutes or so), then it happened a few times in my 30's and 40's....but over the last year is has gotten much worse. It always has ocurred during me playing in a tennis tournament under stressful conditions. I would go into tachy mode while playing my match and it would not stop till after the match ended. The longest that i was in an episode was probably around up to an hour. i went to a specialist and after doing the 2 week halter they said i have paraoxysman atr fib and supraventricular arrythmias....i was told that i am the perfect candidate for the ablation and was referred to the doctors....my question is.....i currently take atenolol and a small dose of only 25 mg/day, sometimes 50 mg if i am feeling more stress.......i know that i need to bump up the dose as i get closer to playing a tournament and i dont necessarily care for the side effects.......so should i have the ablation or should i try to live with my minor episodes and just take more meds as needed or try a different med before i seek the ablation route.....or is there a wholistic route i can explore first.......i hope i explained myself well enough....thanks,hal

You'll probably get various responses. I chose ablation earlier than later, for reasons similar to yours. Was haunted by an inability to compete or even train without triggering ever increasing episodes. That was among the best decisions I've ever made. Literally got my life back. First ablation worked for 6 months, then needed a "touch-up." Touch up did nothing, but then I found the magic of supplementation. Now at 2 1/2 years of NSR and counting. I can do anything athletically, eat and drink indulgently (on occasion!).

Others will point out that ablation is not risk free. Life is not risk free. While you might want to spend a few months with "the strategy," I wouldn't delay too long. If I had it to do over again I would have had an ablation a year or two earlier. It is key to go to someone good. If you choose the ablation route, their are many on this board who can advise you in this regard, and Hans has good studies indicating the most skilled EP's.

Good luck.

If you go for an ablation, do some research and find the absolute best operator you can!!!!

Afib ablation requires as much art skill as science. At the very least find someone who does at least 200 afib ablations a year.

In the US, my vote would go to [andreanatale.com]

i have seen topics of supplementation, but some of the subject matter goes over my head....what is the basic entry level supplementation that i should look into taking......thank you.

Hal,

If you haven't already done so, I would suggest that you begin by reading our frequently asked questions at [www.afibbers.org].

The basic supplementation protocol is potassium and magnesium (provided that your kidney function is not compromised). You can find the recommended products along with dosages in my vitamin shop at [www.afibbers.org].

For further reading on supplementation for afibbers I recommend reading The Strategy at [www.afibbers.org].

Hans

Steve,

You stated, "First ablation worked for 6 months, then needed a "touch-up." Touch up did nothing, but then I found the magic of supplementation."

I'm just wondering why you are recommending an ablation when you say the touch up didn't work but supplementation does. Could you explain this?

Thanks.

Nancy (Windstar)

Wouldn't supraventricular arrythmias be more serious or am I confusing terms?

I had a tennis friend that had WPW-SVT. His ablation was successful. SVT is right sided and AF is left sided and AF is much more difficult to ablate so I suggest making sure that you really have AF instead of just SVT. As George stated, look for a center that does a high volume of ablation procedures. I can't imagine playing tournaments with SVT. You must be quite a player and you will even be better after you get it fixed. Best of luck.