First, let me say that I've read horror stories (including death) and success stories involving A-Fib. I even read about a triathelete who was successfully cured and how he mostly kept physical during his time leading up to and after his operations.
Yes, fitness training. I'm a 36 year old male whose always been active. I played the little league sports, soccer, baseball, and also roller speedskating. I stopped skating in high school and I have recently picked it up more seriously as of the second week of 2007. On April Fool's day I competed in the Walt Disney World Inline Marathon. Yes, that's 26.2 miles. I had a respectable time of 1:40. I have been diagnosed with A-Fib. If I sit back and think about it, I can remember feeling heart arhythmias (SP?) as far back as 1997...ten years ago. It has only this year become so frequent as to make me short of breath at times. It has become a regular occurrence for my heart to "skip a beat" or something similar every minute or two. I was first on a King of Hearts Express heart monitor and when I returned it and the cardiologist analyzed the results, he said its just PVC, nothing to be worried about, avoid caffiene and other stimulants. Well, he send me home with a Holter monitor and did a 24 hour recording. They called me back after I turned it in and sounded concerned. They said to come in Monday morning (this was Friday afternoon at 4:30 no less) and get on Coumadin because I was in A-Fib. Ok, did that.
I found out that at least two of my first cousins have A-fib and an aunt as well. I think my grandmother had it too. A-Fib is supposed to be very rare as a hereditary condition but it looks like it got us all. I don't think diet is similar enough between any of us to consider that as a link. This is also, so I'm told, bad news for any real hope of having a permanent cure from ablation.
I've been training as a speedskater since week 2 of this year as I mentioned. That includes at least 1.5 hours of indoor skate practice (sprints, pacing races, etc.) twice a week and often one outdoor skate practice that is mostly pacing. I originally went to the doctor because I was frustrated that sometimes I'd feel short of breath just sitting around. I figured I'm in good shape and this shouldn't happen. Well, I started the Coumadin and told the doc that he'd pull my cold dead body off the skate floor if he wanted me to stop skating. They said that I could continue as long as I was wearing my helmet (always). However, since starting the Coumadin I've been to three practices. Each time, my muscles tend to tighten up and I feel like the power and strength I previously felt is all but gone. My endurance is also much lower. This brings me to my question.
What impact should Coumadin have on exercise and physical performance? Is the oxygen carrying capacity of blood also impacted by its being thinned out? Are there any things I can do to counter act this without negatively impacting the theraputic effect of the Coumadin?
Thanks in advance,
Jeff
A-Fib Coumadin and fitness training.
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