Good for you, OGF.
The LGI is the regional cardiac specialist centre for Yorkshire, so I’m sure your quack (another English term for our foreign viewers! - different thread) will be an expert in the field.
I hope all goes well with your appointment this evening, Bob….
Hi
I hope things went well for you Bob.
This is my Cardiologist.
He literally saved my life twice and he can be quite blunt.
By quite, I mean very.
I have a list of things I can’t do any more because they will kill me.
I also have a list of things I can still do.
Life is not that bad.
He also has a sense of humour, which is good.
Thanks JB, Mags and Swim, your support is much appreciated…
I arrived for my appointment in good time, so good in fact, there was time to take advantage of the Mr Whippy van in Roundhay park just up the road…
The doctor explained how my heart had gone well above the expected rate during the recorded run, and it would be dangerous to continue running until something can be done. Scar tissue following my two heart attacks could be to blame, and an MRI scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) would be needed to investigate further. Done privately it would only be done as a package of treatment and would cost in excess of £15,000 …:shock:
He suggested that I could continue down the NHS route following his recommendation for urgent treatment. All of his findings would be presented to the cardiology team at Sheffield Northern General, where he is sure they would treat it with the urgency it required.
Because of my intolerance to beta blockers, there are a couple of treatments that could be considered. Ablation (recommended); Where the faulty electrical path in the heart causing the irregular heart beat is burned out, Or a Pacemaker and Defibrillator.
The option to do nothing should not be considered…
So I await contact from the Northern General on how to proceed, meanwhile, no running…However, walking with a heart monitor can be done in reason…
There’s walking and there’s walking OGF.
I suspect you’ll end up Nordic style and push boundaries a little.
Friend of mine at school was born with a hole in his heart and told that he should avoid strenuous exercise. He became an avid football player and won a few local squash tournaments.
Still going strong.
Hi
Good for you OGF.
It is not a disaster and you can have a good quality of life.
Running is not on, but can be replaced with sex three times a day.
Good luck with that Mrs Foxy.:-p:-p:mrgreen:
:shock:
Hi Bob 
that doesn’t sound too bad.
I have refused an ablation on a number of occasion in spite of being pushed to have one one by 2 Electrophysiologists I won’t go into my reasons why I refuse to have it .
I would have a pacemaker if I get to the stage where I can’t cope any more on medication.
One word about Ablation. is is intended to improve quality of life it is not a cure and many people have a number performed . If you do go down the rout of having a procedure I suggest doing some research and make sure you have an experienced team doing it someone like Professor Schilling who is hugely experienced in Ablation.
You can ask for a referral from your GP to see him at Barts in London or anyone else with lots of experience.
Patients can ask their GP for a referral to St Barts. We are happy to see patients there under the NHS but do need a GP referral (because it is the primary care trust that the GP works for who pay for your treatment). Most GPs are very helpful and are happy to do this but in the rare instance they are not it pays to be insistent because you are entitled to a choice in your treatment
info on Schilling here…
Good luck Bob whatever you decide
Thanks Dex, that sounds very encouraging. I will go out as often as I can but be sure to wear my heart monitor for the time being…
Thanks Swim…I think…
But I’m not cutting down my sex from six times a day to three just because of an over excited heart…
I know what you mean about the hot weather though, I go for my walk as early as I can because I’m not able to do sod all once it gets hot…
Phew!..:cool2:
A friend of my brother in law is head of cardiology in a London hospital. He describes himself as a glorified plumber!!
Anyway, I’d imagine that having to give up something that you’ve grown to love would create its own adverse effects.
Thanks Meg…:hug:
I’ve looked ablation up on the net and it doesn’t always have the desired effect does it.
The doctor did point out the risks involved and I’m wondering if I might be worse off that I am now. I have to face the fact that running is not a safe activity for me anymore… But it will be a small price to pay if I can can remain fit and healthy in other less strenuous ways.
I might even be able to avoid surgery by living a more sedate lifestyle. I expect the Hospital to be contacting me soon and will welcome a second opinion after the MRI scan. And I agree with you Meg, I shall do lots of research before making any rash decisions…As most members on the forum know, I am not known for making rash decisions…
Hi Bob I won’t say too much on Ablation I don’t wish to influence your choice one way or another…
Knowing you any decision you make will be after careful consideration.
Some years ago when I first experienced serious problems and discovered my scarily symptomatic arrhythmia was progressive (many have no symptoms) I did lots of research and found the LEGACY study in Australia .
In line with the study I changed my lifestyle by losing weight/cutting out alcohol / eating an even better diet than my already good diet/ avoiding stress/more sleep /gentle excercise . I think I managed to halt the progression for a couple of years and can tolerate my current episodes rather than opting for an invasive procedure unless I really have to.
Bob you are slim and fit already so any the adjustments you make to lifestyle would be small.
I am watching all the new treatments being trialed and hoping I can last out long enough to befit from one of them
Thanks Meg, I am hoping that just by stopping running I might be able to postpone the inevitable, pending the feedback from Sheffield of course. I feel good most of the time apart from the tiredness some of the time, and am loath to put that at risk by unnecessary surgery or medication. Question is: would any treatment be unnecessary?
I sincerely hope that both of us will be having this conversation in 20 years time…Good luck with the search Meg…:hug:
I think Meg’s given some very good advice Foxy.
Sometimes it takes someone who has the problem themself, to understand more.
Good luck, and take good care of yourself. x
Well OGF, it’s good to see that you’re still determined & have so much support in here, and that you’re heading in the right direction to see some resolution to your dilemma even if it does mean no running for now.
So my fingers remain crossed for you and here’s hoping your NHS wait isn’t too long, though it does at least sound promising.
Sending you my best wishes.
Hi Bob depending of course on your full diagnosis and your Consultant some treatment may be necessary to prevent a worsening condition, stopping running may not be enough .
Something that is obviously important is avoiding a decrease in your stamina, you are clearly very fit now and it would not be good to lose that.
Walking is good ‘fast enough to talk but not sing’ as they say and I am sure the consultant will come up with a plan for moderate excercise.
I could never give up my daily walks not just because of physical stamina but from a well being mental health point of view, I might go mad if I had to :shock: :-D.
After a busy time at work the first thing I did on getting home was change my clothes/walking shoes on and out across the fields.
I hope you don’t have to wait too long to see the consultant Bob…
Thanks Mups, that’s the beauty of the forum, you get the chance to talk to someone with similar problems and compare notes…
Thanks Zaphod, I appreciate your support…
Thanks Meg, you sound a lot like me, after a busy day at work I couldn’t wait to get home and change into my running kit. Sometimes I was so tired while driving home, but as soon as I got running out into the country all my tiredness melted away and any problems were solved. I will welcome a second opinion from the team at sheffield and perhaps a way to exercise safely in the future…I think I’ll stick to the heart monitor instead of singing Meg, singing wouldn’t go down so well with the neighbours at six in the morning…
OGF, think I’ve got the pace record, on a global scale, so, before health issues intervene, I may stand back also.