This thread started by DnvrFox is easily the most significant thread I have read here or anywhere else on the internet. I have suffered a few rather wide spread incidents over the past three years, and as I delved deeply into it, I was amazed to discover the number of very good local athletes with the same experience. As you are well aware, a good aerobic athlete is more apt to suffer AFIB and HVT than a "normal" person.
As an aside, a good friend of mine who is a very successful bicycle racer underwent an ablation procedure in January which rid him of his problem. He has been back successfully racing this season.
My first incident in 2004 (I have suffered a total of 5 over the years) was scary enough to bring me to the emergency room, but fortunately I went out of AFIB prior to getting the medication they were about to give me. Probably very stupidly, the last time I suffered an incident, I went for a two and a half hour bicycle ride while in AFIB. I found it amusing that my heart rate would actually go down when I was climbing.
Another fascinating subject that gets rather involved is the difference in ecocardiogram readings between the regular population and highly trained athletes. I, for example, was flagged for my allegedly high Isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT). Research showed that a study of elite soccer players in Europe indicated that those athletes had IVRT readings well above the so-called normal reading. The secret is to enlist the services of a physician who is well aware that he is dealing with a super normal rather than sub normal patient.
Some of you might remember Dr. George Sheehan, the famous running cardiologist who other than being a world class runner, was also the running editor for Runner's World. He was a teammate of mine on the Shore AC, and once gave me a stress EKG. I was an active airline pilot at the time, and George said that my EKG reading might flag me as a cardiac case with my airline. He indicated that I had a super heart and only one of two that he had seen in his many years as a cardiologist. He indicated that the medical profession unfortunately is used to dealing with sub normal - not super normal. He further indicated that he would intervene on my behalf should I ever have an issue. Fortunately, I never did.
It is complicated out there. One must be one's own medical advocate and do extensive research. For example, when I broke my neck in a bicycle race in October 2005, the Orthopaedic physician I was seeing wanted to fuse my C1 cervial vertebrae to the base of my neck relegating me to a permanent 50% loss of neck mobility. I did my research and found a chap that proceeded without surgery. I ultimately healed and went on to break all of the FL state time trial records for my age group. Had I taken the "expert" medical advice, I would be incapable of even riding my time trial bicycle.
A forum like this is a wonderful place to exchange information, but after this long winded diatribe, I to want to thank DnvrFox for his candid and helpful information. It was fascinating following his case at the time, and it was very exciting when it came to a very successful conclusion!