Questions posted in the
Heart Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
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Subject: Re: Ventricular Tachycardia Two years ago at age 38 I was training for the the Canadian Ironman Competition (Swim 2.4 miles/Bike 112 miles/run 26 miles), my fitness level was at it's peak. During a 100 mile bike ride my heart rate jumped up, and I was not able to finish my ride. Hours later I finally went to emergency and after unsuccesfully attempting drugs to reduce my 200 plus heart rate I was cardioverted back to normal. Now two years later I have been through scads of tests, had two failed ablasion attempts, many, many episodes of sustained ventricula tachycardia. Through all this I have continued to try to exercise, it seems as though my metabolism has changed or something and I keep gaining weight (now up 25 lbs). They have tried several types of drugs that did not control the vtach the latest efforts have me taking sotalol three times a day (80 mg.) to reduce my heart rate way way down and then they put in a pacemaker to raise my heart rate to a normal level. Now when under any type of exertion I am gasping in oxygen debt. Note that my heart is in otherwise excellent condition two seperate MRI's and a biobsy show my heart muscle is fine. Venous and arteriol E.P. studies are good. Any suggestions, any new studies, anyone having the same problems so that I can attain some type of regular quality of life? ____ Dear Susan, thank you for your question. It sounds like you've been through quite a lot in the last two years and that you have had a significant change in your quality of like since the ventricular tachycardia (VT) was diagnosed. Since you mention that your cardiac MRI and heart catheterization were normal, I do not believe that you have a structural heart defect nor coronary artery disease that has caused the VT. Sotalol is an appropriate medication to use for VT and pacemakers are sometimes needed to prevent bradycardia (slow heart rhythm). There are new techniques for "mapping" the focus of VTorigination in the ventricles that are being used here at Cleveland Clinic in the last year. This approach may be the next best step for you as a way to plan a future ablation attempt. Dr. Greg Kidwell is the electrophysiologist at Cleveland Clinic who is performing these mapping techniques and he would be happy to see you if you are able to travel to Cleveland. To arrange an appointment with Dr. Kidwell, call 1-800-CCF-CARE and ask to be connected to his office. If you are unable to come to Cleveland, please write back and let me know where you live so that I can look into hospitals closer to you that may be performing this mapping technique. I hope this information is helpful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Specific diagnoses and therapies can only be provided by your physician.
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