Arhythmia

Posted By M Gallagher on October 11, 1998 at 16:15:37:







I am a 42 year old male who has been athletically active since childhood.
Last year I passed out while sprinting for a ball.  I was subsequently taken to the hospital where I had a series of VTAC runs that night. I was dianosed with idiopatatic cardiomyopathy. An MRI indicated slight enlargement of the right ventrical. My ejection fraction was 37%.  The EP study could not reproduce the VTAC.  Currently I have been taking 200 mg of Cordarone w/15 mg of zestril because of high blood pressure. After 12 months my only episode of VTAC was in the hospital after the administration of Sotalol which dropped my resting heart rate from 50 to 38.  The frequency of PVCs has been significantly reduced. I have a few questions
1. How is it that I could have been so athletically active and not have presented any symtoms (symptoms) until last year if this problem was congenital?
2. I have had several stress tests and have been monitored during low to moderate exercise with no apparent irregularity (below 110 bpm).   I would like to step up the exertion level but I have  no confidence that the VTAC will not reoccur therefore I have abstained from all sports.  Is there a way to determine what level of exertion would trigger the VTAC, or is it entirely random?
3.  The Cordarone I am taking seems to be working but is very hard on my system.  I am looking forward to finding an alternative to control my ahrythmia.  My Doctor says that ablation is not an option and that the Sotalol had a severe adverse effect on me.  Are there any other new alternatives?