Hi,
If this board is still live, plese get in touch with me. I'm a former Cat 1 with 8 seasons in Europe behind me and I too recently underwent ablation for V-tach. I am now a journalist and am putting together a piece about arrhythmias and elite athletes. I'll keep an eye on this board to see if you respond and give you my name and contact info.
Thanks
cc
Good luck. If you run into trouble finding a specialist, post here again and I'll try to help you further. I have good connections in the SF Bay Area cycling community, which has a lot of guys who have had heart related issues, so there is a lot of experience with various cardiologists. I know you're in Vermont, so hopefully you can find a nearby specialist - but don't let distance be a factor if you can't find who you need. My cardiologist here in Phoenix is also excellent and may be able to help, too, as well as my surgeon - who I know does a lot of athletes in the SF Bay Area.
I still ride, a few thousand miles a year. I'm on a beta blocker now, which really puts a ceiling on your aerobic and anerobic levels, but it's better than not riding at all, so I have no complaints.
Thank you SO much for your thoughtful reply. I truly appreciate it and will look into your suggestions. I understand that not all arrythmias are curable but I am not satisfied with the answers nor the attention I've been given from doctors during this struggle. Anyway, I hope you still get out on your bike.
Thanks a million!
Hi, I was a amateur racer for many years before I found I had an ascending aortic aneurysm - had surgery and fixed it, but I don't race any more.
It sounds like you've already done a lot of smart things towards trying to identify the cause and a solution to your tachycardia problem. I have no idea of who your doctors are, but if I were in your situation, I would go to a cardiologist who specializes in treating athletes. You should contact the OTC in Colorado Springs and speak with their chief physician to help you locate a specialist. I also suggest you contact Dr. Rob Schott in Sacramento, he's a cardiologist who is also a bicycle racer, very knowledgable, he may be able to locate a specialist for you. It also wouldn't be a bad idea to contact the Cleveland Clinic to discuss your case. A specialist working with arrhythmias in athletes will know the best electrophysiologists with experience in this area.
Good luck with your problem. I know you are not willing to "live with it" as a solution, but you should be aware that not every arrhythmia problem is solveable given today's understanding and technology. I personally know several high-level cyclists who have either been taken off the bike or had to change their perspectives on what they could do as a result of non-resolvable arrhythmia conditions. That said, there's no reason for you to accept "living with it" until you're convinced you've done everthing possible.