19 year old healthy college student with exercise induced Atrial Fib.

[surfdude57]

MY son is getting very frustrated that he is unable to run even at a slow pace without going into atrial fib. Dr. prescribed Inderal prn for A-fib without conversion on it's own. Sometimes my son takes it because his HR is 150 for 30minutes after a run and the Inderal does convert him. IT has been on year, he has taken Inderal only 5 times. But he is wondering if their is something else to do or just stop running completely.

[pvcchris]

Howdy!
I'm 21 and have had exercise induced A-fib (life long competitive swimmer that turned to Triathlon, but that was before the episodes) but i am lucky as all that has been a constant return is PVCs and some short runs of NSVT.  I feel for your son i really do : ( to me it felt like the end of the world!  Exercise and health literally define who i was in addition i found it great fun!  I would say go back (or go to an electrophysiologist and a cardiologist) and voice your concerns and ask for more options.  If exercise is something he enjoys (and just doesn't do it to look ripped for the ladies) i would look for more alternative and effective routes for maintenance or treatment.  You only live once so he might as well enjoy life (reasonably of course).  And if things are getting much worse i would look into an ablation, i haven't had one myself but if you do some research it seems pretty safe with a great success rate.  I wish him the best of luck.  Its a f-ing bummer to be so young with heart problems.  I spent a lot of time depressed and being scared to do stuff.  Im still terrified to do stuff but i have a different attitude about it.  Hope hes coping well, i really do.

[cindy707]

I am sorry that your son is going thru this...i know its a tough one...been  there definately done that one too many times.  I tend to agree w. Jerry on this one...i understand the theory of the doc giving you a pocket pill like Inderal for when the events happen however...to me it would seem like a short term solution since the issues are not abating.  And yep when i went to the gym my issues kept popping up after the work out which is pretty common.  I used to have a very extreme case of atrial fib....(towards the end my pulse rate was moving into the lower 300's) .  It is pretty much up to the doc to determine what his treatment plan is here and hopefully the doc that you are talking about is a heart doc not a family doc.  There are alot of options out there for your son,,,,lifestyle changes, meds, non invasive surgery, invasive surgery, all of it but i would think using Inderal PRN would not be addressing the issue but just give him short term relief.  I was told by my heart doc that if things started to get progressive we would have to address the issue...it happened we did and for myself that part of my life is over with.  In taking the meds 5X a yr. obviously means that he is having issues every other month and if the episodes are becoming closer and closer time to help him get his life back and do something about this.  If you have more questions we are all here for you but this is no way to live your life trust me and it feels great when you get your life back.................<3

[Jerry_NJ]

I am not sure I understand.  Are you saying your son takes Inderal only when he detects AFib?  I am not much of a roll model because of the difference in age, but I can say when I was in my 50s and still running for exercise my AFib was controlled by taking an arrhythmical drug every day.  In my case electrocardioversion had to be used to convert me, but once converted Propafenone (generic Rythmol-like) held me in NSR for long periods of time (18 months or so).  If the AFib is lowering the quality of life a young person should consider talking to a cardiologist about an Ablation surgery.  This can cure/fix the problem, and leave the patient free of further medication.  I have not had an Ablation.  I was willing, but my doctors were not, because of my age and the minimal symptoms I have to deal with.  I no longer run.