About 15-20 years ago I developed this thing where my heart rate suddenly jumps to 180-220 beats per minute. Originally used to last 5-15 minutes. Now lasting up to 8 hours. When it first started happening it would occur about once every year or 2. Suddenly early July this year it started happening once or twice a week. Turns out to be supraventricular tachycardia. I have had 3 visits to the Emergency room in the last 3 weeks. Am working with a cardiologist and this coming Friday, the 20th I am going into have an ablation done on my heart. Ablation is where they go in through a vein in my leg up to the heart, find the bad nerve endings causing this and cauterize/fry the nerve endings that are causing the arrhythmia. Am told I can start light exercise after a week, but nothing strenuous for 3-4 weeks. And no flying for a full month after the ablation. I am bummed but on the bright side, after the ablation there is 95-98% chance of it never happening again. That is worth more than not being able to hunt this year!
I saw a couple cardiologists back in my 30's, but at the time they had no means to fix it. Learned about the SVT ablation procedure after my second stint in the ER last summer. Cardiologist said my options were SVT ablation or daily metoprolol for the rest of my life. Was told there is roughly a 90% success rate. Most non-successful ablations occur because they fail to trigger the SVT during the procedure and therefore can't locate the problem nerve. Very low chance of complications...so signing up for the procedure was pretty much a no-brainer.
Cardiologist worked inside my heart in the morning and I ate dinner at home that same evening...pretty amazing. The problem nerve was on the right side. Had it been on the left, likely would have required an overnight stay. Its been ten months now and no further episodes. So far, so good. Have two bowhunting trips to Alaska planned for 2022. There was a time last year, I thought such trips would never be possible again.
Best of luck for a smooth and successful procedure on the 20th!
I am also on metaprolol, but that med has not been too kind. It has affected my balance as well as made me dizzy for about 10 seconds every time I stand up. Also has made me extremely fatigued...so much that I am sleeping 12-15 hours a day, plus made my hands have swelled some. I will be glad when it is over and i can get off the metaprolol.
That said, I felt great when I woke up. Heart was in rhythm and no metoprolol in my system. I worked the next day (desk job). Received the same instructions as you...no flying for a month, no strenuous activity for 3-4 weeks (they specifically mentioned no heavy lifting ). Told me to wait a week to shoot my bow...and I was back in a treestand with doctor's approval eleven days after the procedure.
Best of luck Eric!
He only found one spot on the right side of my heart and zapped it. The procedure was done outpatient, and I could tell a big difference before I left the hospital. I had the ablation on May 8th but couldn't return to working out until the valve surgeon's original 3 month mark (June 18th).
On a side note. one of the unadvertised side effects of Metoprolol is thinning hair, so keep an eye out for that. Talk to your cardiologist about switching meds at the first sign of trouble.
Good Luck with your recovery, and feel free to PM me. Gregg J.
Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery.
The woods and mountains await.
Will a medical procedure letter from your cardiologist allow you to have tags next year?
Absolutely, the right priority.
I'll pray for your surgery/recovery, body and soul.