Posted by Carl Plaskett on April 03, 2002 at 08:41:49:
In Reply to: Lone AF, Steady State Exercise, and the Maze Procedure posted by L. Paul Teague on April 02, 2002 at 14:51:55:
Paul: First, I must join Tom in acknowledging your contribution to my decision to have the Maze after searching for answers as to "why me?".
While I never enjoyed running, I did start swimming for exercise at age 31, became competitive, then addicted to heavy workouts, with lots of sprints and interval sessions. When triathlons came on the scene, I took up biking with the same intensity, and even began to run some.
Like you, I took the same vitamins/supplements for years before I even knew they were anti-oxidants. I was really upset that my heart had "failed" me after all of my exercise.When I finally learned,from one of your posts elsewhere, that aerobic exercisers seemed to have a much higher than normal incidence of afib, I was elated to know that I wasn't alone.
I do believe that there must be something genetic involved as well, since I know so many runners/swimmers/bikers (including some who are physicians and even cardiologists),who have not developed afib. There must be something in our physiology which is different.
One thing I remembered was that, back in the '60s, I couldn't understand why I had an unusual sensitivity to electricity. In the winter I had to slap at door knobs to prevent getting a shock from static electricity, sparks would zap my elbows if I got to close to metal, like the corner bead in plaster walls. I would get really strong shocks from touching electrical tools,etc., which others could freely handle. I stumbled upon an article about/by Jack Dreyfus (Dreyfus Funds), who had experienced the same things, and finally discovered that Dilantin corrected it, and cleared his mind. Subsequently, Dreyfus founded the Dreyfus Medical Foundation, and for years has funded studies into the curative effects of Dilantin.
I started to take it in the mid '60s, and for several years, never had the "shocking" experiences of the past. For some reason, I stopped taking it by the '70s, and never thought much about it until I learned that afib was an "electrical" problem. My cardiologist dismissed the connection, and said Dilantin had been used "years ago" for arhythmia disturbances, but there were "better" drugs now.
After years, of those "better" drugs wrecking my life, I found the Maze, with the help of you and others, and I am also CURED.I am curious if any other afibbers or mazers ever thought that they were more sensitive to electricity than others. Perhaps aerobic exercise and the effects suggested by Dr.Lee are the "straw that broke the camel's back" among some of us? Any Responses?
Oh, and thanks again, Paul.