Hi, I’m new to this and looking for any information or advice people can give 🙂 I was diagnosed with WPW 10 years ago now when I was 14 and have been on Atenolol ever since. The medication has done an amazing job of controlling my symptoms and minimising episodes but of course they are still there from time to time. I have found recently that I am unable to drink alcohol almost at all (not a huge deal to me but just a change I have noticed!). I also find myself wanting to join the gym for example or go for a run with my friends but too scared to do so. The symptoms aren’t very regular but I find it is something constantly at the back of my mind and somewhat holding me back. I have had consultations about having an ablation and am aware of the risks involved which do scare me (even a blood test at the doctors freaks me out!). But I have also read a lot of stories from people who say it’s the best thing they ever did and not a big deal! I guess my question is to anyone who has decided to go through or not go through with it and you reasons behind the decision? Thank you in advance! ❤️
Ablation for WPW??
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Hi Bethany,
I have just recently had my EPS/Ablation on the 26th July. I was diagnosed with WPW syndrome around 18th March 2017 during a routine medical ECG. I had symptoms (tight chest, tachycardias/palpitations/ syncope etc.) before this for roughly 2 years but thought it was due to me being unfit and having exercise-induced asthma so I was taking an inhaler which in fact increased my symptoms. I decided to have my ablation as soon as possible as: I am currently studying Sport Science and Physiology, keen on sports/fitness, don’t want it to limit my future job choices and didn’t want to have symptoms so many times a day! The procedure took around 3 hours for me. During the operation, they will map your heart and find out where about the extra accessory pathway is/are (in my case I had two relatively close to each other on the left side of my heart), they will induce tachycardias which is a bit strange with them controlling your heart with some buttons! If the extra accessory pathways can be ablated this part is quick. This part lasted around roughly 30-60 seconds and is a bit painful, however it is over quickly. After they ablated the extra accessory pathways I was given adenosine intravenously, which can be used as an anti-arrhythmic drug, this was used to check if there were any more accessory pathways for me. This was a very strange experience because this drug will cause the ventricles in your heart to stop for a few seconds, but all the doctors and nurses know what they are doing, have it all under control and were very nice to me.
As for advice for exercising, fortunately a lecturer and researcher in cardiac rhythms/ arrhythmia’s/ adaptions at my university recommended that I buy a heart rate monitor (I bought a Fitbit and found it extremely useful) and to stick to below 65% of my heart rate reserve. Also, to avoid swimming, activities that cause sudden high stress in your body e.g. sprinting, avoid holding your breath when lifting weights etc., and to avoid exercising where you are unable to get rapid medical attention (worst case scenario, although this may be unlikely as the sudden tachycardias/palpitations may revert relatively quickly, it is wise to exercise with a partner in a safe environment with access to medical attention.)
To calculate 65% heart rate reserve, subtract your resting heart rate from your maximum heart rate (maximum heart rate is roughly 220 minus your age), then take 65% of this number and then add this on to your resting heart rate. For me, this was;
– 220-19= 201 (Max HR)
-201-58(RHR)= 143
–> (143 x 0.65 = 92.95)
93+58= 151 BPM,
So, 151 BPM is the number I’d use when I was exercising and make sure I kept below this. I found I could keep a relatively decent level of fitness, and found the more exercise I did, the less symptoms/palpitations I’d get when exercising.
Also, the triggers I found for sudden tachycardias/symptoms were alcohol, caffeine, walking up hills/stairs, standing up quickly, and running. Although when running I would have a high heart rate when just starting and eventually it settled. I avoided alcohol and caffeine completely, although annoying I strongly recommend doing so.
So, in all, light to moderate activity should be okay (under 65% heart rate reserve), ensure you tell your gym that you have WPW and try exercise with a partner, ensure you are well hydrated and nourished before exercising and don’t push yourself too much and stop and sit down if you feel faint etc. I also found that when I stop exercising, this could trigger tachycardias so I made sure to decrease my intensity gradually, I found using the rowing machines, I was able to do a higher intensity without getting a too fast heart rate.
Furthermore, I do not know about the exercise recommendations whilst using Atenolol, so please ask a consultant/GP before doing so!
Personally, I would strongly recommend getting the ablation done, I felt a lot better even hours after the operation. When inserting the catheter into your vein, I barely felt this, you will feel them pushing in or out but this just feels like someone is pushing down on a bruise, the ablation is relatively painful but doesn’t last long, and after you have had it you will get bruising and some chest pain, but I am very glad that I went through with the ablation and don’t regret having it done.
Good Luck!
Thankyou Christopher, that’s so helpful 🙂 I was thinking of getting a fitbit anyway so will definitely do so!
Hey Bethany! I am in almost the same situation as yourself! I was diagnosed just over a year ago and take Verapamil to manage symptoms, although at the moment we are looking at changing medication because it isn’t agreeing with me. I can completely relate to the no alcohol – when I am on verapamil, just one drink makes me so ill. I have alot of previous posts on this website too where people have left comment regarding having the ablation done, so it may be helpful for you to read back on those as well! In terms of you being worried about exercise, I actually work as a Personal Trainer and easily manage my symptoms, so as long as you have the medical clearance, you should be absolutely fine to go to the gym with friends! I just learn to listen to my body, never push myself too hard and always to stop if I am not feeling 100%. I am with you on the Ablation worries though, however everyone on here who has had the procedure has said how glad they are to have had it done. For now, I am happy managing my symptoms with medication, but my Cardiologist has told me that I will definitely have to have the ablation soon! I have done a lot of research into the procedure as well and it is actually pretty minor compared to a lot of heart procedures, so have a read through people’s blogs on here and on the internet! At least you know you’re not the only one with these worries! Like Zenia mentions, once you have the successful ablation you won’t have the worries about drinking and exercise so it will definitely be worth it and of course, you will be in the best hands! I know this isn’t the most helpful post, but just so you know that I feel the same! 🙂
Thankyou for your reply, it’s so nice to know someone else is thinking the same things as me! In terms of your medication I’m not sure if atenolol is an option for you and I know everyone’s different but I’ve been on it for 10 years with no side effects at all so would definitely recommend if it would be suitable! Thats amazing to know that you’re a personal trainer too, I think I might just bite the bullet and join the gym as you say I just need to listen to my body and stop if it gets too much 🙂 I hope everything goes well for you 🙂 xxx
Hi Bethany,
I was diagnosed in 2015 and had my ablation later that year. I was quite lucky in that the extra electrical signal in my heart was on the opposite side of my heart from the normal (sinus) electrical system, so the risks of complications for me were minimal. It almost completely sorted me out (I just have minor sinus tachycardia now, for which I take a low dose of Bisoprolol), so I would say having an ablation is so worth it! Most importantly the ablation will take away your fear of exercise and drinking alcohol, which I know from experience can be so debilitating. I’ve written a few blogs on the myheart forum about my ablation process and what happened after it, so please feel free to give those a read and to ask me any more questions about it. Best of luck with your decision!
Thankyou Zenia, I have read a few of your posts, they are really helpful 🙂 I think I am edging towards having it done, however as I mentioned above they don’t know the area where the abnormality is so can’t tell me how risky it would be, I would feel much better if I knew it was on the opposite side like you! Thankyou for your reply and I will definitely come to you if I have more questions if you don’t mind 🙂 xxx
Not at all! Please do ask as many questions as you need to. It’s tough, living with WPW. We’re here to help xxx
Hi Bethany, I’m a fellow WPWer and had an ablation 5 years ago. I’d had WPW symptoms my whole life but the condition hadn’t been ‘discovered’ when I was tested as a child so it went undiagnosed until I was 26. I decided to have an ablation straight away as was told the risks of not having it were higher than the procedure itself. It’s not a pleasant experience but I’m SO happy I had it done, I have been symptomless since. Happy to go into more gory/recovery deets if you want also. Best of luck!
Thankyou for your reply, you are so brave to decide straight away and go through with it. That’s amazing that you are completely symptom free now 🙂 When you had your ablation were they aware of whereabouts the abnormality was first? I think I’m hesitant as with me they don’t know where it is so won’t be able to say whether it’s a risky area or not until they start the procedure. xxx
To be honest, I didn’t feel brave, it was more that the cardiologist said drugs wouldn’t be a great help as my symptoms were so severe/regular! They did think they knew the area of the abnormality, however during the procedure they discovered it was on the opposite side and a more risky area, so it took 4 hours as opposed to 2 hours which wasn’t fun, but would still absolutely recommend it 🙂 x