Gutted for you mate, but echo other comments

Coaching not an option?

Keep yer pecker up, big lad.
Next bridge coming up.

Not the news that you hoped for as others have said… I’m sure there is a way you can keep in touch with the sports you love, get a solid plan “B” and get that sinto gear… The coaching suggestion might open some doors…

As Druidh said, would be good to see you at Inners on the leccy bike…

he explained that there is 1 more thing that might work, the removal of my av nodes, which are kind of like the hearts spark plugs.
i would be totally reliant on a pacemaker then to keep my heart beating.
he said he thought i was too young for this treatment.

Why not investigate this further.
Would it be a bad thing, having a pacemaker fitted- or is it just a risky operation?
Why does your age matter?

sorry for the naive questions..

Rubbish news Ton. 🙁
Your Afib story has been eerily similar to my mum’s over the past couple of years, except that she is 14 years older -terrible to happen to someone who actually wants to give their heart a good workout.

However, reading Northwind’s post on the first page, I think you should think about doing the opposite of what he did. Thus begins a new dawn of tinkering with and behaving badly on expensive motorbikes. 😀

Reading this whilst feeling really sorry for myself suffering with a severe bout of manflu….. suddenly I don’t feel so bad. Sorry to hear the news Tony, we must get together some time for a natter.

Chin up, big fella.

Gutted for you Ton, but it’s not over yet. New techniques come along all the time and something may come up in a couple of years that will help.

KEEP POSITIVE.

We’re all here for you and we _will_ help if we can. Remember, it’s not over yet.

Hi Tony. I’m really sorry to hear that fella. I’ve mentioned it on here a couple of time before, but my sister is now living fulltime with a pacemaker after discovering she had a life threatening heart condition in her mid thirties. It was either have a pacemaker fitted or, well….the alternative. Three years later she has learnt that all things considered, it hasn’t really impacted on her quality of life at all, and she really misses out on very little. For example, she used to row, but obviously hard upper body stress type sport is a no go, but she can still do swimming. Point is, as others have said, you may find that even though you may not be able to do the things you used to, you may find that there are plenty of other things that are still open to you. I think you’d make a brilliant coach, for example.

I sincerely hope it all works out for you, but chin up, it may yet not be as bad as you might think. Please mail me if you want, and I’ll tell you more about it, if you’re interested.

Sorry to hear the news Ton, when the dust has settled hopefully you’ll be able to find out more info on your options.

Good luck with it all mate.

So, you want the outdoors, some hills, and presumably reasons to pore over kit for hours.

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/sick-as-a-dog-so-show-me-you-bivi-bikepacking-adventure-racing-gear

All that, at a far more civilised pace as well!

There’s plenty out there for you ton, biking or otherwise, chin up.

Sorry to hear that, really shit news. Keep on bringing the sweary northerners videos though 🙂

really bad news, gutted for you. I always find your posts and stories interesting and hope you can find some form of compromise to keep your interests up. I had been feeling sorry for myself as off bike from a foot op, and loaded with the cold……puts things into perspective a bit 😳

*tongue firmly in cheek*

Oh shut up you big moaning ****, you;ve had a more interesting life than 90% of people on here, you played rugby with wally lewis for ****’s sake, you should be proud of what you’ve done and sit quietly in a corner and pay your taxes till you die like a good lad

*tongue removed from cheek*

shit news. thought about a tandem? You’d need someone of a similar size to you to pilot it, and you might need to think about re-inforcing it in that case…

Ton dont know much about afib but my dads on both the drugs you mention after a stent and bypass op following 4 heart attacks between age 33 and 42

He rides his bike with me – he cant give it beans and gets out of breath on hills but using his gears we can do 15 or 20 miles without knackering him for days.

It has taken time to stabilize his medication though innitially doses he was told tomtake were bringing his hr down dangerously low and all he wanted to do was sleep. Or would just lapse into unconciousness.

Fwiw he is probably fitter now than ever – no longer smokes – works less – less stress – regular exercise and better diet now my mums been educated to stop frying stuff

Dont lose faith !

Hey Ton

All we can ever do is make the most of the moments we have, best to focus all your attention on what mischief you can get upto.

Farewell!

Try and stay positive. Kasae spot on.

a big heartfelt thanks to everyone for the positive vibes… 😀

just showed my Mrs the thread, and it made her cry, all the kindness shown to a stranger.

thanks everyone.

I think you should take up swimming 🙄

Grinton 23-5-2010 by Dee P Jay, on Flickr

ton – Member
just showed my Mrs the thread, and it made her cry, all the kindness shown to a stranger.

I’m confused. What stranger is this that you mention?

Obviously he means more strange, rather than unfamiliar.

druidh, she asked me if i had met everyone on the thread, i told her i had met a few, i think she meant kindness from people who i had not met.

and still on for the 31st and looking forward to it too.

Ton,

Being told that you have to change the way you live is never an easy thing. It can be difficult to accept what the specialists say when health is the issue; the fear, the worry, the unknown are all elements that influence your mental state. There is absolutely no dishonour in accepting that you won’t be able to do the things you love any more because of a serious health problem.

But…

If you truly love your cycling, and you believe in yourself, and you aren’t someone who tends to give up, then have some faith. Ask around – research those in the field that are regarded as unorthodox, and contact them; you’d be surprised how different a second or third opinion can be from your original practitioner. I know just how ‘out there’ that might sound, but it’s worth a shot, right?

It’s shit now, but it’ll work out. I believe in your desire to make things happen – it might not be a quick fix, but you won’t back down from the challenge.

It’s not in your nature. Good luck fella!

Sorry to hear that Ton.
I’d echo Bullhearts idea about not giving up.
There is lots of advancements in AF management.
Eg cryoblation & PVAC.
Also the aorta has nothing to do with AF, perhaps Atria? If that is too big then he just needs equipment with greater reach.
The pacemaker option is ok but you are young. The battery will only last around 10 years so it’ll be an operation to replace them each time.
AF is a real pain in the ass to have & to manage but there is always new treatments & drugs coming out, so chin up.
Iain.

Hi Ton,
I’ve never met you or communicated with you before but can really understand how the thought of not being able to do something that you love can seem overwhelming.

Try getting in touch with this guy in the forum post below, I realise you and him might have very different issues but nothing ventured Eh

http://maltonwheelers.17.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=1268

Rich

Iain, sorry i meant the atria. the ablation i had last week, the consultant used a longer and more manouverable probe. he told me that no matter how many times he tried he would not be able to reach.

Bullheart cheers mate, you more than most must know what i am going through.
i wont ever give up mate.

+1 vinneyh and 2wheels1guy regarding the pacemaker.

DOI: I’m a cardiology registrar but obviously don’t know the specifics of your case.

It might be worth talking to your cardiologist again about the AV node ablation plus pacemaker (“ablate and pace”) option. The pros: gets rid of your symptoms. The cons: doesn’t get rid of the AF, so you still need warfarin (but not the beta blockers), risks of a pacemaker (1/100 risk of collapsed lung is the major one), pacemaker needs changed every 8-12 years (so potentially you would need 5 procedures during your lifetime).

You need a serious discussion with your cardiologist about these pros and cons, stressing the effect that the symptoms of AF are having on your life.

Ton – I remember you were thinking of moving up to Scotland. If this is still the case then you have something to look forward to and aim for a slightly different life in nice surroundings.

We all send you a big hug and with the electric bike (or think about the tandem option) we will get you back out on some trails. Just say when and the gang will be more than happy to come and pootle alongside.

Bunnyhop x

legolam, sorry for asking, but when you say ‘gets rid of the symptoms’ do you mean the breathlessness and dizziness ?

That’s shan Ton. Stick in mate…

Sorry to hear that Ton. Hope something further can be achieved as suggested above. Keep your chin up and still keep involved with the two sports you obviously love as much as you can.

Crap news that Ton, thinkin bout ya though.
Jim. (Futtock)

Ton – theoretically, it should get rid of the symptoms caused by the AF driving the ventricles too fast. If the breathlessness is multifactorial eg smoking/weight/heart not pumping efficiently due to other factors, then it may not.

Like I said, it needs a full and frank discussion with the doctors who have all your facts and figures to hand. 45 is young for a pacemaker, but by no means the youngest I’ve done (and I’ve not been at this that long!).

legolam, thanks for your input mate.

Essel, cheers mate.

Ton, i’m gutted for you. Fully look into the options. I know (admittedly older) guy who has had a pacemaker fitted and is still banging in stupid road miles. I really hope you find an answer to this one

Ton that sucks big time.

I hope you find some suitable distractions.

Bloody hell buddy, that not the news I was hoping to hear. 🙁

Keep your pecker up, I know it’s not going to be easy.

Sounds like some gentle DH/uplift stuff may still be doable.

Join us on a private mid week one if you want, you know you are always welcome.

Hope to see you soon

Dave

Dave, booked for inners for 1st of april.
let me know when you have a private one booked, i would love to make one in.
never done one, but i am determined not to let this get on top of me.

but i am determined not to let this get on top of me

The perfect answer 😀

don’t know how many Rob has on this one

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/midweek-uplift-at-innerleith

but a few of us are hoping to go.

AV Nodal Tachycardia?

I knew someone who was very active and went through many problems with such treatment (for AVNRT), she was 20. Ablation can fail many times but I thought that’s why they carry out multiple procedures until it works. Her cardio was all to eager to fit a pacemaker I believe.

I would get you in contact with her but these days we hate each other.

Hope things go well.