Bystolic keeps your heart rate low, which is good. But it does affect performance (in theory) because of that. I guess you have to work harder to get close to what you did before. petey

You are bound to be a little cautious but good for you to at least be trying and just don't push yourself too much
Moy...

You sound like you are doing great! It takes awhile for the heart to heal.

Dee

I was typing from the pool on my blackberry... That mysterious word should have read, "last year." it's discouraging because in August I was past 100 laps. I always thought betablockers were illegal in sports because they are a performance enhancer.. Or am I mistaken?

I started back swimming after my ablation (unsuccessful) and one of the things I have noticed is that swimming does not trigger an afib episode, My theory is that swimming forces you to breathe at regular intervals and you are also lying flat in the water, but who really knows. Exercise is one of my triggers so I was very leary at first but am back up to 50 to 60 laps in an hour. I also went for my first bike ride since the ablation and tolerated it without incident although my friends had to keep stopping and waiting for me to catch up as I went quite slowly. I am still afraid to try running though.
Bystolic is a beta blocker like petey says so maintaining your low heart rate, which does make it harder to exercise without feeling low energy. You need your heart rate to increase with exercise as that speeds up oxygen transfer and when this doesn't happen you feel exhausted, or as my cardiologist told me when I asked if I could train for a triathlon, "yes go ahead but you will feel like crap and you won't do well!!!"
I would encourage you to keep doing the 16 laps as this is still better than before. It is all so frustrating I can totally sympathise with you.

IslandLuvr, I thought "LA Outlet" was a store or something, or some kind of fancy gym with a pool... guess I don't get out enough. petey

Thanks jrapchuk. That 'splains it. Did you ever do the triathlon? I actually did get afib in the water, but that was before I was on Bystolic.. And I had untreated high blood pressure. Anyway, I have decided to break up my swimming. Today, I did 16 laps... Waited an hour, then went in and did 20 more.

Wow, so taking a break in between swimming laps did the job. Glad to hear.
No, I did not do the triathlon, first I need to get back running. Like the lap swimming, I have to start slowly and build and see how the heart reacts.

How cool it would be if you get to do a Trialthalon. Keep me posted on your exercise progress.

I have no thoughts on your question. Just wanted to say how amazed I am at how many laps you do. Wow, that's great.
It's going to help motivate me. I am just recently back into exercise and feel like such an idiot at times. Especially when I feel like I've achieved a milestone and someone says, that's all you did? Makes me feel like just giving up. But part of my competitive mind wants to prove I can do better, but just for myself.
So, keep it up, and same with everyone. Share your exercise challenges and how far you've gone. I'm a long way, but knowing that others are doing it helps me. It can be possible.

With the lap swimming it just feels so good to be able to do some form of exercise without having my heart start leaping through my throat! Slow and steady does the job and I work on my technique. One of the cardiologists that visited me after my ablation told me no more competitive running, but so far I have not come to terms with his prescription.

I know the feeling. I spent most of my life training and competing. I blew out my knees, wrecked my back, and the afib sealed the deal. Sometimes I have dreams that I'm whole again and can go back to competitive sports.

I just feel like I have one more sprint triathlon in me, probably just wishful thinking! But competing in sports is part of who we are and we have lost that part of ourselves. Looking on the more positive side, since my ablation I do seem to notice how green the trees are and how cute my grandson is, the old "stopping to smell the flowers" cliche.

Hi Jill! It's great you're back into exercising. Baby steps! Do just a little more every week or so, and keep a training diary so you can see your progress.

I know, but I still miss competing, and keep thinking I'll be able to do it again.. Even though I know I can't. It's called magical thinking.