Cardiac Ablation

Today is August 22, 2013. I assume that since you are in high school, your most important meets do not come around until late October. If you took time off and slowly built back into running, then you will be fine. The only meets that matter during XC are region, districts, and state. You will have plenty of time to build towards them. You may not be as fast as you wanted, but the health of your heart is more important than one XC season.

Take a step back and get some perspective on your situation, and you will see that high school XC isn't the end of the road for you. You have a full life ahead, and sacrificing a little bit of success now will help you in the future. I promise.

I had and ablation for SVT a number of years back. I recall taking at least 10-14 days off of running. Do not rush back. I also remember having the feeling like an episode was about to start and then would go away. This stopped completely after time. I can tell you think long term. It is one of the best things I ever did for my running. It takes time, but not too long. You will be back and happy you did it!!!

I also had an ablation for SVT back in 2007. I got the ablation on a Monday morning and was able to do a long run that Saturday. I asked the cardiologist how long I would have to wait to run after the procedure and his response was that I could run as soon as the incisions in my legs and chest were healed. They are small cuts (though made in major arteries so you don't want them to start to bleed), so they heal relatively quickly.

Within two weeks I was back to full on training with minimal loss of fitness because it was really only 5 days off of running.

I agree with the previous poster that this was the best thing that I could have done for my running. Beta blockers can impact endurance athletes pretty negatively. Ablations for SVT are very low risk. Every once in a while I still feel like an episode is about to start, like my heart skips a beat, but since the ablation there has never been another episode. My advice would be go with the ablation and be done with having to worry about SVT while you run or do anything else.

Thank you all for your replies!

I'll definitely consider this, as I heard that Ablation for a SVT is relatively easy.

Although "Use Password If optional" Guy really scared me!!

6 months??? That's XC AND TRACK!! Can that actually happen to me too??? It's only for SVT (which is just ONE nerve not multiple like in A-Fib). Definitely scared now.

The cardiologist did tell me that the doctor who's doing the ablation did thousands of these, including on children.

Just got a huge PR in the 5K!

This last weekend, I ran a 17:21 and came 2nd overall.

Splits: 5:22, 5:41, 5:45

My previous PR was 17:55.

Thank you HADD!!!

The actual race felt more like a workout (speed work) than a race! I was cruising....I just felt great, wasn't even that tired.

(The last mile I admit was a little uncomfortable, but I know in a 5K the last mile is the worst mile. Definitely felt way better compared to how I did with my 17:55)

The beta blocker felt great, I might just hold off the surgery until after the season is over, since I'm feeling great! (I skip a dose the night before the race, no harm since it's a low dose and I'll still be affected a little bit)

UPDATE:

I finally had an ablation last Thursday and everything was successful! I had to lay down still for 6 hours, and then I stayed overnight before going home..

Amusingly my low HR (from being fit) kept setting off the alarm thing whenever it went under 45-50, so I got no sleep at all :D

Anyways, it turns out I only had one extra pathway and they did a cryoablation (kill it with cold!) and tested it and found nothing else. I am finally and officially off my beta blockers for the first time in 8 months!!! No more atenolol!!!

I am taking these 2 weeks off before starting up again and my goal is to build up to 60mpw over the months and stay there for freaking once without injuries!

Any more advice for returning?

Sincere congrats on what looks like an excellent outcome!