Reassurance request for ultra-endurance sport (cycling) with PVCs
Hi PVC'ers,
I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance:)
Short version: I've been experiencing PVCs for about a year, and I'm now about to do a major ultra endurance cycling event. Doctor said its fine, but I'm still nervous.
Disclaimer: I realise this problem is quite privileged, as I see many people are much more impacted by their PVCs than I am. I guess the bigger picture point is that PVCs should not be holding anyone back from doing what they want to do in their life, which is also why I haven't given up on my ultra-cycling aspirations. For someone else, the thing to overcome might be much "smaller" in terms of athletic "achievement", but I guess the point remains.
Long version:
I've had a full cardiac workup: ECG, echocardiogram, stress test (on a bike) with a cardiologist, and a 48-hour Holter - I did about 5 hours bike ride with the Holter. The Holter showed 206 PVCs over 48 hours (including 3 couplets) and 31 PACs (1 couplet).
I asked my cardiologist specifically about ultra-endurance cycling: "can I do mountain biking for 18 hours / day, 10 days for row" (I was exaggerating, I expect more like 12 hours / day for 7 days). His response was that "there is no contraindication to extreme sports", except that I should expect to feel the PVCs more intensely.
So I know I'm going to be okay, but as I see people in this forum are very good at reassuring each other, I thought I could use some of that, as I'm now getting slightly anxious as the race is coming closer.
I have done a similar race 2 years ago (before I noticed PVCs), about 3/4 the distance of what I'm about to start. I'm in mid 30s and quite fit - but the event will for sure test my limits in terms of fatigue, muscle pain, saddle sores - many things can do wrong, I guess I'm about 50/50 if I will eventually have to call it at some point ;)
I mostly notice PVCs when I'm resting in the evening or after a long day with a lot of mental stress. Sometimes physical exhaustion can also cause them to be more noticable. I almost never notice them during hard training. Sometimes it feels like the pause between the two heartbeats lasts for 2-3 seconds, but I guess its in reality probably less than 2 sec.
The rational part of my brain tells me I've had every test I could reasonably have, my heart is structurally normal, and a cardiologist who knows my results isn't worried. But every now and then I still wonder, "What if he's wrong?"