P90X Nearly killed me!
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say I nearly killed myself (accidentally of course) Here it goes...
I passed the prerequisite P90X fit test with flying colors (and the fit tests on spark people site as well)
I was feeling great! Following the P90X diet really seemed to boost my energy, I had survived day one, a little sore, but I made it and I felt unstoppable, strong, capable!
I came home from work after a night shift ready to go! I had a coffee with my husband before he left for work (strong the way he likes it).
I had my protein shake for breakfast, and a little while later I was pushing play on day two, plyometrics.
I started off great, I was really moving, monitoring my heart rate, which was fine until I took my first water break. Then my heart started beating way too fast in my chest.
At this point I should explain, I have a rare condition called supra ventricular tachycardia, an extra electrical pathway in the ventricle that causes my heart rate to soar to ridiculous speeds from time to time.
I can usually control it, or stop an episode quickly. Not this time. I tried for nearly 20 minutes, my BPM between 185 and 200. I began to feel light headed, and that is when I called 911.
The ambulance attendants where able to guide me through some procedures to stop my heart from racing, they did not have to give me anything or shock me, thankfully. By the time I got to the hospital, my bpm was down to a more reasonable level, although it took the whole day for it to get back to normal.
My doctor tries to reassure me that this condition is not generally life threatening, and I should be able to live an active life without restrictions.(Really it sounds, and feels at the time, scarier then it actually is).
I think the episode was fueled by caffeine and a heart that was working hard, and that is what made it so difficult to stop.
I will not let this stop me. I will take some time and recover. I will stop consuming caffeine in any form. If I must chose between coffee and intense cardio exercise, I will chose cardio! It dose more for my health, my body and my energy!
I am not through with you, P90X!