My Struggle with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
By Rachael Connors
I've been a runner my whole life, but it wasn't until the surge of run clubs in my city that I set a bigger goal for myself by training for a half marathon. In September 2024, I was participating in an evening run when a new friend mentioned his heart rate was sitting around 135 only a few blocks in. I glanced down and my watch read 188. We weren’t even going that fast, and it was all flat ground! It started to occur to me that maybe running shouldn’t always include dizziness, shortness of breath, a racing heart and spotty vision.
Early October rolled around, and I met with my primary care physician for my annual physical, during which I casually mentioned my training, corresponding heart rate and the symptoms I was experiencing way too early in the run. She immediately ordered an EKG, and I showed the telltale delta wave of Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome. I was fitted with a wearable Zio monitor for the next two weeks and continued training while waiting for my cardiologist referral. By mid-October, my cardiologist confirmed the same: without a doubt, WPW. He referred me to a surgeon for a cardiac ablation marked ASAP and instructed me to stop training for the half marathon immediately.
I was crushed and have been dealing with the mental, social and physical impacts of this diagnosis, but still optimistic knowing my surgery is in sight. The last few months have included many EKGs, an echocardiogram and a treadmill stress test. Luckily, I was not without support. My family has helped by taking me to appointments (even during their work schedules), sharing medical history and understanding my increased anxiety over my health. My friends have checked in with me, joined me for low-impact movement and scheduled their own annual physicals for peace of mind. Last but not least, I joyfully cheered on my run club family during the same half marathon I’d planned to run. They’ve heard my story and assured me I will be welcomed back with open arms when I’m cleared to return.
This Valentine’s Day, ironically, I’ll receive my ablation and begin the recovery process before I’m cleared to lace up my sneakers again. Since I was born with WPW, I’ve never known what running is truly supposed to feel like, as it’s always caused severe fatigue. My surgeon has approved my participation in a 10K in April and a half marathon in November, depending on how smoothly recovery goes, and I’m thrilled to be able to join my run club friends again in a few short weeks!
For more information on this topic, visit www.heart.org.
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