From Antidepressants To Arrhythmias: A Candid Guide To Drug‑Induced Long QT

We share community updates and new events, then sit down with Ayrton Beatty to unpack how an antidepressant triggered Long QT syndrome, what symptoms to watch for, and the everyday tactics that keep them safe while honoring Edward’s memory. The conversation blends hard science, lived experience, and practical steps anyone can use to advocate with confidence.

• Red Hat Society join and conference highlights
• Down syndrome and CHD awareness link
• Upcoming Zoom listening session details
• Live recording on transition and life stages
• Ayrton’s diagnosis of drug‑induced Long QT
• Warning signs during exercise and daily walks
• Role of wearables in spotting heart‑rate thresholds
• Tapering off venlafaxine and mental health impact
• Switching to citalopram and ongoing vigilance
• Triggers to avoid including sudden noises and swimming
• Practical safety tips including hydration and potassium
• Advocacy advice and seeking second opinions
• Remembering Edward and hidden electrical disorders

Join us on November 25th, 2025 at 4 p.m. Central Time for a Zoom listening event to hear Ellen Boyer’s episode "Shattering Stereotypes in the World of Down Syndrome and Congenital Heart Defects.” Here is the Zoom link:  https://tinyurl.com/HUGZoomRoom

Patrons, meet us on October 30th at 4 p.m. Central Time for our live recording on "Transition and Life Changes." Here is the Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/HUGZoomRoom

Chapters

• 0:00 2025 H2HwAnna--Ayrton Beatty
• 0:29 Anna's Story
• 2:08 The News
• 17:35 Segment 3

Transcript

Ayrton Beatty: [00:00:00] Even just walking to my house, I'd be sweating profusely. I would be vomiting. Oh my gosh. And it was the same if I was at the gym or if I was swimming, it would be sweating more than average and vomiting. It was when my heart rate reached a certain interval that all this was happening. 

Anna Jaworski: Welcome to Heart to Heart with Anna. I am Anna Jaworski, and a heart mom to Hope, my amazing 31-year-old daughter.

Anna's Story

Anna Jaworski: October has been such a varied and interesting time for me. On the advice of a publicist. I joined the Red Hat Society, and although I haven't made it to a meeting yet, I'm looking forward to it. Just thinking of joining the spirited sisterhood of veteran ladies has been so much fun. And yes, it has even influenced an accessory choice for one of my upcoming children's books. 

This month I attended SV-One, and if you listened to the episodes featuring Tyler Sajdak and Steve Hutchinson, you'll remember how [00:01:00] excited I was about the possibility of going in person. Well, it was even better than I imagined. I reconnected with old friends, made some new ones, and even got two fresh signatures in my autograph copy of "The Heart of a Heart Warrior" thanks to Tyler Sajdak and Jason Crutchley both being at the conference. One regret: I didn't bring my autograph copy of "The Heart of a Mother."

For the first time ever, I met Meg Didier's mother Patty. And to my surprise, I also met Meg's daughter Lucy. That three-generation moment was incredibly special, and Patty and I will be getting together next year when she can actually sign the autograph copy of my book, "The Heart of a Mother." I'm thrilled that conferences like this are thriving again. After so much isolation during the pandemic, it feels wonderful to be part of in-person gatherings that strengthen our community.

Speaking of connections, it was such a joy to see Tim Nelson and Calla Huxtable from HeartWorks. [00:02:00] They were Hearts Unite the Globe's first three-month sponsor, and I'm delighted that our partnership will continue into the new year. 

The News

Anna Jaworski: Here are some updates on Heart to Heart with Anna programming. We'll soon be releasing an interview with Elmar Sprink, first in English, and then our second-ever episode in German.

I can't wait for Elmar's father to hear his son's story in his native tongue.

Did you know that October is Down Syndrome Awareness month? According to the October 10th, 2025 presidential message, around 5,000 babies are born each year in the United States with Down Syndrome.

Thanks to advancements in research, early intervention, and medical care, many of these children are living longer, fuller lives than ever before. There's an important connection to the CHD community too, because about 50% of babies with Down syndrome have some form of congenital heart defect. The most common are atrial [00:03:00] ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, and tetrology of Fallot.

That's why awareness matters so deeply. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, or advocate, you're part of a movement helping families access the resources and support they need for a great quality of life.

Before we move on, I'm thrilled to announce a special event coming next month. On November 25th, 2025 at 4:00 PM Central Time, we'll host a Zoom listening event, open to Heart to Heart with Anna, listeners everywhere, volunteers and patrons , too. Together we'll listen to Ellen's episode, Shattering Stereotypes in the World of Down syndrome and Congenital Heart Defects. You can find the zoom link in the show notes, and I hope you'll join us for this special gathering of hearts and voices from around the world.

Lastly, I'm so excited to share that on Wednesday, October 30th, 2025 at 4:00 PM Central Time, we'll be hosting a live recording of Heart to Heart with Anna for our wonderful [00:04:00] patrons and volunteers. Our topic this month is transition and life stages. We'll be talking about how families and heart warriors navigate those important changes from childhood to adulthood, from patient to self-advocate, and all the milestones in between.

This time, I'm inviting patrons from every tier to join us for this special event. It's my way of saying thank you for being part of the Heart to Heart community and helping us continue to share stories that connect and inspire. You'll get to listen live, interact with me and our guests, and maybe even share a few of your own insights about the transitions you or your family has experienced.

All the details and Zoom room information will be in the show notes and posted it on our Patreon page. I can't wait to see familiar faces and hopefully meet some new ones too.

HUG Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The opinions expressed in the podcast are not those of Hearts Unite the [00:05:00] Globe, but of the hosts and guests, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to congenital heart disease or bereavement.

Rejoiner: You are listening to Heart to Heart with Anna. If you have a question or comment that you would like addressed on our show, please send an email to Anna Jaworski at Anna@Hearttoheartwithanna.com That's Anna@hearttoheartwithanna.com Now back to Heart to Heart with Anna.

HUG Disclaimer: Ayrton Beatty is a bereaved sibling to Edward who passed away due to an undiagnosed heart condition. They have drug-induced Long Q-T Syndrome due to antidepressants they take for another condition. Research indicates there is a genetic component linked to the development of drug-induced Long Q-T Syndrome.

Specifically, Ayrton was on venlafaxine for depression [00:06:00] and that is believed to be the medication to have caused this potentially fatal condition. There's a long list of medications that can cause drug-induced Long Q-T Syndrome with SSRIs being on that list. SSRI stands for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and it's a class of antidepressants that work by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain.

SSRIs are commonly prescribed to treat conditions such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder. My longtime listeners will remember Ayrton from season 11 when they were on the program entitled 'Heart Sister Now and Forever' back in 2018, can't believe it's been that long, Ayrton!. Welcome back to Heart to Heart with Anna Ayrton. 

Ayrton Beatty: Thank you so much for having me back. It's definitely been long overdue. 

Anna Jaworski: It is long overdue. See, I'm so lucky that I work with you on The CHC Podcast for the last three [00:07:00] years. I see you every week and I just don't think about also having you on Heart to Heart with Anna, but I love having you on my program. 

Ayrton Beatty: Yeah, it's always a good laugh when we get together. 

Anna Jaworski: Oh, I know. You make me laugh but this is a serious topic, and I didn't even know about this until you taught me about it, Ayrton. So I think this is something we really need to educate people about. Ever since I started to put this script together, I started doing research. I didn't even know what SSRI meant.

I didn't know that drug-induced Long Q-T Syndrome existed until you taught me about it, and now I'm seeing this is a real issue, not just for you, but for a lot of people. 

Ayrton Beatty: Yeah. I wasn't aware of it even until I was actually diagnosed with it. It's not something you automatically think of developing when you take in medications.

Anna Jaworski: Exactly. Let's talk about why this is so dangerous. When your [00:08:00] doctors put you on the medication that you were on, venlafaxine, talk to me about if your doctor gave you any kind of warning that something like Long Q-T Syndrome could happen. 

Ayrton Beatty: I was first put on it because I was really struggling with my dad, who was terminally ill at the time.

Mentally, I was not in a good place. I tried counseling and it wasn't helping. So as the last resort, I was put on venlafaxine, and at the time I wasn't told that it could potentially cause any cardiac issues at all.

Anna Jaworski: It's such a scary thing. Now, I know every time I get put on a new drug, I get a laundry list of all the potential consequences and the red flags to watch out for. Did your doctor give you any indication that there was something you might need to be aware [00:09:00] of? 

Ayrton Beatty: In the UK when we get prescriptions, we get a whole sheet about how to take it and what side effects you could potentially get.

And the only thing I think was mentioned for venlafaxine was palpitations, but there was nothing about drug-induced Long Q-T Syndrome at all. 

Anna Jaworski: Wow. people need to be made aware of this Long Q-T Syndrome, Friends, is when the time lapse between the Q wave and the T wave in your heartbeat is not what it's supposed to be.

It's longer than it's supposed to be, and it could have fatal results. So this is not something that should be taken lightly. 

Ayrton Beatty: When I started showing symptoms, it was something that I did take very seriously. Obviously, given my history of losing Edward to an undiagnosed heart condition.

Anna Jaworski: What were your symptoms, Ayrton? 

Ayrton Beatty: My symptoms [00:10:00] were, if I was doing exercise. I would have palpitations, I would go dizzy, I would black out. 

Anna Jaworski: Oh my gosh. 

Ayrton Beatty: Even just walking to my house, i'd be sweating profusely. I would be vomiting. 

Anna Jaworski: Oh my gosh. 

Ayrton Beatty: And it was the same if I was at the gym or if I was swimming, it would be sweating more than average and vomiting.

It was when my heart rate reached a certain interval that all this was happening. Because shout out to Fitbit, I was able to keep track of that. 

Anna Jaworski: Oh wow. Well that's helpful. 

Ayrton Beatty: Yeah, it was. It was really helpful when I first went to speak to my general practitioner because I could say, look, these are my symptoms.

It's happening when my post rate is hitting a certain point. And he's like, " It's not normal." 

Anna Jaworski: Yeah. That's not normal. In Scotland, you have to walk a lot. One of the things I love about Scotland is that I feel that [00:11:00] when Frank and I visit Scotland, especially Edinburgh, it's such a good walking city that we get in a lot of steps, but, that means that we do more exercise than we normally do. So this is something that's pretty serious for you? 

Ayrton Beatty: It is considering that I also live up the top of a very big hill.

Anna Jaworski: Mm. 

Ayrton Beatty: So that's added physical exertion , 

Anna Jaworski: Yeah, if you live on top of a hill, even going down the hill, you don't want to roll down the hill, so you have to temper yourself at how fast you're going down. And certainly when you're climbing back up, that's a much harder exertion . I'm glad you have a Fitbit. That's amazing that it could say, "Oh, look, your pulse is increasing." And then it was pretty obvious for you if you're throwing up and sweating profusely.

Ayrton Beatty: Yeah. It's like even in the middle of the Scottish winters when it's below zero outside, I was taken off my jacket and everything standing in a [00:12:00] t-shirt because I was just that hot and sweaty. 

Anna Jaworski: That is terrifying. So what did your doctor say when you presented-- it seems to me very substantial evidence? 

Ayrton Beatty: To begin with, it was like, "Okay, we'll just monitor it for the time being." And then it wasn't easing up at all. So I was sent off to get electrocardiograms done. 

Anna Jaworski: Okay. 

Ayrton Beatty: To see if there was any issues. And that did come back saying that I had a prolonged QT wave. 

Anna Jaworski: Mm-hmm. 

Ayrton Beatty: They were like, "Okay. Again, we just monitor it, keep an eye it." I'm like, "no." 

Anna Jaworski: Good for you. So you had to start being a stronger advocate for yourself from the very beginning it sounds like. 

Ayrton Beatty: Yes. Because again, with my history, I know you don't mess around with heart conditions. 

Anna Jaworski: Right. Especially something that's been substantiated with tests. At that time, did they [00:13:00] reinvestigate what medications you were on to see if maybe there was a drug interaction?

Ayrton Beatty: That was one of the first things they look at, because I do take a lot of medications because I have a whole list of chronic health issues. They said, "Okay, we think it's the venlafaxine." So I was given a month to wean myself off it 

Anna Jaworski: Right, because it's dangerous to just pull yourself off of some drugs, right?

Ayrton Beatty: Yes. Especially antidepressants. 

Anna Jaworski: Mm-hmm. 

Ayrton Beatty: After that month, I was sent back for a second electrocardiogram to see if it changed. 

Anna Jaworski: And had it? 

Ayrton Beatty: It had. Fortunately, I'm on the borderline now of still having the Long Q-T Syndrome and I still have a few symptoms, but I am nowhere near as bad as I was when I was on the venlafaxine.

Anna Jaworski: But you weren't taking this drug for fun. This drug was to [00:14:00] help you through a difficult time. Were they able to find a substitute to help you deal with your depression? 

Ayrton Beatty: When I first came off the venlafaxine, mentally I just plummeted. I was... 

Anna Jaworski: yeah, 

Ayrton Beatty: I was actually suicidal...

Anna Jaworski: oh, Ayrton! 

Ayrton Beatty: ...during this time, which is something I kept hidden from everyone. 

Anna Jaworski: That's so scary. 

Ayrton Beatty: But after I'd had the second electrocardiogram done and they had the results from that, they were able to put me back on citalopram. But again, that's another drug that is known to cause Long Q-T Syndrome, but at the moment, touch wood, it isn't doing that to me.

Anna Jaworski: Oh good. And is it helping you with the feelings of depression and suicidal tendencies? 

Ayrton Beatty: Yeah, it's helping me a lot. 

Anna Jaworski: Wow. I didn't realize, but I guess if it's in that [00:15:00] same category of the SSRI drugs. It too could be...

Ayrton Beatty: yeah 

Anna Jaworski: ...a culprit. 

Ayrton Beatty: Citalopram is actually one that gets mentioned by name for having a high risk of it.

Anna Jaworski: Oh my gosh. So this is something that you're going to have to be vigilant with. 

Ayrton Beatty: I have to be very vigilant with it, as do doctors when they're prescribing me any new medications. 

Anna Jaworski: Mm-hmm. Because we don't wanna push you over into that other area where all of a sudden you're having more episodes. Since you are still at risk and they are still keeping an eye on it, what are they doing as far as the Long Q-T Syndrome? Do you have a pacemaker? Have they talked to you about that? 

Ayrton Beatty: I don't have any pacemakers. I'm not on any medications at all for it, but I have been told to be wary of emotional [00:16:00] stress, keep monitoring my stress and anxiety levels. Be careful when it comes to physical exertion. I'm not allowed to go swimming anymore. I always have to be very careful around certain noises like I have to have certain alarms because a normal alarm clock can trigger an episode. 

Anna Jaworski: Oh, my gosh. 

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HUG Message: Heart to Heart with Anna is a presentation of Hearts [00:17:00] Unite the Globe and is part of the HUG Podcast Network. Hearts Unite The Globe is a nonprofit organization devoted to providing resources to the congenital heart defect community, to uplift, empower, and enrich the lives of our community members. If you would like access to free resources pertaining to the CH HD community, please visit our website at www.Congenitalheartdefects.com for information about CHD, the hospitals that treat children with CHD summer camps for CHD survivors and much, much more.

Segment 3

Anna Jaworski: Ayrton, I had no idea that even something like a loud noise that startles you could cause sudden cardiac arrest. That is really scary to me. How do you cope with that? That's a lot to live with Ayrton.

Ayrton Beatty: I used to have an alarm, which was my favorite. It was like the entire warning system of a Boeing 737 cockpit. But because [00:18:00] of the loudness, I had to stop using it. I've now got birdsong to gently wake me up.

Anna Jaworski: Well, that's lovely. You have the bird song waking you up, and it's also good to hear that you're smart enough that even things that you enjoy, you might have to curtail a bit right now. And that there are certain triggering incidents and how to avoid those. If I'm not mistaken, you like horror movies, but I guess you can't even really go see a horror movie now, can you? 

Ayrton Beatty: I can because I don't find them scary. I just laugh at them. 

Anna Jaworski: That's what you've told me before, but I don't understand that! 

Ayrton Beatty: Flying back from Dallas, I was binge watching all the Scream movies.

Anna Jaworski: Oh my gosh, Ayrton. Wow. Okay. Well, I'm glad that scary movies don't set you off since you were binge watching it on a plane flying across the Atlantic Ocean. Well, let's change things up here for a [00:19:00] minute. We mentioned Edward, and in case people didn't catch that right at the beginning, their brother Edward died of an undiagnosed heart condition, which could have been you too, Ayrton. Now that we know that you have this drug-induced Long Q-T Syndrome, you could have had a cardiac arrest when you were walking up hill to go home.

I'm guessing that that's what motivates you to speak about your experience and to be willing to share this with others. 

Ayrton Beatty: Losing Edward has been a big part of why I'm sharing my story, but also the fact that because there's so many prescription drugs that can cause it, and there's very little awareness about it as well.

It is such a scary position to find yourself in. 

Anna Jaworski: It really is. You were still a teenager when you lost your brother, weren't you? [00:20:00] 

Yeah, I was 15. ,

 That's such a young age and that's definitely left an indelible mark on you and on me. I never even met Edward, but I feel like I know Edward from you speaking about him and sharing precious moments with him, with me, and I'm so thankful that we've been able to keep his memory alive this way on this platform, but it's so tragic that he died at such a young age, and now it makes me wonder, what could it have been? Was it preventable? What can we do so that no other family has to go through what you've been through?

Ayrton Beatty: With Edward, they think it was something to do with the heart's electrical rhythm and it just stopped working when he was asleep. So fortunately we do know that he didn't suffer when he passed away. He just fell asleep and that was [00:21:00] it.

Anna Jaworski: I'm glad he didn't suffer. Bradycardia is when the heart starts beating unnaturally slow. That's another arrhythmia that is very serious. My own daughter had episodes of bradycardia when she was sleeping, and if it wasn't for the fact that she wore a Holter monitor, we would never have known that.

And once again, Ayrton, it was drug-induced. 

Ayrton Beatty: Yeah, my auntie has brachycardia and she had to have a pacemaker fitted. In order to counteract it. 

Anna Jaworski: That's what Hope's cardiologist was talking to her about. But when she did some research on her own and discovered that the new drug they put her on after her last open-heart surgery had that as one of the possible complications, she met with her electrophysiologist and he said, "Let's take you off of this and let's see what happens."

And sure enough. Once she wasn't taking that [00:22:00] drug anymore, the bradycardia stopped and her electrophysiologist was able to put her on a different drug. So it's not uncommon, I'm guessing, for certain drugs to cause heart arrhythmias and you do have to be so carefully monitored. Obviously Edward never wore a Holter monitor because nobody had a clue that this was going on with him.

Ayrton Beatty: No, Edward was fit and healthy. He was extremely active. He never showed any signs that we are aware of, of having any cardiac issues at all. 

Anna Jaworski: That's what I think also makes it so devastating.

Ayrton Beatty: Yeah, it hit my family hard, especially with it coming back two weeks after my oldest brother got married. 

Anna Jaworski: Yeah. To go from the high of a new marriage, a new person in a family, and all the happiness that's supposed to bring... to the depths of pain and anguish... of losing a loved one. [00:23:00] That's quite a rollercoaster to be on in a very short period of time.

Ayrton Beatty: Yeah, it was, and my mom's first instinct was obviously to try and get me tested for any heart issues, but because my brothers and I were all adopted from different biological parents, they didn't want to do it because there's no genetic link between us. 

Anna Jaworski: Even when there is a genetic link Ayrton, if there are not signs and symptoms, they don't want to do it.

When my baby was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, I was terrified that maybe my older son also had a condition. I begged the pediatrician to test Joey and the pediatrician said, "No! He's so healthy; he's fine. No, I can't justify it." And it wasn't until Joey was a teenager that he was a state swimmer and one of the [00:24:00] hospitals in a town close by was offering free cardiac screenings for gifted athletes.

I was the second person in line for that screening, and it wasn't until the screening was done, I could see Joey's heart was beautiful, and it looked perfect. We made it back to the car, and I burst into tears. I did not realize how much anguish I was carrying for so many years, worried that something was wrong with my Joey, too.

Ayrton Beatty: It also would've been in the sense of relief that Joey doesn't have to have the same concerns that Hope does as well. 

Anna Jaworski: That's absolutely true. Yeah. So a lot of people feel intimidated to question their doctors about medication risks. What advice do you have for patients on how to advocate for themselves?

Ayrton Beatty: Don't be scared to speak up and say you have all these [00:25:00] concerns. If you don't feel heard by that particular doctor, don't be scared to go get a second or third opinion because while it is an off chance that something like this could happen to you, there is still that chance there. 

Anna Jaworski: Mm-hmm. 

Ayrton Beatty: So, yeah, if you do have any concerns, do not be afraid to speak up.

Anna Jaworski: Yeah, I like what you said about getting a second or even third opinion. I haven't been good about doing that in the past, but having two children and one with a chronic illness, it's taught me that I have to be a little bit more aggressive, especially if my gut is telling me something is wrong. And I imagine for you, since you were so physically fit --not everybody may know this about you, but I know you used to play, you call it football, we call it soccer here in the United States. And you played a number of other sports when you were younger, right? [00:26:00] 

Ayrton Beatty: Yeah. I trained professionally with a football team. I played netball, basketball, volleyball. I did horse riding, bMXing, mountain biking, skateboarding, rollerblading. 

Anna Jaworski: Unbelievable. So physically active and to now have trouble walking up a hill without throwing up. I mean, alarm bells must have been going off in your brain like crazy. 

Ayrton Beatty: Yeah, I did go to a gym a few years ago, just try and lose some weight and it was during basic exercising, I was throwing up.

And at first they just thought it was gastric issues. 

Anna Jaworski: Okay.

Ayrton Beatty: But obviously I stopped going to the gym because of it and then I started swimming instead. And again, I was sweating in a nice cold pool and I was having to get out the pool to throw up 'cause I was going like dizzy as well. I was having to sit in the [00:27:00] changing rooms for quite some time.

Anna Jaworski: That is so scary. And to think you could have had a cardiac arrest in the water, Ayrton. 

Ayrton Beatty: That is the scariest part for me. 

When I did go swimming, I always made sure it was a swimming pool that did have lifeguards. Just in case I didn't go swimming in any open bodies or water or anything like that. 

Anna Jaworski: Oh, that was smart. This is something that we need to be aware of so that we prevent somebody from having the unthinkable happen. So we already talked about being a strong advocate for yourself and taking this seriously, taking it up with your doctor, getting a second, even a third opinion if it's necessary.

But beyond medications, what other lifestyle changes are monitoring strategies can somebody utilize to help them live life [00:28:00] safely, despite possibly having drug-induced Long Q-T Syndrome? 

Ayrton Beatty: Personally, I would just check all medications, especially when getting prescribed new ones that there isn't going to be anything that you're taking that can make it worse.

Make sure you eat potassium-rich foods, avoiding sudden noises, and if you have to also alter alarm clock so you're not getting that sudden loud noise in the morning where you're still like half zombie-fied . Stay hydrated. 

Anna Jaworski: That's a really good one. 

Ayrton Beatty: Yeah. 

Anna Jaworski: For everybody, but definitely for somebody who might have a rhythm problem.

Mm-hmm. 

Ayrton Beatty: Avoid energy drinks with high caffeine content. 

Anna Jaworski: Yes, yes. People don't realize how dangerous those drinks can be. 

Ayrton Beatty: This is actually a conversation I have because you might know this, but listeners won't. I do have a serious caffeine addiction. 

Anna Jaworski: Yeah, I've seen some of the drinks that you drink. You like your Coke. 

Ayrton Beatty: I do like my Coke. I like my [00:29:00] own BRU as well. But fortunately, I never developed a taste for the energy drinks, so I think that has helped me a lot. And obviously as well, avoiding strenuous exercising. Avoid swimming. If you are doing stuff at the gym, make sure you get medical clearance to do it first.

Anna Jaworski: That's good. Have a partner there with you or have somebody alert to the fact that you do have a condition so you're not left all alone in the weight room and possibly have something happen. 

Ayrton Beatty: Yeah, definitely find yourself a gym buddy who's aware of your condition and who knows what your symptoms are so they can be out on the lookout for you.

Anna Jaworski: Do you feel that wearing your Fitbit is also a good strategy to gather information and to keep you safe? 

Ayrton Beatty: It helps me because I can keep an eye on how high my pulse is getting, and [00:30:00] if I need to stop and take a breather, I will now force myself to stop and take that breather because I know with the vomiting, it is not worth it at all.

Anna Jaworski: Right. And unfortunately that vomiting first of all it's painful, but also that can cause you to be dehydrated, which just exacerbates the problem. 

Ayrton Beatty: Yes, definitely. Also if go on hikes, make sure you take a water bottle with you.

Anna Jaworski: Mm-hmm. 

Ayrton Beatty: And I also have an app on my phone called What3Words. And that can direct emergency services to within, I think it's like a two meter square or something like that of your location. 

Anna Jaworski: Oh wow. Is that specific to the U.K.? 

Ayrton Beatty: No, I think it's global actually. 

Anna Jaworski: What is it called? 

Ayrton Beatty: What3Words. 

Anna Jaworski: What3Words? That sounds really handy. 

Ayrton Beatty: It is. I use it a lot when I go out walking because I live in the [00:31:00] semi-rural area. So a lot of the time I am walking around in open fields 

Anna Jaworski: and up and down hills 

Ayrton Beatty: and up and down hills. But fortunately the hill I mainly walk up and down does have a lot of houses on it, and it also has a school as well.

Anna Jaworski: Okay. You were talking about having foods with lots of potassium. I know bananas and oranges have a lot of potassium. Can you give any other examples? 

Ayrton Beatty: No, because they're the only ones I eat. But you can also take potassium supplements as well. 

Anna Jaworski: Okay. Okay. That's good. Is there a fear of too much potassium?

Ayrton Beatty: Not for me, no. 

Anna Jaworski: Let me ask you this Ayrton. Now that you've had these episodes and your doctors are aware of it, are you being monitored with a Holter monitor test periodically? 

Ayrton Beatty: No. I've only had one Holter test done, followed by a echocardiogram and they all came back to be pretty [00:32:00] much normal. So I've been discharged from cardiology at the moment. 

Anna Jaworski: Really? 

Ayrton Beatty: Yeah. 

Anna Jaworski: Not even annual or biannual visits? 

Ayrton Beatty: No, nothing. 

Anna Jaworski: Hmm. You know, that doesn't make me happy. Right? 

Ayrton Beatty: Yeah. I'm not exactly happy about it either. But for me to go back, I'd have to have something pretty chronic happen. 

Anna Jaworski: Well, I don't want anything chronic to happen to you, but my goodness, I would still think better to be safe than sorry that they should at least monitor you every year or two to make sure that everything is still going okay.

I'm really glad you have that Fitbit. 

Ayrton Beatty: I'm really glad I have my Fitbit too. I love it. 

Anna Jaworski: Do you have any alarms set on it or anything to let you know in case your pulse rate exceeds a certain amount? 

Ayrton Beatty: Yes, I have it set so if my pulse goes over 150, which is when I start getting all the symptoms, that it will vibrate [00:33:00] on my wrist and I'll be like, "Okay. I need to stop and sit down for a minute." 

Anna Jaworski: Mm-hmm. Okay. Well, I'm glad to know that you have that. What message of hope or encouragement would you like to leave for families who may be facing similar struggles, Ayrton?

Ayrton Beatty: It is something that can be lived with. It is something that can be managed. You don't necessarily need to have major surgeries or medical devices implanted. Sometimes it can be as simple as taking off one medication that can actually cure it.

 It's not necessarily something that's lifelong. 

Anna Jaworski: That is encouraging, and I guess that's why the doctors don't feel you need to go back to cardiology. They feel you're fixed. But as a heart mom, I worry about you. 

Ayrton Beatty: Oh, my mom worries about me as well, so don't worry about it. 

Anna Jaworski: The next time I go to England, I have to visit your mom. You [00:34:00] have to come to England so we can visit your mom together. How's that? 

Ayrton Beatty: That sounds good. I think she'd like that. 

Anna Jaworski: Okay. I know I would really love that.

It has been so lovely having you on the program. Even though we're talking about something this serious, I'm glad we've had a chance to shine a light on an issue that is not being talked about enough. So thank you so much Ayrton, for coming on the program today. 

Ayrton Beatty: It's been great to be back on.

Anna Jaworski: Well, I love you so much. Thank you for doing this. What a rich and meaningful episode this has been. From sharing my own adventures, and community updates to hearing Ayrton Beatty's powerful story about courage, awareness, and healing. Each of these moments, whether at a conference in the medical world or here on this podcast, reminds me that connection is at the heart of everything we do.

It's what helps us move through transitions, celebrate progress, and find strength in one another. A heartfelt thank you to our friends at HeartWorks for their [00:35:00] dedication to life-saving research that gives families like mine hope for the future. And don't forget, I'd love for you to join us on October 30th at 4:00 PM Central Time for our live Heart to Heart with Anna recording on Transition and Life Stages.

Patrons from all tiers are invited and the details are in the show notes. Until next time, my friends remember you are not alone.

Thank you again for joining us this week. We hope you have become inspired and empowered to become an advocate for the congenital heart community. Heart to heart with Anna, with your host, Anna Jaworski can be heard at any time wherever you get your podcasts. A new episode is released every Tuesday from [00:36:00] noon Eastern time.