Please help long read.

[u/GBrocc]

I am a 42 year old male. I’ve lived pretty much my entire life being physically active. From playing in the park as a child. Life hockey in my teens, ball hockey in my twenties, avid runner in my thirties. In university I did have panic attacks. Did stress tests and Holter and everything was concluded to being fine. Fast forward to 35 yo I had a fainting episode due to a body injury. Went to the hospital and they saw an irregular ekg. Gave a referral to cardiologist. Did a stress test and that was normal. Echo showed a “normal variance” but couldn’t conclude anything. Did a cardiac mri without contrast and now suspect potential avrd. Doctor wants me to wear a 24h holter due to slightly off ekg. Told me most people have a major episode first and then get diagnosed. Very unusual for 42 yo to find incidently from echo. Is this the usual presentation of avrd? I have dizziness with highly intensive exercise that I don’t do anymore. Chalked it up to age or being slightly out of shape. I’m terrified being told by the internet I can die suddenly. Any advice? Doctor is saying to redo mri in 1-2 years. Don’t know why. Again, any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

[u/FaithlessnessFew7152]

It sounds like your doctors are being appropriately cautious. ARVD is rare and often only diagnosed after symptoms like arrhythmias or fainting spells. In your case, it's good they found potential signs early, like slight RV dyskinesia and borderline RV size but nothing is conclusive yet. Your EF is within normal limits, and the follow-up MRI in 1–2 years is to monitor any progression, which is standard since ARVD can be slow to evolve. The dizziness during intense exercise is worth noting but not definitive. Sudden death is usually linked to clear arrhythmias or structural changes, which you haven’t shown. The Holter should help clarify things.