An enlarged heart caused by a tick bite has ended Kyle Patrick’s second year on the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series.
After a hospital stay, the 28-year-old is pretty much on lockdown at home in Cooperstown, N.Y., recuperating from a potentially deadly illness that increased his heart size by a third.
“It sucks,” he said, “but I’m just happy I’m not dead.”
After a five-day stint in the hospital, Patrick was released last week wearing a defibrillator vest, a device for patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest. He’s been told by doctors not to exert himself in any way, which ends fishing for a while.
“Not officially, but yeah, fishing is done,” he said. “It’s not worth it. It’s because there is a really high possibility of permanent heart damage, or death.
“Basically, my heart got so big that it’s going to take a long time for the swelling to go down. In that time, I can’t increase my heartrate at all. At all! You can’t do anything. I literally can’t do anything for three months.”
Patrick, who stands 23rd in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings, is disappointed his bid for a third consecutive Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic will end.
“I’m trying to look at positives, but there’s nothing positive about missing the Classic,” he said.
The week before ICAST, Patrick experienced flu-like symptoms, with aches, chills and a 103-degree temperature. Tests showed anaplasmosis, a bacterial illness spread by ticks. Although he regularly checks for ticks, Patrick said he never saw one on him nor a bite.
“There are ticks everywhere in New York,” he said. “There’s actually an anaplasmosis epidemic in the Northeast. I’m the unlucky $#@% who had it go to my heart.”
Antibiotic treatment for his anaplasmosis had Patrick feeling “10 times better,” well enough to fish local derbies on the weekend. After a long run on Sunday, he started feeling badly and advised his partner he might need medical assistance.
Patrick made it through the day, but at 3 a.m. Monday, he woke from a deep sleep with excruciating chest pain. He drove himself to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia, or VT, an irregular heartbeat caused by swelling.
His levels of tryptophan, an amino acid the heart releases, were off the charts.
“Normal is like 3-7. Mine was like 8,800,” he said. “The heart releases that chemical when it’s damaged. Mine was just really swelling.”
VT causes irregular heartbeat, called an arrhythmia. That’s why he was sent home with the defibrillator strapped around his chest.
“If I have one episode, just walking down the road by yourself, this vest with auto-shock you back,” he said.
Patrick has been in contact with B.A.S.S. tournament officials about a medical hardship, all the while pondering what-if scenarios to compete in the next Elite on Lake St. Clair, Aug. 7-10.
“In a perfect world, if it’s dead flat, I could idle out to Anchor Bay and catch 18 to 20 (pounds),” he said. “But what if it’s blowing, what if I catch a 9-pounder and I get excited and my heart explodes — it’s just not worth dying.”
Patrick has consulted with numerous doctors, even a family friend who went through something similar. All said rest is required for his heart return to normal size.
“It’s not like it’s a recommendation. I would tell if they were being overcautious,” he said. “It’s just not worth it. You could die.”
Patrick, who never got a COVID shot, said he feels rather unfortunate and warns everyone to take precautions anywhere in tick country.
“It’s a freak thing,” he said. “Tickborne illnesses in general cause severe repercussions if they’re not caught early.
“Your health is first and foremost. It’s just so stupid this kind of stuff happens. I’m not upset. I’m at peace with it.”
