Free Spirits Rowing

A cautionary tale - went for my daily swim on Friday and as I was finishing up I felt a massive pain in my chest which I knew was a heart attack - the next thing I remember is waking up in hospital 2 days later. Apparently the lifeguards at the pool gave me CPR for 25 minutes , I had 3 defibrillations in the ambulance and was put in an induced coma for 2 days. The hospital told my wife and daughter that there was a good chance I wouldn’t wake up and an 80% chance of brain damage - thankfully neither of the above happened due to two very determined young men.
They expect me too o make a full recovery - my ribs are very painful and I have some pneumonia from inhaling the pool water - my wife has been asking me how to take the erg apart so they can hide it from me in the summer house

Paul G

Paul, unfortunately my english is not good enough to express it at the same way as you described what has happened but I'm very glad those persistent guys were there. Take it easy and you're family should take it apart without asking you how. It will take you longer to put it together again then. All the best.

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Wow man, good to have you still with us!
Of course, those that know you best would never suggest you've had slight brain damage for decades

Scary business Paul; good to hear that you are expected to recover fully.

With reference to your title, I would like to say that I consider Friday the 13th a lucky day, and when reading the odds you mention you have been very lucky, right?!

Have a full and speedy recovery!!

Best wishes for a good recovery Paul. I hope you'll be spending spring and summer relaxing in the summer house so best hide the erg somewhere else. And well done to the lifeguards and medics.

Blimey - that's a scary read and I'm so glad you pulled through that relatively unscathed. Well done to the lifeguards with their determination and medical professionals all round. I'm thinking that your underlying level of fitness helped you through that whole episode.

I think Fred is right - take it apart any which way, then hide some of the pieces (for a while anyway). And Tako is also correct - Friday the 13th was definitely your lucky day.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

That was very scary to read Paul, I'm glad you seem to have got away with it with very little harm! I'd suggest you celebrate two birthdays a year from now on All the best for further recovery!

Thank you all for your kind wishes - it is greatly appreciated - my family have been amazing, in particular my daughter who has been a rock supporting both me and Sally - the brain damage remark I had been expecting but from David who has done a few longish rows with me

Thanks once again all of you who have posted

Paul G

paulgould wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 12:21 pm Thank you all for your kind wishes - it is greatly appreciated - my family have been amazing, in particular my daughter who has been a rock supporting both me and Sally - the brain damage remark I had been expecting but from David who has done a few longish rows with me

Thanks once again all of you who have posted

Paul G

A little too serious even for me to risk that comment - but you are right, we've both done a few bonkers things on an ergo

Oh my gosh, Paul!! The first thing I did when I read "massive pain in my chest which I knew was a heart attack" was glance down to your sig to see if you age was listed. 52!?! And I'd assume relatively fit given your penchant to hang out in a rowing forum. Have they given you any indication as to suspected cause. In retrospect, any symptoms at all prior to the event?

Your story is alarming. I'm so glad to see you posting after what you've been through. Your attitude seems pretty well-adjusted as well! Cheers!

I am on lifetime medication for Atrial Fibrillation after a previous cardiac arrest , a mini stroke and 2 blood clots.
Given my history, the cardiologist said this attack was inevitable.
Unfortunately, as I am adopted, I don’t know what hereditary conditions, if any, I have

Paul G

I would like to share an experience with the rowing/swimming heart sufferers . November 2008 having completed a 1mile time trial on our machine and still sitting to recover I felt very dizzy and thought I was going to pass out - finished up with four days in intensive care in Agen Hospital , we were living in France. Masses of tests including a visit to the Nuclear labs near Toulouse. Advice - you are OK and here are all your results which even included a CD of my heart action in a variety of colours. Do not let your heart go over 140 beats and take anti defib pills. Since that date I competed in the odd BIRC competition with no problems. Having returned to the UK, due to my Wife`s Alzheimers difficulty, I swam in the EUROPEAN Masters champs in London in June 2016 breaking a European and four British records in the 85-89 years age group. Nothing wrong with my heart except for the Fibrillation during a training session two months later. I now have a splendid Defibrillator which I know works as it gave me a jolt ,which was another month not driving , plus I take 5 pills a day. I use the rower and multigym 6 days and swim on the 7th but I am sorry to say that my performance these days is limited inspite of the hard work involved. My remaining target is to take part in each CTC and as I go up to the 90 -94 swimming age group next year keep fit enough to have a go at the next set of records. I have an idea that it is advancing years and the pills that are the main inhibitor of performance!

Paul,read your Covid-19 post first, so slightly less shocked than I would have been. Really glad that you had this where there were staff who knew what they were doing. Please take it easy, however hard you will find that.

- Iain

Thanks Iain
Always good to hear from you

Paul G

Quick update - recovered from the pneumonia and was transferred on Monday over to Portsmouth for more tests,, the upshot of which I now have,like Mr Burrell, a brand new pacemaker/ defibrillator implanted in my chest.The conclusion of the cardiologists was that all of my episodes have been caused by clots formed in the heart as a result of Atrial Fibrillation.
Anyway, I am going back home tomorrow, new medication(no more Warfarin, so no more blood tests), my daughter gets her father back but loses a taxi driver for 6 months.
I will make a full recovery and get active again, but at a more measured rate( shouldn’t be a problem as moderation is one of my middle names).

Once again , thanks for the kind thoughts from the great bunch of people that comprise Free
Spirits - it is very much appreciated

All the best
Paul G

Only just now I read this thread. The title had me assuming it was maybe about some jellyfish nuisance or a stubbed toe or something.
What a scare it must have been to you and especially your family! And what good fortune as you seem to come out this relatively unscathed! Take care.

Great to hear the good news Paul, I'm sure you'll be enjoying walking and enjoying the IOW in the coming months.

Indeed very good to hear. I'm sure your family will remind you of that middle name. Listen to them

w00t! Great news, Paul - thanks for sharing!

Thank you very much Steve, Fred and Ron

Paul G

These last updates had slipped past me - sorry. Great news Paul (other than there's obviously a slightly more bionic version of you with us now). Take it easy young man - no more 24 hour rows methinks

Thanks very much Dave - good advice there too - I may have a go at a 24 minute row though.

Cheers
Paul

Wow Paul! I just saw this thread now and I'm very relieved to hear that you're OK and on the way to a full recovery. That must have been a very worrying few days for you and your family.

Look after yourself and take it easy when you eventually get back on the erg. In other words, do the opposite of what I normally do!

Paul, thank you for your positive and uplifting story and best wishes to you for a continued and full recovery back to strapping good health.

My idea and your idea of moderate exercise, might vary though.

Keep breathing in the healthy Hampshire air.

Jill - a Hampshire lass.

Thanks very much for your kind words ,Jill and Paul.

Paul, for the first time ever, I am going to take your advice when I do get back on the erg

Cheers
Paul G