Back in the Water

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paulgould
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Back in the Water

Post by paulgould »

Yesterday I went back to the Gurnard Pines swimming pool where I had my cardiac arrest 9 months ago.
Firstly I wanted to get in the water again to overcome any apprehension I had, and secondly wanted to see the one lifeguard who I hadn't had the opportunity to personally thank for rescuing me that day.
I managed to achieve both goals - I had a lovely swim, wasn't at all nervous and felt like I had never been out of the water - I did 40 relaxed lengths (1000m).
I also got to see the lifeguard, Sarah, and it6 was great to be able to finally thank her in person.

I am contemplating a swimming membership at my local pool as I enjoyed the swim so much - unfortunately Gurnard Pines is no longer my local pool as I have moved.

Paul G
56, 1.74m , Sep '20 - 114 kg , currently - 98 kg
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Re: Back in the Water

Post by Draggon »

Great to hear that, Paul! I'm glad you had a good time in the water and were able to thank your benefactor.
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webberg
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Re: Back in the Water

Post by webberg »

Wait - cardiac arrest?
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paulgould
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Re: Back in the Water

Post by paulgould »

webberg wrote: Mon Dec 14, 2020 12:00 pm Wait - cardiac arrest?
Yes, had a cardiac arrest while swimming on Friday 13 March - the lifeguards were magnificent - gave me CPR for 20 minutes until the paramedics got my heart restarted, and they saved my life.
Had a pacemaker/defibrillator implanted in my chest and have made a full recovery and am getting back to full strength.

Paul G
56, 1.74m , Sep '20 - 114 kg , currently - 98 kg
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200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
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webberg
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Re: Back in the Water

Post by webberg »

That is sobering Paul.

I've always thought of you as a very fit and strong man with power and times on the rower that are way beyond my reach and therefore something that I can aspire to but probably never reach.

I've always tried to get and stay fit and have spent more hours than I care to count on CV machines, bikes, running, swimming (I used to go with a mate and we'd do a mile a day). Partly this is rehab/strength/tone for various knee and back problems but I had always reckoned on a side effect being a healthy heart.

Given your determination and focus I'm sure you'll come back stronger than ever and I wish you well - very well - in the future.
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paulgould
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Re: Back in the Water

Post by paulgould »

Thanks Ron and Graham for the kind words.
Unfortunately my heart condition is not curable(atrial fibrillation) but can be effectively managed by medication, and the ICD which I had implanted.
One of the medications I am on is Beta Blockers which reduce your heart rate so I don't do anything anaerobic. My condition, and the medication to manage it, informs the way I train and I concentrate on strength - I do believe that I am fairly strong(for my age anyway) and that helped me overcome this last incident.I am also making an effort to keep my weight down so that I place less strain on my heart.
I seem to be a bit like a cat in that I appear to have nine lives, but I have used up 4 already so have to be a bit more careful :fsbgrin: :fsbgrin:

Paul G
56, 1.74m , Sep '20 - 114 kg , currently - 98 kg
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200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
Wolfmiester
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Re: Back in the Water

Post by Wolfmiester »

Great news Paul, I imagine thanking the lifeguard was special.

Afib is incurable? Could I be confusing another type of Fibrillation?
I had a procedure a few yrs back for Afib (ablation) which luckily fixed my problem (statistically its roughly 50/50 success rate).
Medication was another option, but I opted for surgery.
Just interested, maybe we are all different (and it certainly looks like your management method is working just fine!) and as I say there are probably variations of Afib too.
Wolfie

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paulgould
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Re: Back in the Water

Post by paulgould »

Hi Steve

I imagine there are different types of AF - I was never considered suitable for ablation and have been on medication since 2011 when I had a DVT and scarring was found on my heart.At this point the doctors concluded that a previous bout of myocarditis(2003) was in fact mis-diagnosed and had in fact been an MI(probably caused by AF) and that I had had 8 years of a chronically under-performing heart(perfectly illustrated by my rubbish erg scores in that period :lol: :lol: ).
Fortunately, since my CA, some of my medication has changed. I now have an oral anti-coagulant instead of Warfarin, a new diuretic and increased Beta-blockers, which all seem to be working well, so while I won't be re-writing the erg record books I am keeping healthy and able to use the machine without any trepidation.

Paul G
56, 1.74m , Sep '20 - 114 kg , currently - 98 kg
Image
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
Wolfmiester
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Re: Back in the Water

Post by Wolfmiester »

Thanks for the info Paul, genuinely interesting. All those long training sessions and ultra marathon rows were achieved despite all that then :-)
The body is an amazing thing, not to mention modern medicine.
I had SVT, which was my first ablation, which is when they discovered the AF.
Funny old world :-)
Wolfie

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paulgould
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Re: Back in the Water

Post by paulgould »

Yes I know of ablation for SVT , as my daughters partner has the condition - didn’t know it was a treatment for AF too . I’m starting to do a lot of reading about cardiology - it is good to be as informed as possible.
Regarding the long distance stuff - I’ve always been drawn to that even though I am more physically suited to power and sprinting events- as you said , funny old world😃

Paul G
56, 1.74m , Sep '20 - 114 kg , currently - 98 kg
Image
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
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webberg
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Re: Back in the Water

Post by webberg »

It is incredible how our understanding of the body and its complex mechanisms has advanced and treatments come out of that.

My Dad (coming up 90) has AF and is on a cocktail of blood thinners and the like. They did a "reset" which worked for a while but may need to do again tho. They will not do a pacemaker as his age makes the procedure more risky.

I started trying to be an athlete in my very early teens. I was a decent sprinter and long jumper but my heart was in football. Anyway the hours of interval training and the like left me with a very low resting heart rate - even now it's perhaps 42 to 45.

In theory therefore I should be able to hold a low heart rate for long distances and be decent at the endurance stuff. I'm not.

I think therefore Paul, to achieve what you have with a heart condition is a testament to your mental strength and determination. May it continue long into the future.
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paulgould
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Re: Back in the Water

Post by paulgould »

webberg wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 6:36 pm It is incredible how our understanding of the body and its complex mechanisms has advanced and treatments come out of that.

My Dad (coming up 90) has AF and is on a cocktail of blood thinners and the like. They did a "reset" which worked for a while but may need to do again tho. They will not do a pacemaker as his age makes the procedure more risky.

I started trying to be an athlete in my very early teens. I was a decent sprinter and long jumper but my heart was in football. Anyway the hours of interval training and the like left me with a very low resting heart rate - even now it's perhaps 42 to 45.

In theory therefore I should be able to hold a low heart rate for long distances and be decent at the endurance stuff. I'm not.

I think therefore Paul, to achieve what you have with a heart condition is a testament to your mental strength and determination. May it continue long into the future.
Kind of you to say so , Graham, but in my case it was "ignorance is bliss".
TBH, between 2006 (when I joined FS) and 2011 I was unaware that I had any prevailing health condition, other than the obvious mental aberration that led me to spend 24 hours in a god-forsaken golf club in the company of Plummy and Spikeola :lol: :lol: .

Paul G
56, 1.74m , Sep '20 - 114 kg , currently - 98 kg
Image
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
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webberg
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Re: Back in the Water

Post by webberg »

Equally I seem to recall an afternoon at Twickenham watching England get hammered by SA and even enjoying a few beverages afterwards?
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paulgould
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Re: Back in the Water

Post by paulgould »

webberg wrote: Fri Dec 18, 2020 9:20 am Equally I seem to recall an afternoon at Twickenham watching England get hammered by SA and even enjoying a few beverages afterwards?
Yes - remember it well :fsbgrin: - my first opportunity to meet some FS'ers in the flesh - you, Wolfie and Thomas, AND SA 42 - Eng 6 - almost as good as last year's final!!

Paul G
56, 1.74m , Sep '20 - 114 kg , currently - 98 kg
Image
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
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Re: Back in the Water

Post by stumpy »

Small world isn't it had a weeks holiday at Gurnard summer of 2019 also a few visits to Gurnard dingy week over the years
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