hiking

I will be leaving tomorrow to spend a month at my North Georgia mountain home. I had a four mile round trip hike scheduled for next Monday with two old friends. Last night I received a message from one that we should reconsider because there is no cell phone service where we will be hiking. Now, I am unsure about what to do. I had a CRT-D implanted four months ago after a diagnosis two weeks earlier of LBBB and heart failure. I'm 61 and have always maintained a healthy exercise program. My EF is 35% with no improvement so far, but I do feel better and have more energy. I truly don't think anything will happen while hiking and am conflicted on whether to give in to my friend's suggestion as I don't want to put added stress on him, nor my other friend either. On the other hand, I don't want to live my life always worrying if I am in an area where there is help at a moments notice. My doctor told me to do the things I have always done and hiking is one of my greatest joys. He also told me having my device is like having my own personal paramedic. In some way, I now feel discriminated against because of my condition, but I am trying to put myself in my friend's shoes. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.
msmillholland

7 Comments

go anyway!

by Tracey_E - 2011-06-14 01:06:24

All the best hikes are out of cell phone range! How bad is the elevation change? Unless it's straight up the mountain, 4 miles isn't far if you're not a newbie. If your dr has cleared you, then go for it. It's sad that your friend feels that way, but it's their problem, not yours. Maybe seeing you out and feeling good will help alleviate the fear. My husband used to be the same way with me, but I ignored him long enough I think he's either over it or he just learned to keep quiet. I take care of myself and I know my limits, I'd prefer he not worry about me but I can't control it if he does and I'm not going to give up something I love that I'm perfectly capable of doing because he's overprotective.

As your dr said, it's like having your own personal paramedic. You've got a bigger risk of taking a fall and hurting an ankle than running into heart problems.

Go With Your Original Plans

by SMITTY - 2011-06-14 01:06:44

Hello Ms. Millholland

I think you may have reached that point in your life where you must decide it you will be master of your destiny or if that pacemaker will now take control. I say go if you are feeling well provided your Dr approves.

That pacemaker is nothing but a helper for your heart. It steps in when you hearts natural pacemaker is not doing the job, nothing else. Your heart condition is really no better or no worse than before you got the PM. As I said, your heart now has a helper and believe me the sun is more likely to come up in the West than that PM fails. Even it if did fail your heart would just revert back to doing what it was doing before you go the PM

I have had a PM for 11 years and I have never backed off from doing a single thing out of consideration for it or my heart IF the Dr said it was alright for me to give it a try. So my suggestion is go with your original plan and tell your friends you are no less capable of participating in activities because you have a pacemaker. My guess is they think you now have a weak heart that must be pampered, or that you must always be where you can get assistance on a moments notice. I say tell them nothing has changed except you have a new scar and now have a helper for your heart that makes it work more efficiently.

Good luck to you and I hope you enjoy your hike.

Smitty

msmillholland

by msmillholland - 2011-06-14 02:06:06

thanks everyone for the very helpful advice. i think all of us who have ended up on this site are not going down easy. i'm going for it! thanks again,
martha

hike

by sarge - 2011-06-14 03:06:04

Martha, has it occured to you that maybe their wimping out and using your medical condition as an excuse to not do the hike....:) Kick their butts on the hike and show them your just as capable as they. Enjoy your life and don't let the PM control your life....

Go for it

by sallybags@email.com - 2011-06-14 04:06:37

To ease your friends mind about no cell phone service,just tell him if anything happens you'll go get help for him..lol

Go for it

by Parrothead57 - 2011-06-14 12:06:47

If it were me I would try several short hikes first in the area where you want to do the 4 miler. If everything felt good I would do the longer hike. If you're an avid hiker you know what to expect, especially in this heat.

Take care,
PH

Its your decision

by ElectricFrank - 2011-06-15 03:06:08

I camp in the desert 4 miles away from any help and no cell phone. I go on Jeep trips with a group where we are at least an hour (usually more) from cell phone service. At 81 I've decided that I'm going to enjoy life.

The important thing is to be honest with yourself about the risks, and be prepared to accept the consequences if something did happen. Also, let your friends know that you don't want anyone panicking at every thing you do.

enjoy yourself,

frank

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Your heart beats like a teenager in love.

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