SKY DIVING ...

I was 3-mos. pregnant with my son (1985), & decided to NOT follow through on my sky diving class/jump; however, my son's Father did. Since then ... I ALWAYS wanted to 'jump'!

My son jumped with his Dad before he went off to college -- WHAT AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE & VIDEO! I STILL wanted to 'jump', & told my son we'd go together for his graduation from college! However ... in 2006, I got my pacemaker!! Never 'sick', never dizzy, in basically good shape for my age, yet my Cardiologist doesn't recommend I 'jump'. I've read some stories of others who HAVE jumped ...

Any thoughts on this? I STILL want to jump!! I am now 52 & STILL in basically good shape. I call my pacemaker a little hiccup in my life ... THAT'S ALL!

Thx!!


Still tickin' ...
Di ; )


7 Comments

Skydiving

by SMITTY - 2011-07-26 01:07:13

Hello,

I have never jumped and never will but I am curious. Why does the Dr say don't jump? Is he one of those people that thinks sky diving is an unnecessary risk for people to take or does he think it could affect your pacemaker. I'm really curious about his reason for that recommendation.

Now I will add a little personal knowledge about our pacemakers and the effect on one after a fall. I took a high dive into my yard on some very hard ground and didn't land on my PM but it is now loose as a goose in the pocket. That happened in mid-April and as the days go by I can see it becoming a greater probability that I'll have to have something done to stop it from moving around.

Another question which your husband or son can answer, I'm sure. How much of a jerk do you get when the chute opens? If it is much and knowing my experience from hitting the ground, I would guess that may be the reason for the Dr recommendation. I watch skydivers almost every week, as there is a skydiving club less than a mile from my house. But they are all jumping from 10 to 12K feet (I think) and while I can hear the chute pop when it opens I cannot see how much of a jerk the jumper gets.

Like I said I'm just curious. I hope you can jump if that's what you want to do. I'm sure it will be exciting and fun.

Smitty

SKY DIVING ... from dismilee59 ...

by dismilee59 - 2011-07-26 02:07:24

Cabg Patch & Smitty - My Cardiologist said that the leads (I have 2) COULD be pulled out, depending ... Imagining your arms being flung BACK, as you are heading DOWN ... BUT ... if you do a 'tandum jump' (NOT ALONE, like my son's Dad did his 1st time!), you have the umbrella protection above you, so your arms can only go so far.

Having been told to NOT lift more than 10 lbs. for 4-6 wks. after my pacemaker implantation, I had a Family Reunion that I was in charge of in 9 days. Needless to say ... I WAS lifting more than 10 lbs. regularly & am just fine. YOU & ONLY YOU KNOW YOUR BODY & ITS LIMITATIONS! I feel good, however, I HAVE bumped my pacemaker site & it DOES hurt (for a little while), but that 'hurt' goes away. Kiddingly, I asked my Dr. 5 years ago, WHY CAN'T YOU PUT THIS THING IN AT A PLACE WHERE I HAVE SOME 'MEAT'! LIKE MY BUTT! Of COURSE we all laughed, but SERIOUSLY ... my upper chest area is 'thin', I'm NOT 'chesty', & I can see/feel the pacemaker lump AND the lead ends!! I recall reading an article about a 102-year-old woman who ALWAYS wanted to 'jump'. She DID, she survived, & is telling her story, SO ...

Time will tell ...

Thx to you both for offering your feelings on the issue. Having thought bout NOT telling the sky diving establishment about my pacemaker, I'd have to sign the same papers that anyone else would, so ... if I want to put '911' on-call ... I don't know about that ...

Let's just say that SKY DIVING is on my 'BUCKET LIST'!

Wishing you all well, & once again ...

KEEP ON TICKIN' from ...

Still Tickin'
dismilee59
Di ; )

Why?

by ElectricFrank - 2011-07-27 02:07:17

As a pilot I can't understand why anyone would want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. LOL

Seriously, if you still have the leads from 2006, there is almost no chance of pulling them out even if you spread your arms. The only other thing I can think of would be the emotional effect of a jump affecting your rhythm. Otherwise, go for it.

There is almost zero chance of getting any useful information from a doc, cardiologist, or EP unless you happen to find one that sky dives. I imagine you could doc shop until you find one that approved, but what use is that.

Give us a report on how it goes.

frank

SKY DIVING Di ; )

by dismilee59 - 2011-07-28 02:07:18

Pilot Frank ...

Thx for your input!

At this point in my life ... I don't believe that I would be able to make a jump ALONE, so ... with THAT said ... having an experienced, certified 'jumper' ON MY BACK ... even if I were to pass out in mid air ... he's going to 'land' us!!

Will keep you posted ... I have some 'research' to do, & it really doesn't have anything to do with a Dr.'s 'opinion' -- after all ... it's 'practicing medicine'!! ; )

Take care, & happy flying! Where are you located? I've got to find a very reputable sky diving group (& there's PLENTY here in FL!), & then go from there ...

Take care, & as always ...

Still Tickin'
Always smilin'
dismilee59
Di ; )

I'm at other end of country

by ElectricFrank - 2011-07-28 11:07:58

I'm located in the Mojave Desert of Calif on the eastern side of the Sierra's. In our location soaring is more popular with all the updrafts around the mountains. I know one pilot who was released at around 4,000' AGL here and traveled 60 miles north to circle Mt Whitney at 15,000 and return. He has some great videos.

I got my pilot license in a Piper PA11 tail dragger in 1955. In the late 60's-early 70's I flew a Cessna 182 around most of Calif on business including going 100mi over water to San Clemente Island. That would have been a wet sky dive.

With some of the landings I've made in my career I would rather have a landing gear under me rather than my legs.

frank

Still Tickin', always smilin', & wanna be SKYDIVING ... Di ; )

by dismilee59 - 2011-07-29 11:07:59

Frank,

So you've never 'jumped'?

Sounds like you have LOTS of flying 'stories'.

I'll continue to do my 'research' ... I DO 'plan' to jump one of these days & hopefully SOON! My son is leaving Aug. 23 for USAF Boot Camp & will graduate Oct. 21, so ... things are quite busy thru then, but after Oct. 21 ... we'll see ...

Take care & keep in touch ...


Di Smilee ; )

Never carried a chute

by ElectricFrank - 2011-07-30 12:07:50

Plenty of stories. My instructor defined cross country flying as "Hours and hours of boredom interspersed with momments of cheer terror". How right he was.

frank

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A properly implanted and adjusted pacemaker will not even be noticeable after you get over the surgery.