To stop sailing or not?

[Good]

Hi just got out of hospital i had a hart attack and i don't now if i can keep sailing
my love for the sea is still there.Is there anyone out there in the same situation or have been in that situation

 

[bobgosling]

If you gave up everything you enjoy you wouldn't actually live any longer. It would just seem longer.

 

[bedouin]

Dangerous animals harts - but you should be safe from them on the water.

 

[Norman_E]

Sorry to hear of the heart attack, but if you give up something you love, then life will be a duller experience. Why not continue, but get advice whether to carry a defribulator on board, along with someone who knows how to use it, and always sail wth someone competent to take over the boat in case of need.

 

[StugeronSteve]

Sorry to hear of your problems and hope that you are well on the mend.

I know that thesae are obvious questions, but:

What do the medicos say?

Have you a significant risk of further incidents, or has the problem been "sorted"?

 

[Lakesailor]

I have a friend who has had a quadruple heart by-pass. He won the National Folkboat series last year and has been winning regularly this year.
His crew is 20 years older than him.

 

[Talbot]

Look at the number of people who have heart problems, get them resolved and then go running marathons.

 

[SoulFireMage]

Whatever you do, don't give it up if it's something you love. There's plenty of advice and previous experiences on here to help make it safer, but don't quit it unless you really really want to.
What is life for if you can't actually live it and enjoy it?

 

[thalassa]

This happened to me in July last year, on the boat. I was lucky to be in harbour (Blankenberge, Belgium) at the time, and the ambulance was there very soon. They had to send for the Firefighters however, to extract me from the boat. They were not happy, as they had their annual barbie and were standing instead knees deep in salt water on the end of a sinking finger pontoon.
Since then, I've been on a revalidation course, which was a BIG help, physically but, more important, mentally. The big hurdle afterwards is the sense of insecurity, and that the issue to overcome. This counts for your partner too. For the first months, she would be in panic if I went out to the shops and would return half an hour late.
But, given support, you will overcome this. We've bought a slightly bigger boat last September, and now do 10 hrs- legs where we did 20 or 24 before. And so we went even further than ever before, this year (Antwerp-Fowey and back) .See:
http://users.skynet.be/mgbruth/2006_West_England/
Just sail on, and keep safe.

 

[graham]

i know a few people who have continued sailing after heart attacks.One friend of mine had a major bypass op and sailed again within a year.

Dont make any decisions now.Your probably still slightly in shock from it all.Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

 

[franky]

I bought my boat just AFTER the heart attack four years ago.Before you make any decisions about your future sailing have a discussion with your cardioligist and be honest with him about what you want to do.The major alteration I made to my boat was to install an electric anchor winch but other than that plan your jobs carefully.Why carry when you can wheel , if you need to lift rig a block and tackle.I sail with my partner and she has been on the RYA first aid course so she can tell the rescue services what is happening I don't think she could put me in the "recovery position" on the boat,give cardiac massage,make a VHF call and sail the boat to a safe position all at the same time.But what the hell ,I am doing what I enjoy and life is to be lived as much as possible.Off next week to Algarve to go the last few miles to winter berth at Cadiz.

 

[Mirelle]

Fit an electric anchor windlass.

A friend, a now-retired Professor of Medicine, had a heart attack some years ago, dealing with the anchor on a chartered boat. He got back from a three year cruise round the Baltic in his own boat this summer, and is Commodore of our local yacht club.

 

[Kilter]

I have a friend in his early eighties, had a heart attack in his sixties, still sailing, still loving it and still going strong! Go for it!

 

[rodwhite]

.rest-relax- get mind and body sorted then go sailing . dont give up on your sailing . hope it all works out

 

[mainmarine]

I had a heart attack three years ago followed by a triple by pass, I renovated my boat during this time, now sailing her. There is light at the end of the tunnel, keep positive, its a shock to the system as well as a heart attack.
Malc

 

[Toryboy1]

My dad had two bypass ops 10 years apart and went sailing after both of them. Cancer got the poor old bu***er in the end, a couple of years after the seccond bypass. But he managed to get early retirement on the back of the fist one, and sailed every day, though he never did much more than day-sail. Self confidence is a major issue for many people following heart attacks or heart surgery, but time and if necessary cognitive behavioural therapy helps. Take reasonable precautions, speak to a sympathetic medic and enjoy life.

 

[rob2]

My mate still sails with me after heart problems. We hope if another problem happens we are on the water. The helicopter will get him to hospital much faster than any ambulance!
He's still much stronger than me, but endurance is reduced. There are new limits, but nothing you can't cover by sensible use of extra crew when needed.

 

[sarabande]

I'd support every word these kind and sensible sailors have been saying. Their advice applies not only to cardiac problems but other health issues which affect physical life, as well.

When you sail with a reduced capacity to leap around and heave things, you'll find that you re-assess ways to achieve the same result within your physical and personal capacities. Result, easier, possibly"safer" sailing, as you might reef or go back home earlier.

The mental re-adjustment is a very difficult part. One step at a time, just like the slow walking regime the hospital will have given you. I sailed with my best friend who had a bypass, and before we set out he briefed us all on where his meds were, and what to do if he fell over. Somehow it made the crew closer.

However slowly you get back to sailing, it will be worth it - every steady moment. Go for it !

 

[2Tizwoz]

We must all die sometime.

Personally a would prefer a sudden heart problem to end my days rather than a lingering uncomfortable death in hospital or retirement home.

 

[LittleShip]

I guess the answer to your question according to the forum is "dont give up"

Thats easy for us to say but only you will know what your future abilities will be. Take all the Quacks advice and then look at staying on the water without the exertion.

GET YOURSELF A MOBO!!

Get well soon and look forward to the smell of the ozone?

Tom /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif