Experiences while taking blood thinners and windsurfing.

[techno900]

Catching a-fib in action is tough. When I had it, I was having two or 3 episodes a month, usually lasting a few hours. So all the testing you have gone through likely didn't see anything, because it wasn't happening during the tests. If you have an episode, get to an ECG asap to confirm. I had a-fib for 5 years before it was caught on an ECG. Dr. misdiagnosed my very irregular heart beat as the result of mitral valve prolapse. WRONG. For me, my pulse jumped from 50's to 180 during a-fib (pre meds) and was VERY easy for me to feel on my carotid pulse. For others, apparently not so obvious.

Good luck.

[DelCarpenter]

I am on Eloquis as a blood thinner, about 18 months so far. My doctors and I are not concerned about injury risks from my windsurfing rig sailing because my particular sailing has never been high risk for open wounds. My worst "wounds" were only scrapes & sprains in my 34 seasons of windsurfing plus at least 10 of ice & hard packed snow sailing and about 8 of land sailing with various 4 wheeled boards. My highest risk is from my land sailing. But then I'mI wearing helmet, pads, bulky clothing and the parking lots where I sail are within 5 minutes of EMTs and within 15 minutes of two hospital emergency rooms. I have a first aid kit in my van and I carry a cell phone with me while land sailing.

My disease progression: pretty long term undiagnosed sleep apnea; added low pulse rate about 2 years ago which led to diagnosis of obstructive and central sleep apnea (once recorded 82 seconds of brain not telling my body to breathe) and use of bi-pap machine. Frequency of low pulse rate got worse, sometimes down to high 40s which lead to pacemaker installation. The hospital observation identified minor atrial fibrillation which led to Eloquis to hopesfully prevent a stroke.

I mention that medical history because the primary risk factor for atrial fibrillation is being over age 60 (been a geezer for a while). The only other A-Fib risk factor I have is sleep apnea. My blood pressure has never been high, no diabetes, no known cardiac problems.

[isobars]

[wernerhickey]

Fair enough isobars, comprehensively put. I have many stories of my own, personal and close family, of misdiagnosis and poor doctoring - eventually fixed by a good one, there is something to learn in that. I have doctor friends that will only see certain specialists for their issues - supports what you are saying. Keep loving life and living each day to the fullest Mike.

[isobars]

Thanks, Werner. I might briefly add to it my experiences with a whole 'nuther treatment paradigm too many doctors criticize or even outright discourage: deep tissue massage by experts such as kinesiologists. Local orthopedists typically remove half the scapula of pts with a frozen shoulder and the literature claims that resolving crippling piriformis syndrome takes at least 4-6 weeks.

My guy released my frozen shoulder in two very effective 20-30-minute sessions and relieved my piriformis syndrome in two comparable sessions. Sure, deep tissue therapy hurts like hell during the treatment, but it feels great within minutes and beats the hell out of surgery and its aftermath. I and my wife have had similar results with many musculoskeletal problems surgeons couldn't wait to operate on unnecessarily.

[DelCarpenter]

Isobars, yes, as always, I am listening. I agree my windsurfing is not free from some risk of bruising and nearly any level of bruising could create a dangerous blot clot. That is also true of my bicycle riding which in the summer sometimes gets up to 15-20 miles as often as once a week; and my pickle ball playing has similar frequency & risks. And walking trails in the Candadian Rockies near Banff & Jasper the first two weeks in September had even more risk of falling.

BUT, the level of risk of bruising or wounding I take in my "absolutely, never ever go-for-broke" approach is very tiny compared with what I understand as the "go for it" approach you and many other windsurfers have. Instinctively my body has always known I don't have the speed of muscle or prowess or coordination to pull off risky moves if I do go for broke. So I don't.

By the way my wife & I got a charge out of your remark that 50% of doctors graduated in the bottom half of their class.

[isobars]

[GURGLETROUSERS]

In a way, reasonable non radical windsurfing should be a safe sport for those on blood thinning medication, and who would be in danger of serious internal bleeding from heavy knocks and blows. A relatively soft landing or plop into the water when it goes wrong should, assuming adequate protection, surely be non life threatening.

We had a sad death three years ago when a keen 73 year old fellow windsurfer and cyclist who was on medication from a previous mini-stroke, crashed while riding his road bike in a group outing. he was rushed to hospital but, sadly, the blood thinning medication he was on had resulted in bleeding of the brain. There was no chance of a successful operation. He would have been permanently brain damaged had it actually kept him alive.

It was a shame in the sense that he had apparently backed off from risking windsurfing out on the sea, in that he would have been unable to safely get back in if he suffered any attack. He presumably had calculated that on the bike, he would at least have a brief enough warning giving him time to brake and stop, on safe solid ground. It didn't work that way. he lost control in an instant with a fatal fall. There are no soft landings on tarmac.

One of the sad things in life is that bad things often enough happen to those who least deserve it. Although we were not real friends, just fellow windsurfers, I often think kindly of him, and recall how he once came to my aid when I'd hurt myself and needed a bit of help. Life can be depressing at times, for those of us who are not religious. We are continually made aware that it is just a random series of events to which no apparent purpose can be given.

[cgoudie1]

Not entirely random, old friend, nature can slap us down at any time, but
we do what we can to stand and face her. Life would be so unfulfilling without risk.

-Craig

p.s. purpose is over rated

[GURGLETROUSERS]

I don't know if the same applies in the Gorge Craig, but most sailing or surfing beaches have their core of regulars which often results in a form of tribalism. They share phone numbers, and usually sail or surf as arranged, not usually aggressively towards outsiders (unless they 'drop in' on them or boss about) But the 'tribe' do often enough misunderstand the motive of those of us who are loners by nature, and choose to maintain our independence of action, while simply joining in the day's action.

I'm making the point because windsurfing on what was 10/20 years ago a very crowded windsurfing beach has now totally 'lost' the old guard (or clique)leaving me, the loner by choice, the only windsurfer among a sea of kiters. (A new younger set in the main.)

I(n wondering why this has happened it occurs to me that the tribalism thing may have worked against them. With two accidental deaths over the last few years (one 65 year old windsurfer drowned, and the other biking accident I mentioned) perhaps the others , being of the group mentality, have 'worried' themselves out of taking risks (as they see it) in being out on the open sea. It does figure in that one or two switched to reservoir sailing, and another, who was close friends with both the fatalities, now exclusively 'sails' a beach buggy.

I agree with you Craig that with increasing age doubt needs to be firmly put in its place by determination to do that which we KNOW we have always been able to do, and still need to! And if it does go wrong - well, as you say, what IS the purpose of life!