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RaymondR · 16-01-2018, 21:16

I have been treating sole atrial fibrillation whilst cruising for about the last six years whilst cruising by myself.

I occasionally worry that I will have serious health problems whilst in a remote area and for that reason don't have any pets.

I have a good doctor who understands that my cruising life style is good for my mental and physical health. He practices in a city at the northern terminus of my annual winter cruise and I have an annual medical there whilst waiting for the prevailing winds to shift northerly.

I also have hypothyroidism which I take medication for an about every six months the doctor calls and reminds me that another blood test is required. I inform his receptionist of the fax number for the nearest pathology lab and they fax a prescription to the lab for me to have the test.

When he receives the results the doctor will call and adjust dosages over the phone.

I also call them for prescription renewals and we use a similar procedure for the renewal of drug prescriptions. Sort of keeps them informed that I have not fallen off the perch and they can expect to see me on my next cruise.

Having a good relationship with your doctor, making sure the anchor is well dug in when you anchor, staying away from cold climates, listening to a weather report every day and avoiding bad weather, and staying the hell away from lawyers appears to be the best way forward. A touch of fatalism and following Ronny's advice to "don't worry, be happy" also seems to help.

I am seventy three and hope to be still cruising with my health problems until at least eighty five.

Gregg927 · 17-01-2018, 05:47

I'm one of your brothers in the bond. I often sail singlehandedly. Sailing, and its associated diet, has been an easy and direct path to greatly better fitness. My thought for your consideration would be this, do you sit and wait in your same TV and easy chair for a health to come to you, or, might you get up, turn your back on the old ways, and come sailing. The change for myself has been dramatic and I'm a happy person. Thank you for your posting. I hope to see you on the water soon.

passthetuna · 17-01-2018, 09:30

Three heart surgeries later and still ticking at 57. Several of my relatives kicked the bucket around 50 so I come by this genetically to a certain extent. I have always worked out running, biking, weight lifting. Never smoked. Drink very little, usually on holidays. I've had some pretty dark days, but the best advice I ever got was to walk. Physically and emotionally walking really helped me. I'd go sailing if I were you. As for me, I'm planning my next ski vacation and which motorcycle race I'm gonna race in. There's no guarantees in this life. Might as well live it.

brookiesailor · 19-01-2018, 09:55

After all the medical talk...

I deal with several medical issues but travel extensively, not yet cut the lines but am already sorting between these issues. I lived in Africa for five years where health care was minimal and good health care was a five hour plane ride. I had a heart rate of 30 and was told to go home and lay on the couch until it got better!

SO what I have found is contingency plans, taking things in small steps and fore planning are the best. Always know where you can get help or how you can get out of there quickly. I went to the hospital on La Digue in the Seychelles while we were cruising there. I was the only patient. I got fabulous service. Luckily that was just a quick couple of hour visit.

So I take a stock of emergency meds, Have my docs personal cell, and always have a way out.

Lunesdale · 25-02-2018, 23:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Clark H356

I started taking an over the counter, $40 per month drug and in 3 months my EF went from 15-20 to 30-35. That was in 2002.

As someone who also has CHF and a low-ish EF and is wondering if it's too low to take the risk, I would be fascinated to know which over the counter drug helped your EF increase by that much. CoQ10? Vit D3?

Thanks!

**GordMay** · 26-02-2018, 02:54

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Lunesdale.

J Clark H356 · 26-02-2018, 06:10

First, I want to let you know I’m an Architect, not a Cardiologist, but my Internist recommended this drug. It is called Corvalen. It worked for me. I took it for several years and after I became stable in the 30-35 range, I decided to stop and see if there was any impact. I have not declined since, so now I have it in “reserve” for when I may need it in the future.

Google “Corvalen”. You’ll find lots of places to buy it. I did a Power with a tablespoon in the morning and in the evening mixed with water. Very little taste, slightly sweet.

Lunesdale · 27-02-2018, 14:32

Ahh! - that's plain old D-Ribose!

Thanks very much, I shall order some and see how the EF on my next echo in June compares.

For those who have CHF/reduced EF and don't already use them, the other two (Coenzyme Q10 and vitamin D3) are also very helpful in increasing EF and energy levels and have had very good medical trials (the Vitamin D3 trial was run by Leeds University, at Leeds Hospital, UK - average EF went up from 26% to 34% in a year; ventricular remodelling also reversed). Strange they're not prescribed along with the standard heart drugs.

In particular, it seems it's well known (from research) that both statins and beta blockers reduce the body's production of CoQ10, which, like D-Ribose, is important in energy production in cells and so cell/muscle (heart) function. People with CHF have lower levels (maybe due to taking beta blockers and statins?) and the body's production also decreases with age.

Here's the easy-read intro for the vitamin D3 study:

http://pumpingmarvellous.org/effects...heart-failure/

Quantities used in the trials:

Vit D3: 1x 4,000 IU capsule per day
CoQ10: 3x 100mg capsules/day

Both widely available.

I've noticed a very definite and significant change/improvement in how I feel over the last 2 months I've been taking them. I won't be climbing Helvellyn anytime soon (EF is still low-ish) but otherwise I'm beginning to feel almost as good ('normal') as I did before the HA happened. And that's after a year taking the standard drugs when I didn't feel like 'normal' at all, quite the opposite.

Anyway, not sure how much medical talk is allowed on a cruising forum!

Thanks again!

J Clark H356 · 28-02-2018, 05:44

Let us know how you do. Hope it improves your health.

Katiebell · 11-09-2020, 15:18

I cannot tell you how much hope this thread has given to me. I also have low RF. Thanks so much for sharing experiences & vitamin recommendations.

RaymondR · 11-09-2020, 17:39

The ageist mongrels who run the state where I have my drivers license are at this moment subjecting me to more of their minor humiliations.

My license expires next month and I am now older than 75 years of age. Up until renewal date I can drive a sixteen wheeler grossing about 40 tons on any highway in the country. When I renew it I am restricted to a four wheeler and 8 tons.

When I went to the renewal office I said to the very nice young lady "Statistically I am about 20 or more times less likely to cause an accident than the 17 to 25 years old cohort so why are you doing this to me." she did not have an answer other than "Its required."

I think it's actually a conspiracy to get all us older, and consequently more careful drivers off the road because we refuse to drive over the speed limits and am holding the impatient young buggers up.

What is the purpose of this thread drift?

I want to encourage all senior citizens to revenge on the ingrate young buggers. Cash out all the fixed assets and investments they are planning on inheriting, buy the Harley or the new Mustang (Which is a pretty nice looking piece of gear) go to the casino, buy the 55 footer instead of 40' etc. and blow the lot of it.

JC Reefer · 17-09-2020, 21:18

CThoops

I’ll be sending out some good vibes. Best of wishes and good luck.

Cthoops · 18-09-2020, 05:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cthoops

I'd love to hear from anyone who is (or knows someone) sailing and/or cruising (coastal or offshore) with congestive heart failure.

Our plans to cut the dock lines on August 4th are now delayed for a bit due to a new congestive heart failure diagnosis for Mr. cthoops. He's 58 years old and was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation approximately seven years ago, but it didn't really bother him. The doctors aren't sure if the damage was caused by a long-running undetected afib or if something else like a virus caused the damage which triggered the most recent afib. Doesn't really matter at the moment.

We already know that even after things settle down the longest interval between cardiology appointments will be three months, so we are adjusting our plans accordingly. His doctors have already said that the next one to two years will be very important so we aren't going to leave before then, but in the meantime it would be nice to connect with anyone experiencing the same situation. PM is fine if you would prefer.

Thank you.

OP here. Since this thread was resurrected I thought I’d give a brief update should anyone else find themselves in the same situation.

Mr. cthoops had a successful cardiac ablation in late March, 2018 and began to rapidly improve after that. With the blessing of his cardiologist we cut the dock lines in early September, 2018 and have been cruising full-time since then up and down the East Coast and spending the winters in the Bahamas.

He takes his medication, he has annual visits and echocardiograms with the cardiologist, he still has to be careful with sodium in his diet, he is severely restricted in his alcohol consumption, and he checks his heart rhythm regularly with a Kardia device. However, as long as the rhythm stays normal there is no reason to believe that his heart won’t continue to be well from a heart failure perspective.

We are both very much aware that Mr. cthoops has been very fortunate. Heart failure cases don’t typically recover this well, although we know of another sailor who also had a CHF diagnosis six months after Mr. cthoops who is also back sailing and planning to cruise next fall.

So to anyone out there who ends up with a CHF diagnosis and thinks their cruising dreams are gone, do know that’s not necessarily the case, and you are not the only ones who were hoping to cruise when you got the diagnosis. Feel free to reach out to us via PM at any time.