Mt Everest

Bridgette · Jan 19, 2009

A newcomer in another thread questioned whether having a mechanical valve and being on Warfarin would affect one's ability to go camping, mountain climbing, sailing etc.
Now, those of us that are on ACT know that we can do anything we want to do, as long as we are sensible (even if you are not on ACT you should be sensible when skydiving, mountain climbing etc and take the correct safety gear etc).
Someone else mentioned a story about a woman with a St Jude's valve who climbed Mt Everest - I remember reading about it at the time, and have gone back and found an article about it. Not sure if it has been posted here before, but anyway here it is.

http://www.sjm.com/assets/successstories/veronikameyer_star_tribune_article_0507.html

I decided to start a new thread here as I think Alerion's thread in the Pre-Surgery forum has done its dash. If newcomers are GENUINELY interested in finding out about ACT they'll come to this part of the forum and ask reasonable questions.

Bridgette

westie · Jan 21, 2009

same person

same person

another way of expressing this is that you are the same person before and after valve replacement surgery.

if you never climbed mountains prior to surgery, you are not particularly likely to start doing it after surgery but if you had done so, you would start it up again when you were recovered.

the only impediments being ignorance of others, mis information and one's own hang ups

netmiff · Jan 21, 2009

I agree, and what a wonderful way of putting it, westie! I have never had any desire to climb mountains, deep sea dive, throw myself out of moving airplanes or anything of the like, but if I did, I would do so again. Maybe just wear another layer of cotton wool under whatever appropriate gear I was wearing - or, to put it another way, just make sure to take every reasonable precaution I could.

aussigal · Jan 23, 2009

Thats a good story isnt it Bridgette...I read all those stories on the StJudes website too one day....same as all the ones on our opening page here.

The Active Lifestyle section here would also give newbies some idea of how unrestrictive life on Warfarin can be...

I have only been on Warfarin for about 3 years but it has made absolutely no change to the way I live my life at all.

Woodbutcher · Jan 23, 2009

I'm all for more of an upbeat attitude to Warfarin. Seeing the post yesterday from Olefin was really encouraging, looking so fit and healthy after 18 yrs off mechanical valve. I dont know why I doubt it really. You'd be surprised how many friends have said to me "So you'll be on rat poison now then?" Drives me nuts ! Or, "mind you dont cut yourself it'll come out like water you know?" Such ignorance !
Even my nurse yesterday who wanted me to double my dose on two out of seven days this week to bring my inr up above 2.3 (which it's been stuck on for over a month!), when I asked if I could spread the extra 6mg's over the week with an extra 1mg per day she said "oh no, we dont like patients to do that, it's far too complicated, so we always advise just one size of pill then double up if you need to raise your dose." I had to point out that I'd only had a valve changed for a new one and not actually lost my mind or become a doddery old bugger over night who couldn't be trusted to add a 1mg tablet to a 3mg tablet ! "Just do what you want then!" Maybe it was the tone of my voice but I thought I had a point ??
The other thing I just realised is that my stepfather was on Warfarin for the last 20 odd yrs of his life, he died a few yrs ago in France where he lived a healthy active life, restoring houses, building boats, eating fine foods and drinking fine wine (plenty of both!). I knew he went for blood tests now and then but it was such a minor inconveniance in his life that i didn't even know about why he went ?
I have a feeling that lots of people with valve repairs actually tend to have a much healthier lifestyle after the op than before it anyway. Spending the rest of their lives looking after themselves much better than if they'd carried on taking their good health for granted ?