Sky Diving

[ajay_22_86]

Just wondering if any of you have gone sky diving with a mechanical valve? Are we allowed to? Will our cardiologists let us? What about the actual sky diving place - are they happy to let us if are cardio gives us the okay?

This is something I've been dying to do and was told prior to my operation that I shouldn't because although there was no concrete evidence regarding aortic stenosis and sky diving, the sheer rush and excitement could be a big risk.

 

[Mary]

Hank, the founder of VR, went tandem skydiving at the Orlando reunion. Don't know if there was full disclosure concerning his having a mechanical valve though.
I had about 20 jumps in before my replacement, so I am familar with the sport and dropzones, but I don't think you could jump unless it was tandem. Rules vary at each dropzone, but it might be tricky to even do that.

 

[escargome]

I can't comment on the safety of sky diving with a mechanical valve. But I do wonder why someone would want to leave a perfectly good airplane of their own accord? Good Luck on your dive if you can do it.

 

[Hot Rod Harry]

"dying" to try it? lol. I'm glad you asked this. I have always wanted to try to sky dive, but have faced the fact that it's something I probably will never be able to do.. I'm curious what others have to say about it.

I've got a MVR, but don't know if that makes a different. I've got a race car, that has been known to go up on the back bumper. I'm thinking that's the most thrill I'm going to get.

 

[halleyg]

This is a good question, I was wondering myself. I have told my sister we should skydive for her 40th bday, which isn't until 2011. She says no way, but I wasn't even sure if I could do it w/the valve. I actually never wanted to in the past but I think it would be fun. I have a mechanical MV so it may not happen...

Harry, since your valve is repaired, I'd think there'd be nothing to hold you back!

 

[Woodbutcher]

Hi Ajay,
Good for you for wanting to do it ! I can think of plenty of things I'd rather do, but each to their own. Every time I drop awkwardly off the top of a wave whilst surfing and get pummelled by the sea, arms wrapped around my head as I occasionally slam into the seabed or my board I wonder whether I really should be doing it, but the thrill far outweighs the danger for me everytime I get it just right and smile one those rare priceless smiles !
It's probably not a great idea to be skydiving on Warfarin and I'm pretty sure the club wouldn't agree IF they knew anyway. But good luck if you manage it.

 

[netmiff]

someone (probably around this forum) once said that if you throw yourself out a plane at high altitude and your parachute fails and you hit the ground going that fast, is it really going to matter much if you are on warfarin or not?

apologies to whoever I stole this from, but it did make an impression on me at the time, and I actually keep it in the back of my head for those occasions when I momentarily think "I shouln't be doing this . . ."

 

[Ross]

Most places will not allow you to jump. Not unless you lie like a madman on the forms and realize that you cannot sue them if something goes wrong.

 

[geebee]

My BIL is an instructor and has told me he would take me tandem jumping anytime I want with no forms to fill out. I may take him up on it someday but not sure. I figure things can go wrong with just about anything we do so.......

If your chute doesn't open, chances are it will make little difference if you are on coumadin or not. Other than that, most dives are very normal with fairly soft landings. You just have to decide if the small risk is worth it. You also probably need to not tell the whole truth on any form but that is only my opinion and should be construed as a suggestion for you.

 

[terodac]

Told my doctor I always wanted to do it and he told me well it is to late for that! No sky diving for me or roller coasters! damn!

 

[Ross]

You know whats funny? I used to fly before all of these things befell me, but I honestly don't think I could jump from an aircraft. I know one time, the door opened as I leaned against it, providing me with a real world view of the earth below. Scared the crap out of me, yet here I am, piloting the aircraft at 4500 ft above the ground.

 

[ajay_22_86]

Oh - just to mention, I haven't given a thought about actually jumping out of the plane. I'll deal with that when and if I get up there! I'm actually a bit nervous about heights!

I don't think I'm prepared to lie about my condition or hold anything back, even if it is to go sky diving. If my doctor clears me I'll have him sign a form that will hopefully let me go!

 

[steelheart]

Skydiving with a mechanical aortic valve

Skydiving with a mechanical aortic valve

I had an aortic dissection six years ago when i was 28. I was given a mechanical valve so iv'e been on coumadin ever since.

I had the same question about whether it was safe to sky dive or not. I had heard that the lack of pressurization might cause a problem with the valve, but the internet wasn't able to confirm anything for me.

last weekend i decided to just find out the answer to this once and for all. I called a sky dive establishment near me, their response was to check with my doctor. makes sense, so i called my cardiologist and asked him if there was any issue with me sky diving. Their response was just to be a little worried about bruising due to the landing, but that as long as i was in reasonable shape they didn't see a problem with it.

I signed up for a jump for oct 30th. Took their 6 hour class to learn how to jump (i wanted to go AFF instead of tandem just for the experience) and made the jump with no issues what so ever.

i DID manage to earn myself a large bruise on my leg from the straps of the parachute, but over all the experience was amazing, and i would definitely do it again. So, as long as your doctor says you're okay, there should be no reason for you not to sky dive.

Enjoy!

 

[steelheart]

oh, also i love roller coasters and still ride them as often as possible with no issues at all. Point of fact, the night before i went sky diving i spent the evening at a local amusement park riding all my favorite coasters. It was a rush filled weekend.

 

[Duffey]

I'm surprised the DZ didn't require a release of liability before they let you jump. I'm not familar with the AFF abbreviation; what is it? A tandem jump typically calls for a 10-12 thousand feet altitude. What was the altitude when you jumped?

 

[steelheart]

Well, every DZ is going to have you sign a release of liability form. That was standard though, everyone had to sign that. I didn't hide my condition though, I put it on the sheet, and they asked me about it, but were okay since i had cleared it with my doctor.

AFF is the "Assisted Free Fall" it's the course for getting certified in sky diving. You take the class, and make a non-tandem jump, with two instructors holding on to you during the free fall, and then once you're under canopy, they help guide you down over radio. but taking the class trains you to do the entire jump on your own if you have to.

with Tandem, you're mainly just along for the ride on someone elses jump, and i wanted to know the fundamentals behind what was involved and know that i could do it myself. We jumped from 13,500 feet.

 

[Duffey]

My initial jumps were made under IAD instruction. After thinking about it for awhile, I think your AFF was accelerated free fall instruction.

The USPA medical regulations state:

All persons engaging in skydiving must:

a. Carry a valid Class 1, 2, or 3 Federal Aviation Administration Medical Certificate; or

b. Carry a certificate of physical fitness for skydiving from a registered physician; or

c. Have completed the USPA recommended medical statement.

I'm guessing that you completed (c) and noted on the medical statement that you have a mechanical heart valve and take coumadin?

 

[Philip B]

Free Falling

Free Falling

Lots of interesting comments.

I've not had the urge to sky dive since the mid-seventies when I was in college. My cardiologist jokingly told after my AVR surgery in 2007 that he really didn't want me playing pro football or doing professional wrestling. He added that the surgery is simply about fixing a problem so I could get on with my life and do what I wanted. I asked about scuba diving and sky diving and he replied that I had no restrictions.

As with most concerns related to valve replacement surgery, there is and probably always be a lot of different perspectives on this particular topic.

-Philip