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24 Jan 2007
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Heart attack at 45 !
I'm just getting over a heart attack and was wondering how this is going to impact on my travels around Europe and North America. (inc Alaska )
Some of you old buggers must be travelling with dodgy tickers have you got any advise and encouragement for me.
It's early days, a month since the attack so I'm at home worrying that my plans are in tatters.
I thought I'd covered most eventualities, but I didn't see this one coming !!
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24 Jan 2007
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sorry 2 hear that
wishes for quick recovery but as for advice.....
Carpe Diem, Tempus Fugit
is the only thing which springs to mind 
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24 Jan 2007
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Heart problems?
Watch "Worlds fastest Indian" movie. Less stress, more travel.
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24 Jan 2007
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Thanks for the encouragement.
I'd much rather seize the day than seize my chest !!
As for Ranulph, I think the kind of guy who can saw his own fingers off
is just slightly harder than me. I'll take it a bit slower.
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24 Jan 2007
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Slippery when wet
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Change your brand of cigarettes  or if you aren't a smoker maybe start smoking to reduce your stress 
Seriously though....good to hear you survived - that's a pretty important first step. Take your time and give your heart a work out - it's just another muscle so it needs exercise. Sitting on your butt feeling sorry for yourself is the last thing you should do. It must have been very scarey but I know a few other folks who have gone through similar and come out the other side with a new and positive approach to their "second" chance. take it and live life to the max. Good luck .....
(Yikes - just dawned on me I'm 45 now too .....! )
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24 Jan 2007
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Don't Worry, Be Happy
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Flyingdoctor
I'm just getting over a heart attack and was wondering how this is going to impact on my travels around Europe and North America. (inc Alaska )
Some of you old buggers must be travelling with dodgy tickers have you got any advise and encouragement for me.
It's early days, a month since the attack so I'm at home worrying that my plans are in tatters.
I thought I'd covered most eventualities, but I didn't see this one coming !!
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Hey Doc,
Hmmm.. where do I start..? Welcome to the club? 
Seriously, I had one 4 years ago (I'll be 47 this year). Don't let it bully you and don't stay at home "worrying" that your plans are in tatters.
And yea, like Gecko said f you aren't a smoker maybe start smoking to reduce your stress .
Take things easy. Go outside, breath more fresh air, exercise a little, listen to soothing music. Relax....
My best remedy is to get on the bike and just escape out of the city for an hour or so. Try it... All said; take good care of yourself. Don't worry!
norm
__________________
"courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death"
Last edited by Norman Rahman; 24 Jan 2007 at 18:54.
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24 Jan 2007
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HU CanWest Meeting Organiser
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Holy moly - 45!
OK, I'm getting off the computer and going for good walk...
__________________
Ekke Kok
'84 R100RT 141,000 km (Dad's!)
'89 R100GS 250,000 km (and ready for another continent)
'07 R1200GS Adventure 100,000 km (just finished Circumnavigating Asia)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
www.ekke-audrey.ca
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24 Jan 2007
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Thanks Norman,
I'm not too worried whilst I'm here at home. I feel quite positive about the future. What concerns me is how safe it will be to travel into the wilderness
on my own in the future. This is what I love to do. I guess I'll know more as I get a few more months under my belt. My first trip this year is to the TT so
that should be ok.
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25 Jan 2007
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I had 3 stress related minor strokes at age 41, lost eyesight for a while, and a lot of feeling down right side. I started riding my BM again about a year after the last one, but had a couple of near misses when I had a big "shudder" whilst riding. Have n't ridden too much since on road - but the odd dirt road trip is fine. Since then my wife and I have travelled a fair bit in Europe and are almost ready to head off again for an 8 month trip around Europe, N Africa, Russia, Mongolia and back to Australia in October.
Biggest hassle - the letters saying I can travel with 8 months of diabetic and blood pressure tablets.
Changed my diet and lost a big heap of weight - 115kgs to 90kgs. Became vegetarian and used Ayurvedic cooking as far as possible to control blood pressure, etc. Avoid homogenised milk products as this (in my opinion) is the major cause for heart, Type 2 diabetes and blood pressure problems.
Have a type 2 diabetes test as well - often missed by the quacks as they focus on the end result and not the cause.
PS my wife has just recovered from ovarian cancer and a melanoma on her leg - so we probably qualify as old codgers with past health problems!!
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25 Jan 2007
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Thanks Roger,
It sounds like you've had it worse than me. It's heartning ( excuse the pun )
to hear that you've since done some long trips. Ironically I'd already given up smoking, salt and even the drink too. I'd altered my diet considerably as well.
So even though I've been healthier for at least 4 years it still happened.
I pity anyone who has an attack and has to give all those things up as well.
Now that would kill you.
Thanks for the tip about T2 test, you assume they checked for that.
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25 Jan 2007
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Pre trip health checks
I think that's a good reminder for all us middle aged travellers to get a full check up before we embark on trips. Better, cheaper and safer to find out if there is a problem before you leave your home land.
Take your time in recovery and use the days to research places to go. This should take your mind off things and the days will just fly by.
Always look on the bright side and just remember you are one of the lucky ones that got a warning and survived, many don't!
Keep smiling
Glen
__________________
 Feb 2014, currently travelling the America's on a Tiger 800XC
Live every day like it's your last, one day you'll get it right!!!
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25 Jan 2007
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Flyingdoctor
I pity anyone who has an attack and has to give all those things up as well.
Now that would kill you.
Thanks for the tip about T2 test, you assume they checked for that.
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Doc,
A neighbour, aged 46 then, quit cigarettes wanting to live a healthier life died of a heart attack 3 weeks after. An 'expert' friend of mine (a chain-smoking, old fart [sorry, tony] who rides a 1150GS like a teenager) advise not to quit cold turkey if you have been smoking all your adult life. Do it slowly, step by step as quiting cold turkey could drastically change and upset your system thus the attack***. Eat less, eat right. Smile more. Be nice.
And if you are travelling for a long period of time just bring your tablets and prescriptions. Replenish while on the road if neccesary - or mail your medications before you leave to addreses of friends/hotels you might visit or stay at so you can pick up along the way.
Take it easy, my friend.
*** please read disclaimer below
__________________
"courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death"
Last edited by Norman Rahman; 5 Feb 2007 at 17:02.
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25 Jan 2007
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"If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." ... quoted from the speech Steve Jobs gave to Stanford graduates
a. can ozcan
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25 Jan 2007
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May I quote You!
Hi FlyingDoc and others, I am in the process of writing a book on fitness for the full time traveler. I would appreciate permission to include some of your dialogue in the book. I think it will help others to realize the benefits of adopting a health life style. May I?
Thanks,
Land Sailor
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4 Feb 2007
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presumably you will have an angiogram, this will establish fairly effectively what state the rest of your coronary arteries are in. it may well be that you were unlucky and the others are fine. you need to establish wether you are at high risk or, as is sometimes the case in young infarcts, at no more risk than anyone else of having another attack. The bonus is that having survived 1 heart attack, you will now have lots of highly paid people keeping a close eye on you doing checks that otherwise you would not get, so hopefully picking up potential problems, before they become problems.
check with your doc about preventative measures as well such as regular asprin, and a gentle reintroduction to exercise.
I am an emergency dept nurse and had a guy come in a few months back in his late 70s who had just had his second heart attack (an attack, not a full on cardiac arrest), over 30 years after his first!! so don't cancel that christmas club membership just yet!!
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