Going to Uganda: This is not so much a... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Going to Uganda

lizwright profile image
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This is not so much a question but a ray of hope. I just returned from Uganda with my af - it was a working week so exhausting but my heart loved the warm weather and behaved impeccably. I also worked in Kenya with AF. I won't let it stop me doing anything. I did have to take some deep breathes on the plane (I'm not remotely scared but my heart's not overkeen on long air journeys). The only problem I had was lugging my bag from Heathrow to Kings Cross which was a bit of an issue.

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lizwright profile image
lizwright
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8 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Well done Liz. Glad to see you are in control of your AF.

BobD

Beancounter profile image
BeancounterVolunteer

I completely agree with you Liz, prior to diagnosis, and yet no different to as I am now with permament A Fib, I travelled widely around Asia being literally days away from hospitals at some points without any problems other than the usual getting used to the heat first 10 days or so.

And yet now having been diagnosed I might think twice and I shouldn't. Nothing has changed, if anything it's better now as at least I am anti-coagulated and on statins and calcium channel blockers, so it's probably safer.

The mind plays games with us, and we need to overcome that, and I'd be the first to admit I am not quite there yet, but it sounds like you are and congratulations :)

Ian

lizwright profile image
lizwright

That's exactly what my highly supportive consultant and gp said to me, you are safer now than you have ever been! Get on with what you want to do. The consultant also added, do whatever you want to do but remember you may have a few days where you have to get over it and that's equally true as well. I was 49 when diagnosed and not about to give up on life then. It does scare me doing these things but I think of what the doctors have told me and the fact I am now building up a pattern of coping.

I do have to go to bed early on these trips though and sometimes skip breakfast to get a bit more rest. I have come to know my body very well. If I was to have a more serious af attack I'd just keep still for a bit and take deep breathes and have a sleep if I could but although uncomfortable, it can't really kill me and you get over them.

Thanks Liz, it's really good to know you're out there having adventures and AF at the same time. I was off in Amsterdam last week for a fairly gruelling round of early starts reporting at a conference/exhibition followed by late nights with the editorial crew (unavoidable, and I do like them a lot anyway!). I was really anxious about it but in fact my heart was fine - I let it spoil my enjoyment of a good week though, as I was fretting about how I would react to the long days. Next time I shall try just to go with the flow and have fun.

lizwright profile image
lizwright in reply to

I know what you mean about letting it spoil your enjoyment, I get anxious I will cope but I am getting more and more confident because I always do. I might have to stop and admire a view a bit more than other people do though (while I desparately breath deeply to lower my heart rate!)

in reply to lizwright

Haha yes, I know that feeling - there's not as great a view in the Amsterdam RAI as in Uganda, I would guess, but I suppose we get to appreciate whatever views there are more than most!

lizzily profile image
lizzily

Good for you Liz. I spent 4 weeks off the beaten track in Namibia in June but nearly cancelled. Most of my AF free friends thought I was mad to go but my GP did a kind of risk assessment with me which won me over and I had an amazing time. I have to confess to checking the map frequently for landing sites for the emergency plane! I had one iffy night so listened to my heart and slowed down the next day. As Ian sort of said it's a case of getting head in gear and not dwelling on too many what iffs. Life's for living to the full whilst we can. Enjoy......Liz

lizwright profile image
lizwright

And you feel so pleased with yourself afterwards don't you? I did.

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