Skiing with PAF?

[AndyFoz]

Hi All, has anyone had any experience of skiing with PAF? Did it bring it on? I suppose one thing to bear in mind might be to avoid the higher resorts. Perhaps its just like other forms of exercise which raise your heart rate? But, hopefully, it's not such a spikey exercise (in terms of heart rate) as some. Thanks, Andy

[Luludean]

You have to avoid sharp changes in altitude .

[jedimasterlincoln]

Yes I imagine the changes in temperature and altitude may act as triggers, but hopefully it's not all downhill for you.

[BobD Volunteer]

Depends how often you crash. I was good at that! If you are on anticoagulants you should be careful to wear a helmet. Stay well hydrated at all times and enjoy but do listen to your body and act accordingly. Forgot to ask--- can you? Not a good idea to start learning.

[AndyFoz in reply to BobD]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for that. Sensible advice about keeping well hydrated, I will take note. I can ski, learned about 3 years ago, so am just about intermediate (reds are as far as I go). The first year, fell over all the time, but never had so much fun or such a bruised ego!

Not on anticoags at the moment, in the "grey" area of chadsvasc=1 and they wanted to keep me on aspirin for mild CAD. But I will definitely be wearing a helmet!

Thanks again,

Andy

P.S. Still really trying to decide whether to ablate or not? I know you are an advocate and I probably should do this too. I'm just a bit nervous and don't like the thought of perhaps having to have several procedures.

[SteM]

I was diagnosed with PAF in 2007 and have been skiing every year since.

[Zozzy]

It depends on your triggers. Everyone has different triggers, many never find them, or find they change.

If you've not been to altitude since you first experienced AF, then I don't think anyone else will be able to predict if it will trigger AF for you. I never skied after being diagnosed, but knowing my triggers, I doubt that altitude would have been an issue if I had.

Other than that, my own experience of skiing (I used to do a lot) is that it was less stressful on my heart than running (I still do a lot), and since I was able to run (slowly) in AF, I'm pretty sure that I would have been able to ski (gently) while in AF. For me the triggers would have been the food (more of it on skiing holidays, and more meat) and drink (more alcohol on skiing holidays).

Steve

[Adiepie]

I’ve been skiing since PAG diagnosis three years ago without any problems ( with PAF, my skiing is another matter!!). As always, just be careful and don’t skimp in the travel insurance, make sure they are aware of your diagnosis

[Hidden]

I had my first ever skiing lesson 10 years after my AF started and was on a 12 hour episode about every 2 weeks on average at the time. I was 63 and spent the whole time falling down and laughing... I was rubbish at it, but had a great time. Don't remember any AF that week. We were stuck for hours (with 5000 others) in the snow in the Alps and had to be rescued by the army and spent the night on a sports centre floor and still no episode. Drove all the way from Yorkshire to Southern France and back and still nothing. Got home, had a big sandwich and off it went...

Just saying that it has a mind of its own, so don't hang back from things you enjoy (while being sensible of course). Make sure your insurer is happy with it. Mine was fine but not all will be. Have a good time.

[AndyFoz in reply to Hidden]

Dear Minimalist,

I appreciate that, especially the part about not hanging back from the things you enjoy, I think I've tended to do that since my AF got a bit worse 18 months ago. When I was fitter, I think I was better off.

I will be booking my skiing trip soon. I've been 3 times before, but two of those were before my AF. Yes, I resisted skiing for years despite my friends and partner telling me how much fun it was. I think it's a case of once bitten and now I can't wait to go back each year!

Interesting about the food as well, I find eating late in the evening often sets me off as well.

Take care,

Andy

[caos52 in reply to Hidden]

So now you know the trigger was what was in the sandwich. Made me smile.

[AndyFoz]

Thanks everyone, for the replys on skiing. All pretty positive and I hope to be booking a trip soon.

Cheers, Andy