Does anyone know ...?

Does anyone know of any clinical reason why a severe brittle asthmatic shouldn't paraglide? In a period of hypoxia during this admission the idea came to me that I could do a sponsored paraglide to raise money for the ward (they've made a habit of saving my life and it'd be great to give something back to them). Usually these hypoxia-induced crazy ideas I come up with subside, but I'm quite taken with this one. I'm going to pluck up the courage to ask my cons' advice (and perhaps advise he sit down before I ask), but also wondered if anyone here could think of any clinical (as opposed to rational!) reason why I shouldn't do this.

Me, crazy??? Yup :oD But if this wretched disease has taught me anything it's that you have to live each moment you can to the full, take measured risks and enjoy yourself when the asthma allows :o)

Becky

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Ummm... aside from the fact that you're clearly crazy...

I'm not really sure of the answer to this one, but one problem might be the effects of altitude on the atmospheric pressure and thus the amount of oxygen available to breath in. I think paragliding is typically at heights of around 2000 - 3000m, which shouldn't be high enough altitude to affect *most* people... but brittle asthmatics? Not sure. Possibly would only be a problem if you're chronically hypoxic. I would imagine if you pass a 'fitness to fly' test (where they have you breath 15% oxygen to simulate aeroplane cabin concentrations and measure your sats) then this might not be an issue.

I don't know if the lower pressure and the wind speed up there might cause some bronchospasm - I know a gust of wind at ground level can make me tighten up, and I would imagine the wind speed would be pretty high.

Then there's the fact that you can't always just land when you want to, you have to wait until it's safe and you find an appropriate spot... which could be problematic if an attack came on and you needed to get down in a hurry.

Other than that... don't let me rain on your parade too much, you can only try!

My mum's boyfriend does paragliding/parascending/something like that and has all the equipment... they are often up near your neck of the woods because my little sis is at Uni in Newcastle and also he likes to fly along Hadrian's wall. If you want to ask him some questions about it, I'm sure he wouldn't mind, he seems to like getting people into it (he's failed totally with my mum, she hates heights!). He might even be willing to take you up/lend you equipment, although I'm not sure what the rules are on that, there may be certificates and things that you need before you can do that. In any case, he could certainly point you in the right direction for places to hire equipment and find out more about it.

I'll get my mum to pop on here and make some more intelligent comments on it with her boyfriend's help when it's daytime.

Take care,

Em

[KateMoss]

Your Mad!!

But go for it anyway, otherwise look out for sponsored abseils down the Tyne Bridge!

Kate

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thanks em, that'd be great!! having never done this or anything like it before i was thinking i'd do it as a tandem with a qualified bod type person, so even if your ... was it mum's friend/boyfriend? can't do it with me he'd probably be able to suggest the right people. mind youu, it'd great if he can help me out :oD I know I'm a total nutcase fr coming up with this idea and continuing to think it's a good one, but surely you knew i was crazy before this ;oP

i get so fed up with all the things i can't do but would like to, and all the things i have to avoid, and i want to do something a bit different to raise money for the ward. i can't do the things people usually do to fund raise, like run stupid distances, and really, at 33 nobody's going to sponsor me to do something mundane like a sponsored silence (especially as i was an elective mute for 4 years as a teenager).

as far as O2 levels go, I'm not chronically hypoxic and i've flown before (in a hairyplane) without any problems. i hadn't thought about the wind-rush thingumy, but i guess a load of scarves would protect me somewhat ...?

i really hope (though with a certain amount of healthy terror) that this is something I can do. i told one of the nurses my idea today when she was giving me a bath. she said she wishes she could be there when i ask my cons' advice ;o) that is the bit i'm dreading atm.

thanks again and looking forward to hearing more :o)

crazy becky.

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yup, kate, i am mad :oD oh and I've abseiled down the tyne bridge before (years ago), so kind of feel like i've done that and need something different, and perhaps crazier, than that this time.

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tee hee hee. my cons just came in as he's not around for grand rounds tomorrow and he said, 'I hear you want to ask me about something adventurous.' i tol him i did, but that he might want to sit down first. he did, then said, 'go on, hit me with it.' i asked him about any clinical reason why i shouldn't paraglide (ignoring all the rational ones), and after looking a bit dumb-founded, he took a deep breath, smiled and said, 'not any clinical reason i can think of.' :oD :oD talked about how i can't scuba dive or parachute, but paragliding doesn't have same problems with pressure changes etc. tee hee. all he said was don't do it on a very cold day, which suits me :oD tee hee. I have the go-ahead to be a crazy lady ... okay, a crazier lady :oD he did say not to ask him for money, but as i'd explained i want to do it to raise money for the ward i said that i hadn't been planning on doing so as he already does plenty for the ward.

tee hee hee

<goes off chuckling to self>

becky

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Hi

I'm EmilyH's mum, she has asked me to comment here. You don't need any qualifications or certificates to do paragliding, but you would need lessons before you can do it safely. It's not as easy as it might look, you have to have the right conditions, just the right amount of wind, and the right direction. Also you need to be somewhere high to take off from, cliffs are favourite, or hilltops.

If you have brittle asthma it is unlikely you would be able to climb up to the hilltop so you'd need one with road access.

When my partner Steve gets home (he's the one that does it) I'll ask him who there is locally to you who might give further advice.

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That sounds like a fab idea! Definately something to get your teeth stuck into as you'll have lots to plan/learn! I can't wait to hear more about your plans for it.

Its strange how people always have a place/time when they ahve their best ideas. Mine come in the shower!

Beth and Sandie (who is tired after a run on the beach)