Cruising and AF

[Hanibal]

Hi,

Anyone with AF been on a criuse?

What did you do to stay healthy in that environment?

Any advice wd be very welcome.....

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

I would see the main risk of a cruise as overindulgence in both food and drink. If you are modest with these and get enough exercise you should be fine. Get your GP's advice on sea sickness pills as some can trigger palpitations!

[Hanibal in reply to MichaelJH]

Good advice, thank you.

🏋️‍♀️

[Fredders]

I am off on a cruise tomorrow. This will be our fifth but first since getting a mechanical aortic valve, pacemaker and having my spleen removed. Biggest threat on cruises is norovirus so use the sanitisers every time you see one and especially before eating anything. A lot of people don’t wash their hands after going to the toilet so where possible use the loo in your cabin, or carry some antiseptic gel with you to use after you’ve opened the door to leave the toilets. Be careful eating in the buffet too, I have seen people use their hands to pick through the bread rolls, coughing over the food or, if they do cover their mouths with their hand, then picking up the tongs. We have never been ill whilst on a cruise, so fingers crossed for this one.

We go for the smaller ships as less people to spread germs about, plus we don’t like the big ships which are a bit like Butlins at sea.

We love them cos you can do as much or as little as you like, just try not to over indulge- very easy to do with food and drink available 24/7.

Wendy

[Hanibal in reply to Fredders]

Thanks, great advice, Wendy. Especially the buffet!

I can control the food and booze intake quite well due to having changed that in my lifestyle since I was diagnosed a year ago. I will definitely put a tube of gel in my pocket!

Happy holiday!

[Shar28]

One of our friends is a cruise ship captain. His advice for all cruisers is never, never, ever put your hands anywhere near your face unless you’ve washed them really thoroughly, like a Dr would.

And always make sure your travel insurance covers cruises because ALL of the medical care is private. Apparently some people think it’s in the price of the cruise but it’s not.

Hope this helps. X

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

Having spent the first 7 months of this year getting down to the weight I want to be, I just couldn't contemplate a cruise. While I think my willpower is pretty good I'm not prepared to put it to the test on a cruise ship (or for that matter all inclusive in a hotel). For anyone going on a cruise - enjoy, and if you can exercise the self restraint that I don't think I could - I'm impressed!

[Hanibal in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

This is where I get really boring....!

It was very hard at first to cut down on the noshing and drinking but now a year later, I can sit quite happily with friends whilst they gargle away and/or order mountains of food in restaurants.

They had more problems adjusting to my regime than I had!

I get the odd twinge, but the end prize far outweighs everything else.

[Fredders in reply to Hanibal]

I don’t have any problem regarding drinking as I’ve never been much of a drinker due to riding pillion on my husband’s motorbike since I was 16 so neither of us drank and we don’t like fizzy drinks either. I have never been a big eater, but I do have a sweet tooth. I’m also on warfarin now so have to be careful what I eat and drink. I’m also a lot more careful re germs since having my spleen out. I have yet to come back from a cruise weighing more than I did before it.

Wendy

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Hanibal]

I know what you mean, when I go out, friends have a few problems adjusting to how I eat/drink these days.

In a Turkish restaurant, and everybody is having rice/chips half and half, and I go "just rice please". I'm fully adjusted to the new diet, but having been on a cruise many years ago, I really don't think I could keep a good balance of diet

[Hanibal in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

In truth, I'll probably put some weight on as I have no real control over the way the food is cooked. But, as with our other holidays, once I'm back on my lifestyle routine it soon fixes itself...

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

We always use the stairs (my friends said the stairs worked for them) and none of us ever gain weight. Fitbit says we can do 30 or 40 a day.

Im not sure if everyone is the same, but I get most AF when I push it and my HR is high for quite a while, so watch the gym, and pace yourself.

[Tickers]

Make sure your insurance covers a cruise as it is not always standard.

I have only just been diagnosed and had palpitations one evening on the cruise. I think I over did it, got up early, walking in heat, a few drinks (not many).

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Tickers]

I'm just in the process of renewing my travel insurance, and had had a mumber of quotes. Each company asks you to declare if you plan a cruise! Anyone know why they isolate cruises like this?

[Lezzers in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Maybe because all medical care on board is private? Also if you're poorly the cost of airlifting you off the boat would not be cheap? These are just suggestions, I have no real idea 💡

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Lezzers]

Yes I never thought of that, especially if you're cruising out of Florida into the Caribbean , the on board medics will be American standing ready with a point of sale machine to take your card details as soon as they look at you!

[Lezzers in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

That made me laugh

[Ianc2]

Discover the promenade deck, 3 times round equals 1 mile, etc, you will usually have it to yourself first thing in the morning. Some ships have excellent gyms as well.

Make sure you have proper ill health insurance from a reputable company and that it covers both of you for pre-existing conditions together so that if one gets flown off you both get flown off.

You will be paying American Health Care rates - $100 just to see the doctor and then there are the tests, and the x-rays and the scans - my god how the money rolls in .

Get some bacterial hand wash an use it liberally. I react badly to lactose and gluten and have had some very interesting offerings in hotels as in just scrape that bit off the plate and it will be alright, and fruit for afters, day after day.

If I stick to the cruise ship restaurants, my reactions have been considered and I have had some brilliant meals with different puddings/cakes/ every day. If you avoid street food you should have a great time. Enjoy your cruise.