OPEN WATER SWIM

[SAMS007]

Good morning to you all and I hope you're all doing well and thanks for all the replies and advice about open swimming.I'm going to get try it even if it's only once.remember swimming in the sea at Clacton on sea Essex when I worked in Harwich and there was a diving ramp in the sea.wonder if it's still there.im going to be sensible but definitely going to try it.

[22alfie]

Be careful with the open water swimming check with doctor first as I used to do it and this is one of the things that I was told might not be possible again. But good luck. X

[Hidden]

I for one think you should go for it.You have done it before and know what to expect.As long as you are sensible and I think you are you will be o.k.If you don't do it you will regret it forever.It is better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all.Good luck and enjoy yourself.x

[Prada47 in reply to Hidden]

It is better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all.

Should that not read " better to have tried and possibly died than never tried at all "

It's one of those things you don't need to do. I used to go to my next door neighbours and jumped down over a wall about 2ft high and one day I thought " You idiot what if you fell and it would be in the Echo, Man aged 75 admitted to A&E after jumping over 2ft high wall what an idiot it was only 3 yards to go around " The moral is why Risk anything if you don't have to !!!

Regards

[Heather1957]

Hopefully you have sought medical advice first otherwise I have to say it is a little reckless.

Obviously your decision though.

I'd love to know what you mean by being sensible? If you haven't spoken to a medical expert you are not being sensible.

[Hidden]

Well if we all felt like you lot we wouldn't do anything.I know let's just stay in the house read the papers ,get obese and die very miserable with a lot of what ifs

[Prada47 in reply to Hidden]

Don't be silly I walk across Hot Coals for my Fun what's yours ??

Regards

[Heather1957 in reply to Hidden]

What???

Suggesting someone seek medical advice first IMHO is the sensible thing to do, no one is suggesting shutting yourself inside, reading the papers, getting obese and dying miserably!!

Just checking you are reading the same thread as the rest of us?

Confused.com!

[Prada47 in reply to Heather1957]

no one is suggesting shutting yourself inside, reading the papers, getting obese and dying miserably!!

I don't know about dying miserably it sounds as not to bad away to go lol,

better than freezing the b***s off a Brass Monkey.

Regards

[SAMS007]

I like that saving life at sea.seriously though I would not put myself or any one else at risk.ive been trying to get myself into shape for the last year but since my little dog died over Xmas i don't like walking on my own and there's no swimming baths where I live and leisure centre are too expensive so I'm going to give it a go swimming in the BROWN waters of the north sea probably in may I'll just have to take it easy and be careful

[Hrty]

I had a cardiac education session at rehab last week and whilst there I picked up up a swimming guide for heart patients ( I was a regular indoor pool swimmer pre HA).Basically it says, as with any exercise, it reinforces the need to seek medical advice before starting.

Also,

water temp between 26-33c has least effectvon your heart. The sea wont get anywhere close to that

Colder water can provoke irregular heart rhythms

Deeper water, up to your neck as opposed to waist for example, has greater effect on your heart.

Don't dive or jump straight in.

There were loads of other things like avoid having your face in too long as that can affect heart rhythm.

Basically it's up to you. I'd personally ignore the "jump in and go for it" advocates and would definitely be talking with my GP, Rehab Nurses or Cardiologist before I went anywhere near the water. At the moment they won't let me near the pool.

[Heather1957 in reply to Hrty]

I think this is what I put on the original thread.

When I was doing cardiac rehab I spoke to the cardio physio and was surprised by the additional care you have to take with swimming.

When you have had cardio problems/procedure you have to take a few more precautions, it is better be safe than sorry.

I cannot believe there are people on here who are suggesting throwing caution to the wind, quite concerning actually.

[Hrty in reply to Heather1957]

Me either, seems foolhardy and possibly dangerous.We don't necessarily need to wrap ourselves in cotton wool but a certain degree of caution has to be advisable. Even fit/well people need to be careful with cold water immersion. I was chatting with two swimming buddies the other day. Both experienced open water swimmers and one of them had been for a group swim where someone experienced "afterdrop"!It's down to the OP in the end.

[Heather1957]

I am aghast that people are saying 'go for it' when many of us have been told by medical professionals that there are special precautions you should take when swimming?

This could kill them so how can people say go for it?

I'd love to know these people's medical qualifications.

[Heather1957]

What the poster chooses to do is their choice, it is their life, that is not the situation with other posters.

I said in my original post if medical advice has not been sought the decision is reckless.

But I am sure there are many people on here who know better than the experts, we see their posts on a regular basis! 😂😂

[Hrty in reply to Heather1957]

This thread shows how useful the "block" button idea could be 😉.

If the OP had decided to go ahead then that's their decision and we can only hope it's an informed decision and they don't end up regretting it. We can offer sensible suggestions/advice but no-one has to take it.

As for "just go for it, you only live once". Suggesting that about a potentially risky activity, to someone on a forum for people with heart issues, without seeking professional guidelines first could well breach forum guidelines but that's for others to decide. Life's too short to argue with them.

[Heather1957 in reply to Hrty]

Thank you, I needed pulling back 😉

Yes a most definite example of needing a block button.

Time to leave this thread and people to their own fun.

Thanks again.

[Hidden]

I agree

[Prada47]

What Cold Water Swimming ??

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Did you wear a wet suit?