day 4 of 10 day trip out of trail's end (ep 54).
breaking camp on south arm knife, my heart starts going nuts.
stay or leave? no one's around, best bet is to just go.
not a heart attack, just very fast and irregular heartbeat, like morse code.

met two guys who stuck with me like glue through 20 miles & 8 portages (1 of them an 80foot climb). got to grand marais hosp where meds took care of it. uneventful drive home, doc says good to go.

bottom line: a-fib can happen to anyone - anywhere - any time. learn the symptoms. it isn't fatal or even immediately dangerous but should be dealt with promptly.

This is one of the situations I dread. I have had several bouts of A-fib and I take Fleccanide with me everywhere I go. Luckily, I have only had to use it once but I definitely don't take chances on wilderness trips. You are right, it's not immediately fatal but the irregular beating can cause blood to clot and you can have a stroke.

Glad you are OK.

Wow, glad all is well. Thanks for the info.

Happened to me at work while sitting at my desk. I went to the hospital immediately and went through the tests and wore a monitor for a couple of days. It was gotten under control with meds, and except for a few bouts of unusual heartbeats for a few seconds over the past several years, things are fine. I know its there, but its usually not fatal, so I try not to worry too much about it. I also carry a SPOT with me, whenever and wherever I am away from phone service, whether its canoeing, hiking, camping, exploring etc. Its just good insurance in my mind.

Actually, it can be dangerous...but it also can be controlled with meds. Learn your triggers. Glad you had an excellent outcome.

quote Savage Voyageur: "Wow, glad all is well. Thanks for the info. "

+1

quote bassnut: "Actually, it can be dangerous...but it also can be controlled with meds. Learn your triggers. Glad you had an excellent outcome."

Yep.. Once I had to cardiovert someone in uncontrolled a fib.. While its not usual, it can be fatal if just ignored.. So get some more tests and keep a log of how often it happens. It just tends to get worse. I don't mean to scare you.. my son in law has it and has since birth. He is 42 now But he sees his cardiologist often.

Very happy you got out with success.

a little more info

quote misqua: "Happened to me at work while sitting at my desk. I went to the hospital immediately and went through the tests and wore a monitor for a couple of days. It was gotten under control with meds, and except for a few bouts of unusual heartbeats for a few seconds over the past several years, things are fine. I know its there, but its usually not fatal, so I try not to worry too much about it. I also carry a SPOT with me, whenever and wherever I am away from phone service, whether its canoeing, hiking, camping, exploring etc. Its just good insurance in my mind. "

Sounds a lot like what happened to me when I was in my mid 20's. got d-fib'd three times ( OUCH) before they finally tried the meds. The meds are what finally works. Every once in a while I think I feel something for a second, then goes away.

Never thought about it in the Bdub. Something to think about.

Thanks for the info.

Yet another reason why I have my SPOT.

Glad you are ok!

Very strange experience very similar to what I just went through. I have a pacemaker for a slow heart rate. Also have AFIB. My pacemaker records every minute of AFIB. I get my results every three months. Has never been a big issue, am aware of it only 1-2 times every 3 months.
So last night on Sunday Lake in Quetico it kicks in about 8 PM. It was different in that instead of a very shallow and rapid beat it was very erratic, fairly slow and strong. It made me very nervous. It stayed with me off and on until 1 PM today as we were driving back to the Twin Cities.
I called my cardiologists office. They were not too concerned but had me beam my pacemaker results to them when I got home with my home pacemaker reading device. They called me back after they read it. I confirmed it was gone and they said no need to come in since the results looked pretty good.
But............they suggested I look at potential triggers for this event. Things like dehydration, lack of good quality sleep and over-exertion. Interesting observations.
I had left at 2:10 AM this past Thursday morning to drive to Ely with my two much younger friends. We went to Prairie Portage that morning and paddled the Man Chain to Sag that same first day. On through the Falls Chain to Rose Island on Kawnipi the second night. Through Payne, Trant, etc to the Piwi for night three and then down Yum Yum to Sunday Lake for night four when I had my episode even though did not feel that tired.
I am 62 year old. Not the brightest guy but I think I found a trigger. Perhaps a little slower next month when I go with my two older brothers for a week.

Holy smokes!! And the two guys...well a couple of stand up guys. It seems to me that the wilderness attracts folks who are willing to go out of their way to help the person in trouble.

Maybe it is the fact that folks who will work to get out there have no trouble accepting responsibility??

Anyway...I'm glad to hear things are OK now.

Been there done that! I had cardiac ablation done 9 weeks ago and getting better everyday! Climbed up to 10,700 feet last week in Rocky Mountain National Park, rode my bike from altitudes of 8500 to 9500. And have been swimming 500 - 700 meters every morning! And have only had two episodes of AFib since the ablation the last being 3 weeks ago! I am ready to start putting some miles on my road bike, and have a benefit sprint triathlon this Thursday for our church for the 4th.

Good Luck with your AFib and dealing with it!!!

Bruce

thanks for all the good words, folks

i asked the two guys to send a ranger back my way but they wouldnt let me out of their sight. way cool

not only that but another guy - who has a prolapsed mitral valve - carried one of my packs across the 100 rodder from alpine to sag - along with his own main pakc - without me knowing until i turned around at the end. his name means kindness in chinese ... maybe not a coincidence.

it happened when i was on the latrine.
a friend of mine is a cardiac nurse and she advises a-fib patients to push like they are ... on the pot ... she says the same internal pressure that causes it can also reverse it. something about the vagus nerve.

I also have afib. It led to my stroke. It can be serious. The good news however is that it can be controlled. I just completed a week in the BW. We went to Johnson Falls, a long walk. Carried my share of gear, just a bit slower than before. When the rate goes up, take a break until it goes down.

I would talk to my doc about blood thinners as a precaution. If you are on them, afib is much less serious. Blood thinners of course also have their own risks, but can also be controlled.

Good luck, but DO take it seriously. Having a stroke is an experience I do not wish to repeat, nor would I wish it on anyone.

quote georgelesley: "I also have afib. It led to my stroke. It can be serious. The good news however is that it can be controlled. I just completed a week in the BW. We went to Johnson Falls, a long walk. Carried my share of gear, just a bit slower than before. When the rate goes up, take a break until it goes down.

I would talk to my doc about blood thinners as a precaution. If you are on them, afib is much less serious. Blood thinners of course also have their own risks, but can also be controlled.

Good luck, but DO take it seriously. Having a stroke is an experience I do not wish to repeat, nor would I wish it on anyone.
"

As an old cardiac and critical care nurse I can't add to this except to "Second" what he said!