Solo at Powell

That was an intense read Nick! Awesome trip and crazy ending. The contrast in the 2 nights you had is crazy. Amazing how quickly life can turn, glad you are good now. Events like that make the good things (big or small) that much sweeter! Hope to hear a lot more of experience like night 1 and not night 2!
 
How have you been feeling in the aftermath Nick? Hopefully it was just a one time freak thing.
 
Vegan.Hiker said:
How have you been feeling in the aftermath Nick? Hopefully it was just a one time freak thing.
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It's been okay, but not great. I got in with a really great cardiologist that specializes in a-fib and I've been going through a ton of tests. Stress test, MRI, 48-hour monitor, sleep test, etc. I was sure it was a one time fluke until this past weekend when the irregular heart beat returned. So much for 'holiday heart', I haven't had a drink since I was out on the boat! Fortunately, it's just been an intermittent irregular HR and no a-fib though, so no return to the ER just yet.

The doc was really surprised this happened to me at such a young age and he says my heart appears very strong from what they had seen so far. When I asked them what I should do if I go back into a-fib on a backpacking trip, they got concerned and started quizzing me about how often I do that. When I filled them in on all that, they told me that assuming all the tests show I'm a good candidate, I'll probably need to get an ablation to make sure it doesn't ever happen again. If I stuck around civilization more, they might just wait and see. An ablation involves sticking something up your groin and into your heart and frying out the offending nerves that are making it beat funny. Kind of scary, but better than having to get a helicopter ride home from a backpacking trip I suppose. I'll know for sure what the game plan is around mid-February. I'm planning on backpacking on March 5th. :)
 
It's definitely a good thing you filled them in on your lifestyle so they could tailor their recommendations accordingly. The ablation probably won't phase you one bit after going through the knee replacement. I'm sure you would have preferred to hear it was a one time fluke, but it's still good news that there is recourse to permanently correct it.
 
Finally finished all the tests and had my follow up with the cardiologist today. Long story short, I'm cleared to head back into the backcountry, and I will be doing that in the very near future. :) My MRI, stress tests, etc. all show a healthy, strong heart with no serious issues. The problem seems to be tied to a lack of magnesium, partially caused by a handful of things I was experiencing/doing/taking that drove that down to dangerous levels. The inactivity from the knee surgery and subsequent stress on that trip must have just pushed it over the edge.

I'll probably still avoid the solo trips for a while though...
 
Wow...great writeup and BEAUTIFUL pictures...and sorry to hear about the heart issues. Always good to have a buddy with you on future trips, just in case. You always want to live to experience the beauty you saw another day!
 
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