Ten Weeks Post Open Heart Surgery
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- čas přidán 22. 08. 2024
- #camping #campervans #ebikes
Ten weeks after a double bypass and a replacement aortic valve operation and I'm delighted to be back on the hills. Just a wee hill for the moment but a good wee Scottish hill nevertheless. Feeling good and making plans for the future. Thank you NHS. Scotland
I'm based in the Scottish Highlands and I use a VW campervan to access the great outdoors, where I climb hills, ride my e-bike or gravel bike and just visit some of those places I've never been to. I've been climbing hills and mountains all over the world for 50 years and I'm a former editor of Climber Magazine and The Great Outdoors Magazine. Recently I had open heart surgery for a double bypass and an aortic valve replacement operation. I'm currently working on my fitness to get to climbing hills and mountains, and riding my bike, as soon as I can.
Thanks for putting this out Cameron, as somebody who works in cardiac rehabilitation it's great inspiration for others to see. A cardiac event doesn't mean you can't get out there doing what you love again.
And many thanks to you for the brilliant work you're doing. So vital.
Cameron, I am a keen cyclist and hillwalker. Heading for the same surgery in a few months. Your videos have been invaluable. Please keep the updates coming.
Brilliant!! WELL DONE YOU CAMERON!
We first met in the 1970s at Glenmore Lodge on the MLC course where we camped at Coire Spuitan Dearg and dropped down to the Lairig Ghru and then up to the Braeriach and have followed you ever since, In 1990 at the age of 50 I experienced a heart attack which eventually led to a quad bypass at Edinburgh Royal infirmary, but at 84 years having lost my wife off 60 years I have a small campervan which I use to enjoy the Highlands, Last week Up at the Gorms, Aberlour, Tomintoul and Braemar ,! Lang May Yir Lum Reek!
Hi Cameron glad you're on the mend. I'm a backpacker/ runner soon to be 68 and a few years ago went on a run and found myself on my hands and knees in a field wandering what had just happened. No chest pain but loss of balance and feeling weak. To cut a long story short I had two stents fitted and felt better straight away. I was back walking/light jogging within 4 weeks. I'm aware this a less serious operation than yours but it still got my full attention at the time! Tomorrow we get on a train for John O Groats and start walking two days later southbound to Lands End staying on the trails as much as possible. So if there is anybody out there going through the same sort of thing stay positive, good things can happen! Wishing you all the best Cameron.
Cheers Mick. Have a great LEJOG, or JOGLE!!!
Good for you Cameron. I've done lots of hillwalking in my life, in the US and Scotland. 72 years young and loving the high places until a month ago. Heart problems, and like you found myself wondering why. So fit, so active, doing all the right things. I have an angiogram in 10 days and who knows what the treatment will be. You're an inspiration to me to get back up into the hills after whatever treatment they decide on. I've appreciated your candid comments on feelings of vulnerability, doubt, getting past the bad days. I won't hang up my walking sticks just yet. Thanks for that.
amazing to see how quickly you have bounced back Cameron you've always been a great inspiration to me and my friends to get out in the hills over many years and have always shown how enthusiastic you are about it which is infectious. I had a heart attack last August while waiting on the plane home in the island of Kos, much drama ensued and I was flown to Athens and eventually had a stent put in but it took me longer than you to get back out and about amongst the hills on my bike which is like yours a trek powerfly but this bike has given me back my freedom and just being able to get out and feel the wind rain and sun on my face again amongst the beautiful highland scenery has completely changed the way I feel now and a side benefit has been losing and keeping off the weight I had gained over the years of middle age bad diet so a new beginning for me. Myself and good friend of mine Stewart actually bumped into you on the island of Herrera many years ago and walked with you for a bit on the south end of the island towards Gylen castle it was I remember a beautiful day. Anyway just wanted to say hi and wish you all the best with your recovery kind regards David.
I did wonder why I hadn't seen any videos in my feed for a little while, so welcome back.
Ten years ago in mid-June I had open heart surgery, at a relatively young age, to repair a damaged and leaking mitral valve, and also surgical and laser ablation to cure heart arrythmia. I am still hillwalking, although it took a long time - more than ten weeks - to regain my fitness for hillwalking because I don't live in Scotland and my health was already seriously compromised by the arrythmia, which had been going on for several years before this final operation. 2014 was the only year in the last 30 I didn't manage to walk up any Scottish hills, but I have made up for it since. Two weeks after the operation I was at the Glastonbury Festival, no great walking challenge, but a full day if you walk from the village and back adds up to 25,000 steps, and is more than enough for most people.
Today I am only troubled by the operation if I have to do prolonged heavy lifting. I have just spent several weeks rebuilding an old stone wall in my garden and the chest muscles never completely regain their former strength.
Oh well done !!!! Good to see you at the top of the hill again 👍
Hi Cameron 🤗!
Greetings from an old sock in Germany!
I’m glad to learn, that your health is improving and you’re back in your desired environment inhaling natures beauty!
What I’d like to point out to you is, there might be a problem with your microphone 🤔🙄!
The sound I’m getting is like that kind of buzzy distorted sound from a speaker with torn/ ripped membrane!
The fact, that I don’t experience this phenomenon when whatching other videos convince me, nothing’s wrong with the device I use!
Greetings and lots of best possible adventures, discoveries, travels and, of course, health 🤗😘!
Ingo ✌🏻🖖🏻🧔🏼♂️!
Well done Cameron, I am 4 weeks after hip replacement surgery and even with that there are good and bad days. i am not as much of a hill walker as yourself but I can't wait to get away in the campervan , we were supposed to leave today for Shetland but a surprise appointment from he NHS put paid to that 😀 shetland will still be there 😀
take care Cameron .
Tom
Great to see you making progress. Also looked like a nicewsee hill, one that my wife could manage now that she's unable to do the big hills. Maybe next time we are in Speyside we'll stop off for a hike.
I'm sure she'd love it.
Great to see you back on mend Cameron. The Munro with the grandchildren will be a great day out for you all. Take it easy
Great to see you climbing that wee hill and wishing you all the best for your recovery. You may remember that several years ago you climbed that same wee hill and very kindly sent a video message for a special event my church organised to celebrate my friend Ian Pinkerton’s achievement in climbing all the Munros. Ian’s physical and mental health had declined by then, but that morning in the company of good friends, camping gear and even an amazingly designed (and safe!) indoor replica Craigallian Fire, his memories came alive again and he regaled us with some wonderful stories. Your personal message to Ian from the top of the hill was the perfect finale and brought many a tear to a few eyes. Sadly Ian is no longer with us but it was great that we were able to give him that time and thank you again for the part you played. Wishing you many more happy days in the hills and especially a fine day for your granddaughter’s first Munro!
Well done Cameron, keep moving forwards at a steady pace.
Glad you are on the road back to fitness, I was diagnosed in January 2023 with rheumatoid arthritis and last Sunday (14th April 2024) I had a walk on the hill for the first time WITH NO PAIN. Taken a long time to get the medication right. I am only 76 years young so I hope to have a few years yet to enjoy the hills. ( and my camper) thanks for sharing ATB & stay young
Good to see you on the mend . take it easy
I had my quad bypass 20 years ago this week. I found that I lost weight as I got fitter but I am lucky that we have a dedicated cardiac rehabilitation centre at our local hospital which helped me to get fit in a controlled and graduated way. I was so pleased with the help that they have given me that I have been paying it back by volunteering a couple of days each week to help others.
If you are concerned about your heart rate, the dedicated heart rate monitors with a chest strap (as worn by sports men & women) are a lot more accurate than the fitbit style watches.
Thanks for sharing Cameron. You are looking well, and I'm sure things are progressing further with each day..
You say to share if there are any bumps in our road that put a temporary halt to our plans, well, I type this after an ultrasound at Addenbrookes hospital. I'd flown out to Turkey to hike the Lycian Way 500km but noticed swelling in parts of my anatomy (fluid retention) that I've experienced before linked to problems with my abdomen, which is susceptible to cancer. It was a no brainer, I contacted my consultant from my hotel in Turkey & my consultant said "get back to the UK for an ultrasound ASAP,". Well, I got the all-clear this morning, so I'm immensely relieved. However I'm still pretty pissed off that I had to abandon my two-month hike through the Taurus Mountains! But as they say, the hills will always be there, and so will I come October to start the Lycian Way for a second time.
I will take on board your sense of patience and 'listening to our bodies' approach, and I'm sure I will enjoy the Taurus Mountains all the more in October, with gratitude for good health, as I'm sure you'll enjoy taking your granddaughter up her first Munro? Perhaps that'll be one of the most significant Munro memories for you Cameron?
You're doing great... Best wishes.
Glad to hear the recovery and fitness levels are going well👍🏻
You give me hope I am waiting for a triple bypass and the thought of the surgery scares the shit out of me.
Look at i this way - you'll be wheeled into the anaesthetic suite, given a little jab and the next thing you'll know is waking up in the ward with a lovely nurse offering you a cup of tea. Sure it's major surgery but these guys do it so often it's quite routine and no big deal.
Onwards and upwards Cameron, great to hear your doing so well and wish you many many more hill days!
Well done Cameron, it's lovely to see you back in the hills again. I was admitted into the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital on the same day you had you're heart surgery with Pulmonary Embolisms in the lungs ( blood clots ) which certainly pulled me up for a week or so, but like you, nothing but praise for the doctors, nurses, and staff of the N.H.S. Sadly, not too many hills in Norfolk - - - I have to spend my recuperation with the dogs, and biking around the broads in readiness for the West Highland Way later this year in September. Looking forward to your future videos. I miss your " Adventure Show " features and T.V. appearances on B.B.C. Scotland. Take care.
Great to see you recovering so well. Keep doing what you’re doing and keep us updated on your progress. Good health to you ❤👍🏻
Best wishes Cameron, it’s you who inspired me going fairly light weight in your old Lighten up column in TGO. Onwards and upwards 👍🏻
It's good to see you back out on the hills again and we can all look forward to better weather and getting out and about whether it be walking, cycling or running in the beautiful countryside Scotland has to offer.
Good to see you out and looking great 👏🏻💪🏼🏴
Thank you for an update on your recovery journey. An inspiration to us all. xx
Ma toon Pittenweem. Hope you you enjoyed yir visit and good to see the recovery is coming on well
I had aortic valve replacement in 2020 aged 47. Wishing you a good recovery. Best advice I can offer is listen to your body and know when to rest or even turn back.
Some of my yomps have included 22km Braeriach 20km Lochnager, 16km Beinn Eighe plus many many Lake District fells and valley walks.
You will get there, all in good time 😊💪🙏
Great to see you making a recovery Cameron. You’re an inspiration to many.
Thanks Cameron, great to see you progressing so well.
Glad to see you out and about Cameron. My problem are not as servier as you. I've got a scared left ventricle and atrial fibrillation. As i got older i seem to be collecting ailments. Asthma ulcerative colitis and others. I still go walking and try to ride my mountain bike everyday. I have now got what they are telling me a hundred days cough. My asthma seems to be tiring me out. And im only 67 . I should be a spring chicken compared to some! Keep up the good work.
It is such a joy to watch your recuperation. ❤
Good to see your recuparation going well Cameron, ebike for the Fife coastal path by the way.
You’re doing very well, it’s funny the weight fell off me after my bypass. Today was a lovely walk down the Waskerley Way for me, it was freezing. I have an Apple Watch, I use it all the time, it doubles as an SOS thingy as well, would recommend one for peace of mind
Looking forward to some aire reviews: what brought me to the channel
Thanks 👍
Glad to see you back in the hills, I had a triple heart bypass in March last year and like you was eager to get back into the hills.also like you I had some bad days but those tended to be in the first few months.
Now i'am back in the hills and riding my mountain bike .
One thing with all the medication/blood thinners I was forever coming home from a ride bleeding from my arms and legs and not realising because the bleeding takes awhile to stop even from the smallest of cuts/scratches, they look far worse than they actually are😂.
ps don't bother with a watch to check your pulse when hiking unless you have chest strap monitor ,just the watch can be unreliable I was checking mine on strava later and my pulse was getting upto 200 bpm but it never felt that it was that high but at the beginning you start to worry about it ,now I just go off how I feel .
Can't wait to see you up them Munro's again soon.
Well done Cameron, you're coming on in leaps and bounds, I'm assuming you're not behind the wheel of the Caravaggio yet. Or is that pencilled in for the backpacking trip. As you say, one day at a time.
Remember yir spray laddie
Ha ha, one of the benefits of the surgery I had recently is that I don't have to carry a spray any more. After five years of carrying the bloody thing in my pocket and remembering to keep it with me at all times it's nice to be free of it. I don't have to widen my arteries any more - they're like new - so no need for the spray.
Onwards and upwards Cameron, great to hear your doing so well and wish you many many more hill days!