Hiking with an ICD?

Hey, it's been about 6 months since i got my ICD and I'm planning on going on a 2 day camping/hiking trip in the woods with a small group of people and will also include I think another weekend of practice hiking (this if for the Duke of Edinburgh award exhibition)...

I'm 16 and have had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (slightly obstructive i think) nearly all my life and got an ICD due to one short episode of syncope and a few other minor risks for SCD.

Anyway, I did a practice hike for like a few hours... walking for long distances wasn't an issue for me but the steep hills were a slight issue.. the steepest one we went over was absolutely TERRIBLE. I felt very breathless and strained going up it and regretted it. After that I found walking quite difficult too.

Apparently that wasn't anything like how the real one is going to be (i.e. the real thing will be alot more strenuous) as we will be carrying heavy back packs and there will probably be more of those wretched hills. There will be adults there but for the hikes we will be in small groups in the wilderness trying to find our way around with a map.

It's not exactly going to be an extreme hike or anything near and I also have the ICD incase but I'm just concerned because I found that day of very minor hiking quite difficult and my heart condition isn't really improving... I have a checkup in a week with my EP and cardiologist and will ask this, but any thoughts as to whether I should go?

Thanks (:

1 Comments

hiking

by Tracey_E - 2013-04-12 02:04:13

Ask your dr but I don't think it's a good idea until you've been stable longer and are stronger again. You'll get there, but it doesn't sound like you are quite there yet. As much as I am in favor of pushing ourselves to our limits (safely!) and my answer is usually go for it, I think I'd be hesitant to go on an overnight hiking trip. Hiking or camping, sure, but for now it might be better staying where you have safety net, where you won't be forced to continue if you don't feel up to it. Can you drive to a campsite then hike from there? Then you'd be able to head back when you get tired.

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