Roller Coasters?

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There have been several deaths this summer. People with heart problems, and even some people who were without any known problems. One lady had a brain bleed. There was also another in today's news who passed out on one of the Disney rides.

Don't know if they paid attention to the warnings on the ride entrances or not.

Some of those were on a ride that was like a centrifuge.

Then there were several people (25, or so) the other day who were injured when the rollercoaster made an abrupt stop.

Maybe the theme parks have exceeded the limits of what people's bodies can tolerate and need to ramp back some on the G-forces of these rides.

You should discuss this with your cardiologist who knows your case the best.
 
This is just my opinion but I believe you should have no problem with coasters and other thrill rides after a routine vr if your heart is in otherwise good condition.

Many times surgery isn't performed until after there is enlargement of the heart or rhythm disturbances. That can get you into trouble quickly. Most of the people who have died on coasters recently as a result of an undiagnosed heart condition have suffered from cardiac arrest due to arrhythmias brought on by the stress of the ride.

Your new valve will have no trouble taking the g-forces as long as your heart is in good shape.

Randy
 
Randy & Robyn said:
This is just my opinion but I believe you should have no problem with coasters and other thrill rides after a routine vr if your heart is in otherwise good condition.

Many times surgery isn't performed until after there is enlargement of the heart or rhythm disturbances. That can get you into trouble quickly. Most of the people who have died on coasters recently as a result of an undiagnosed heart condition have suffered from cardiac arrest due to arrhythmias brought on by the stress of the ride.

Your new valve will have no trouble taking the g-forces as long as your heart is in good shape.

Randy

I agree to a certain point. We must remember that our new valve or valves are sewn into place, not grown into place. I was not given restrictions from coasters, but my better judgement tells me I probably shouldn't be riding them.

just my thoughts

Ben
 
former coaster enthusiast

former coaster enthusiast

I don't know what your particular situation is regarding taking coumadin, but I would suggest that if your INR were running a little high that day, and your head was jerking around (as it typically does on coasters), you may cause a bleed. I might be out in left field here, but several years ago (after my surgery), I rode a few large wooden coasters that were incredibly jerky, and my head hurt the rest of the day. It obviously had nothing to do with bleeding (since the pain went away) but it did make me acutely aware of how much your head bangs around on those things. I wouldn't want to take that chance, but that's just my humble opinion.
 
My doc says that coasters are ok

My doc says that coasters are ok

For what it's worth, I did contact my surgeon before going to Six Flags (Texas location) about a week ago to ask about riding coasters. He (his nurse) said that it should be no problem -- so I rode to my "heart's content", if you'll pardon the pun.

That said, there is one large wooden coaster that was incredibly rough and I wished that I had skipped it the third time I rode it.

I had a Ross procedure in January, so I'm not on any type of restrictive medicine. And I also have no other health issues to speak of; what I mean to say is that my surgeon was giving ME the ok to ride based on my condition and circumstances. By all means give yours a call.

Bartt
 
Roller coasters

Roller coasters

We were told at Cardiac Rehab that nobody in that class should be riding rollercoasters. The majority of the people there have had stents put in.
 
coasters

coasters

I just returned from Cedar Point! The Millenium and the Raptor are the best! Especially, from the front car. Also rode the Top Thrill Dragster which goes about 125 mph and the Mantis (stand-up) and the Mean Streak.

Passed on all the new rides because they look like stomach flipping rides. Don't need to get sick to have a great thrill ride.
 
Just this last weekend here in Ohio at Paramount's King's Island, one of their coasters came to a very sudden stop while moving approximately 35 mph. Wow, what could that do to our "sewn in valves". Everyone on the coaster was hospitalized for a period of time, some very short, some still there.

Be carefull and be wise with our decisions. But remember, AVR is a gift to a new life so don't restrict yourself too much. Fine line !

Ben
 
I would ask your cardiologist. Everyone is different, I know for Justin , he is allowed to ride rollercoasters, but not the rides that have the high G forces, like mission space the ride in Disney that a few people have died one.
Luckily most of the people here know about their heart conditions, and most of the deaths that are heart related turn out to be undxd CHDs. I know alot of kids that have asked their doctors, since alot of MAW kids chose disney as their wish, and it really is an indivdual thing, some aren't allowed to ride any of the rides marked do not ride w/ heart condition, some have no restrictions while others like Justin just can't ride the rides w/ high Gforces (which by the way is a pain to figure out)
I did find an article on a german study the other day after the little boy died and we were talking about it on all my CHd boards, about how rollercoasters can cause arrythmias, http://www.patienthealthinternational.com/news/9287.aspx
Lyn
 
Hi all! Thought I would share our recent experiences since Andrew just did the six Flag thing for the first time since his valve replacement surgery a year ago and his ICD placement in August.

Andrew has always loved coasters. He rode all of them when he was younger and he had a mechanical valve and was on coumadin. Never was a problem for him. I was a little nervous when he got the defribulator that he would no longer be allowed to ride them but his cardiologist said it is not a problem for him. He just was to avoid rides with shoulder harnesses. I hate to see what an automobile accident would do to him. :rolleyes: He had no problems last week and had a great time. He asked about one that had a harness and I let him make that decision with a little thought. How does it feel to hit your ICD? He decided it wouldn't be worth it.:D

Now maybe with older patients it is more of a problem but I have never had a doctor say that a stiched valve would be more likely to be damaged from an ammusement ride, or even from a collision. And we all know which is more likely to happen to any of us.

If roller coasters are your passion check with your cardiologist; it most likely won't be forbidden but you might want to wait SEVERAL months to a year. All the best to you!
 
What about Shooting? I know its way different than Coasters, but Skeet, Trap, Rifles....All give a pretty good Jolt. I have no plans to jump on any Rollercoasters soon, but I think it is a great question!
 
Ben Smith said:
Just this last weekend here in Ohio at Paramount's King's Island, one of their coasters came to a very sudden stop while moving approximately 35 mph. Wow, what could that do to our "sewn in valves". Everyone on the coaster was hospitalized for a period of time, some very short, some still there.

Be carefull and be wise with our decisions. But remember, AVR is a gift to a new life so don't restrict yourself too much. Fine line !

Ben

We just went to King's Island this past Friday, and when I saw that the Son of Beast was closed and asked someone why, I was told that story. All I could think about was hitting your sternum or head really hard when that thing came to a dead stop. It really reminded me of this particular thread on rollercoasters and the dangers they can sometimes pose.
 
Shooting

Shooting

I havent had any problems but I don't have an ICD or pacemaker. I woudl think you coulr adjust the positioning of the gun on your shoulder to prevent any discomfort.
I had no problem taking that gobbler pictured in my avatar this Spring.
 
I'm no physicist but I just read an article stating that the momentary g-force exerted on a person firing a typical shotgun is in the hundreds of g's. Wouldn't that type of quick snap have a much greater chance on damaging valve stitching than a mere 5 g's from the most intense roller coaster made?

I'm not implying that's the case. Just curious if this makes sense to anyone else.

Randy
 
Randy & Robyn said:
I'm no physicist but I just read an article stating that the momentary g-force exerted on a person firing a typical shotgun is in the hundreds of g's. Wouldn't that type of quick snap have a much greater chance on damaging valve stitching than a mere 5 g's from the most intense roller coaster made?

I'm not implying that's the case. Just curious if this makes sense to anyone else.

Randy

I would like to see the article and the testing results of such a statement that shotguns have G forces in the hundreds. Sounds pretty rediculous. I don't believe even a man of my physical stature would be able to take it, if this were true.
Would be interesting reading to see facts that prove such a statement.
 
Gun power

Gun power

I don't think those numbers are what a persons (whole) body experiences when firing a shotgun..

What is messured and according the what standardized methods? Or is it all theoretical?

I think most of the force is absorbed by tissue in the shoulder and muscles in the arms etc. As the force travels through the body more and more energy is lost. By the time the force hits your valve I think I would be so damped and scattered it really is nothing compared to what other normal life activities could accomplish. Of course it also depends on the size of the gun... :rolleyes:
 
All I know is that I still ride a great many of the coasters. However, I don't ride the high G-force rides or the ones that rattle my head around. I had stopped riding the ones that rattle my head around a long time before my VR, simply because I don't like having a headache afterwards. But also, I've had heart problems my entire life and ridden rides anyway. The only problem I've ever had on a ride had nothing to do with my heart (instead I messed up my back, BIG time!). As everyone has said, it's an individual thing.
 
It will be 3 years this August for my AVR-St. Jude Mechanical. I love roller coasters, however have not yet had the chance to go back and try a few. I have moved from Chicago to Sarasota FL, so I have plenty of chances now that my children are coming of age to enjoy thrill rides in the land of thrill rides.

I plan to be very cautious, however I'm more concerned over the adreneline rush causing potential palps than anything else.

The year after my surgery I went on a few carnival rides and experiences slight dizziness (more than normal) that was probably due to the meds I was on post surgery. I'm now down to only Coumadin and 10 mg. of Altace to keep my BP in line. I have no side-effects so I'm hoping that helps.
 

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