[Rhodes22-list] Apostle Islands High Adventure Trip Cancelled

[Rick Lange]

Hi Roger,

Like Chris, I was awake for 3 stents and a ream out.  Most interesting if
you can be awake.

However, the nurse jokes about my junk being exposed, while well
intentioned, didn't work that well for me.

We're rooting for you,

Rick Lange


On Mon, May 31, 2021 at 10:18 AM Chris Geankoplis <chrisgeankoplis at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hey Roger,
> I went through a similar problem about 10 years ago. I did make the mistake
> of wanting to stay awake to watch. It was a bit uncomfortable but
> interesting to watch. 10 years later I’m doing fine. You can anticipate
> plenty of more miles under the keel.   Keep us posted.
> Chris Geankoplis
> Enosis
>
> On Mon, May 31, 2021 at 7:31 AM Ric Stott <ric at stottarchitecture.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Roger
> > In the years leading to 2008 I had a particularly stubborn A-fib issue
> > that did not respond to any of the beta-blocker treatments available at
> the
> > time. It caused some problems with my bi-lateral hip replacement and the
> > surgery was stopped before it started because the  anesthesiologist
> didn’t
> > like my rhythm, my heart was playing the conga.   Finally got the hips
> done
> > but one of them failed and needed to be revised a year later. They would
> > not fix the hip until my heart was behaving.
> > The first ablation had the desired effect until I got the flu a month
> > later. That caused a different kind of atrial flutter that I thought
> would
> > be the end of me. A 2nd cardiac ablation, which was kind of rare at the
> > time cured the A-fib and I’ve never had it again.
> > I have a number of warranty replacement parts and repairs but still able
> > to keep going.
> > Dadventure should have been launched already but I moved both my office
> > and home in the past two months, as usual, mostly single-handed.
> > Although rhumatoid arthritis has slowed me down and made me grunt and
> > groan, there are drugs for that too.
> > Like my ‘86 Rhodes, I need replacement parts and repairs from time to
> > time, but with proper care and maintenance,  have years of high
> performance
> > practical use left.
> > Unfortunately there is no ROC membership for life, and total makeovers
> are
> > not available yet.
> >
> > I have faith you will take your trip next year and many more years after
> > that.
> > Best to you in health and healing. Pun intended.
> > Ric Stott
> > sv Dadventure
> > Hampton Bays NY
> >
> >
> > Sent fromiPhone
> >
> > > On May 31, 2021, at 7:11 AM, Steven Alm <stevenalm at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > Roger, my dad had a heart attack and a complicated surgery 26 years
> ago
> > and
> > > just yesterday celebrated his 93rd birthday and is going strong! The
> > > advances they’ve made since then are truly amazing. Best of luck with
> > your
> > > procedure and speedy recovery. Keeping you my thoughts.
> > >
> > >> On Sun, May 30, 2021 at 10:07 PM Jesse Shumaker <
> > >> jesse.laten.shumaker at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Roger, so sorry to hear about the health issues.  You've continued to
> > go on
> > >> many adventures that others would not take on at any age.  Best wishes
> > for
> > >> a smooth procedure.  Hopefully the doctors can find and address the
> > issue
> > >> so you can get back in adventure shape soon!
> > >>
> > >> By the way, I'm sending this from a Fountaine Pajot 35 docked at
> > Treasure
> > >> Island in San Francisco Bay where we're taking a few sailing classes
> > >> through Afterguard Sailing Academy.  Yesterday was the first day out
> > and we
> > >> had sustained 35 knot winds for over an hour.  It was a lively start
> to
> > the
> > >> class!
> > >>
> > >> Jesse Shumaker
> > >> S/V Zephyr
> > >>
> > >> On Sun, May 30, 2021, 10:46 AM ROGER PIHLAJA <Roger_Pihlaja at msn.com>
> > >> wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> Hi All,
> > >>>
> > >>> As many of you know; my two sons, brother-in-law, and I were going to
> > >> take
> > >>> a grand circle tour of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in
> July,
> > >>> 2021.  This was going to be a sailing/beach camping/sea kayaking
> trip.
> > >> We
> > >>> were going to use our Rhodes 22 as the mother ship and tow the 4 sea
> > >> kayaks
> > >>> in order to cover the miles between islands.  The sea kayaks would be
> > >> used
> > >>> to explore the sea caves, sea stacks, and sea arches on the many
> > >>> uninhabited islands in the Apostle Islands archipelago.  We were
> going
> > to
> > >>> back country beach camp on 3 different uninhabited islands.  These
> High
> > >>> Adventure Trips are a family tradition dating back almost 22 years.
> We
> > >> do
> > >>> something different every year.  There is an article in the Rhodes 22
> > >>> archives about another High Adventure Sailing Trip to Garden Island
> in
> > >> the
> > >>> middle of Lake Michigan many years ago.
> > >>>
> > >>> I had my second cardiac ablation in February, 2021 and was working
> hard
> > >> on
> > >>> my cardiac rehab.  Unfortunately, my cardiac issues are not getting
> > >>> better.   I recently spent most of a day in A-Fib and tachycardia
> > (rapid
> > >>> heat beat).  Apparently, my cardiac arrhythmia medication,
> Metoprolol,
> > >>> isn’t working for me anymore.  So, on June 1st, I’m scheduled for a 3
> > day
> > >>> stay in the Cardiac Unit at Midland Hospital.  They are going to hook
> > me
> > >> up
> > >>> to cardiac monitors and try a new drug called Tikosyn.  They will try
> > to
> > >>> establish an appropriate dose for me that stops the A-Fib without
> > >> stopping
> > >>> my heart.
> > >>>
> > >>> Then, on June 10th, I’m scheduled to go back to the Invasive
> Procedures
> > >>> Unit at the Midland Hospital for a cardiac catheterization procedure.
> > >> This
> > >>> is another procedure wherein you are put under and they make an
> > incision
> > >> in
> > >>> the right groin.  They insert a catheter-like probe into the large
> vein
> > >> in
> > >>> the groin and snake it back up the circulatory system into the heart.
> > >> They
> > >>> also insert an X-Ray emitting probe down the windpipe to where the
> > >>> bronchial tubes split off to each lung.  On the operating table, you
> > are
> > >>> lying on top of a solid state X-Ray imaging plate.  This gives the
> > >> surgical
> > >>> team a real time image of the heart so they can tell where their
> probe
> > is
> > >>> inside the heart.  Inside the heart, the surgical team will search
> for
> > >> any
> > >>> congenital defects like a hole between the chambers, heart valve
> > >> problems,
> > >>> plaque build-up in the arteries, infection of the heart muscle, and
> > even
> > >>> malignant tumors.  The probe also has a sensitive pressure sensor
> which
> > >>> they will use to map the performance of each chamber of the heart as
> it
> > >>> beats.  Some of these high tech medical procedures sound like
> > overhauling
> > >>> your car engine while it’s in the car and running!  Some issues they
> > can
> > >>> fix immediately and other issues will require open heart surgery,
> which
> > >>> would have to be scheduled in the future.  This is supposed to be a 1
> > day
> > >>> in & out procedure.  But, during the February cardiac ablation, which
> > is
> > >> a
> > >>> similar laparoscopic procedure, the X-Ray probe tore my windpipe
> > causing
> > >>> them to keep me overnight.  I was coughing up blood for a week!  So,
> > in a
> > >>> nutshell, this is going to be experimental surgery to try to figure
> out
> > >>> what’s wrong with me.  It will be a different doctor, which I
> requested
> > >> in
> > >>> order to get a second opinion.  It wasn’t easy to get our medical
> > >> insurance
> > >>> to approve this; but, I insisted.
> > >>>
> > >>> in my present condition, I just don’t feel comfortable going to a
> > remote
> > >>> area like the Apostle Islands.  I would need to be able to paddle my
> > sea
> > >>> kayak 3-4 miles on Lake Superior without passing out and I’m not
> > >> confident
> > >>> in my ability to do that.  Emergency medical care, if it could be
> > >> summoned
> > >>> at all, would be hours away.   We all still have those days in July
> > off.
> > >>> If I’m feeling better by then, we may try to do something less
> > strenuous
> > >>> and closer to home.  Everyone is really disappointed; but, they
> > >> completely
> > >>> support my decision.  There’s always next year, right?
> > >>>
> > >>> I hope everyone is having a wonderful Memorial Day holiday weekend.
> I
> > >> had
> > >>> a COVID-19 test on Friday and Deb & I are quarantined until I go into
> > the
> > >>> hospital next Tuesday.  Stay tuned.  Please keep me in your prayers.
> > >>>
> > >>> Roger Pihlaja
> > >>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> > >>> Windows 10
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>
> >
>