Kayaking & River Rafting

[CowTown]

Curious...

Recently I've been realizing that I have a retarded growing fear of drowning (I guess, I don't really know). This is all very new to me and is extremely annoying and sad for me to see happening. But....in the past couple of years I have started to realize that I can't exactly hold my breath for as long as I used to and find myself worrying about swimming at the beach, and now kayaking and river rafting.

I wonder if anyone else has experience with water activities and later in life, realizing that it might not be so safe anymore for the sake of not being able to hold your breath for as long as you might need. This used to never bother me, I was as active in the water as any, and these thoughts have never crossed my mind before.

My husband is gearing up to get into kayaking this summer and we are currently planning a river rafting trip as well. I really want to go because I love rafting trips, camping along the river, etc., and I would love to join my husband on the kayaking too, but I'm feeling very cautious about me holding my breath when needed. This whole time I've been telling my husband that I won't be joining him on the kayaks and he understands, but I wonder if I'm denying myself over something that I shouldn't. The plan would be to plot out the river levels and get out when there are larger rapids, walk down the river to where it settles again, and continue on. Neither my husband nor our friends who we'll be going with want to do any class 4 or even class 3 (I don't think), but the idea of something going wrong, and having to swim through the rapids and hold my breath for longer than I can, really concerns me. I know that if I could hold my breath and tred water like I used to, I wouldn't even be thinking about this, but things have changed. FYI, it's not like I can't swim or anything - that's not the problem, but my lungs get such a serious work out now from swimming, that it's not always enjoyable.

If anyone has experience with this, do you think this is overly cautious and lame to be worried about if we're only doing class 2?

 

[EnergyGal]

Hi Kelly

I hear how you feel. Talk with your doctor to make sure if this would be ok for you. Perhaps with some good chest clearnings you could participate if it is a mild day. I have no clue what this sport is about but I have seen this on tV and it looks very challenging.

Anyone who can climb a mountain like you have done can do anything.

Feel good

 

[anonymous]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>MyNewfy</b></i>

I wonder if anyone else has experience with water activities and later in life, realizing that it might not be so safe anymore for the sake of not being able to hold your breath for as long as you might need.</end quote></div>

Yup. Same here -- water-averse! But retarded? It's a pretty rational fear, really.

 

[Allie]

Ry kayaked, mostly in the river area over here, but sometimes in the river. We also did white water rafting, but that's a little less risky. You should only do what you are comfortable with, but I think you'd be fine.

 

[anonymous]

I would think you would be fine especially if the people you are going with are aware to kind of keep an eye on you if you guys get tipped, just to make sure you are holding your own.

What do you really have to lose by trying? Since your going on the trip anyway maybe you could try it and if it is just making you too nervous you can stop. I don't know, i always hate the idea of giving up something before i actually have to. I think you might end up ticked at yourself later if you don't at least give it a go.

littledebbie..not logged in..not my computer <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

 

[CowTown]

The strange thing is that I can tell this is possibly more just a fear than rational, although I'm really not sure. I would like to face this fear but I had a rude awakening last summer swimming at the beach. I realized that my days of swimming in the waves, holding my breath under the waves, and tredding water like you have to do, is not really working for me anymore. The best way to describe it was that I felt like I was 1 minute away from drowing if I didn't touch the ground. I couldn't do both, hold my breath under the waves while tredding water. That was just scary, very tiring, and it really pissed me off. So from this experience I'm thinking I can never enjoy interactive water sports again (of course jet skis, boats, etc. are not included), but maybe I'm just scared and it's not that bad. I don't know.

With kayaking, I'm concerned with getting stuck or accidentally getting into bigger rapids that I want and possibly not being able to get myself out of it. I could always just go for it, but I don't want a near death expererience. At least with rock climbing, I know the ropes so to speak, and if/when I fall I know the anchors will hold me. Also, you know when you jump into freezing cold water and it makes your breathing shallow? Well, that would happen in the rivers here on top of not being able to hold my breath for very long. So...does this sound stupid to try or lame to be so worried about? I see a few of you have said to go for it. Has anyone had one of these water/breathing experiences? If it's just a blatant fear, then I'll go for it, but if it sounds rational, then I'll hold off a while longer and see what comes of my thoughts.

I think if I ask my doctors, they'll probably say it's not a good idea or only if I feel comfortable, but I don't know.

 

[Faust]

I love canoeing. We usually do an 8-10 hour trip, it really can develope your back muscles.

 

[anonymous]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>MyNewfy</b></i>
Has anyone had one of these water/breathing experiences? </end quote></div>

I'm the one who said it wasn't necessarily irrational. Yeah, I've had a few scares. Went overboard once in the November North Atlantic and almost drowned. But that wasn't what got me -- I was a good swimmer then. It was much later, when I inadvertently swam a few times out of my depth. I just wasn't attuned to my new limitations and, yes, I could have drowned. Didn't really appreciate the sensation. Now, I'm a wader. I don't even like waves breaking over my face. So maybe I'm a tad irrational, but still. Not saying you shouldn't go rafting. Only that you're not an oddball for having these fears. At least not to me.

 

[anonymous]

May I ask what your PFT's are? Mine are around 50ish and I have had that problem for a long time. it has made me very scared of the water because I feel like I might suffocate when i can't hold my breathe.
I say do what you want but you have a lot of concerns so maybe your answer is right there. if you have this many concerns is it really going to be enjoyable for you?

 

[Diane]

well i know exactly how you feel. I was always a great swimmer and LOVED it ! Then 2 years ago i was at a party and there was a pool in the yard . I hadnt swam in a few years mostly because i had no access to a pool) . I was being chased by a friend of mine and decided to just jump in because he was going to catch me and throw me in , so i figured either way i am going in. When i surfaced and started swimming, i realized things have changed. Its way harder to swim now than it used to be. I got out of breath easier and way faster and it made me uncomfortable to the point i am now reluctant to go out on a boat . So i totally understand your fear and apprehension.

 

[EnergyGal]

Thinking about this topic again, i feel there is too much risk involved. IF there was a way to train for this to get you better shape so you would have the confidence to participate. You would then know for sure if you are able to do join them. I would imagine asking your husband and his friends as if they do not think you are in shape for this then they would say no to you.

I would not say you could never do this again.
Have hope and train
Risa

 

[kybert]

i know where you are coming from kelly. although in cant say im scared of the water because i still go to the beach and all, i am now VERY wary of the fact that it would be quite easy for me to drown. and having been almost drowned [yes, by other people] twice and knowing how bad it feels im quite paranoid about it actually. so much so i even tell people not to dunk me etc. i personally wouldnt do something which would definately require that i had to hold my breath. too risky. perhaps you should skip the kayaking if you feel that way.

wow, i feel like such a downer saying that. 5 years or more ago i would never say something like that. i could swim as much as i like and hold my breath for more than 5 seconds lol! how things change...

 

[CowTown]

Thanks guys for sharing your experiences with me. For some reason, it makes me feel a little better to know that I'm not the only one this has happened to. It makes sense really, but I've never heard anyone talk about it. Confirming my fear of needing to hold my breath when I might not be able to, makes me more comfortable with going out and doing something else with my time. Like someone said above, anything that requires me to hold my breath, is not good for me. That's too scary if my life depends on it. I guess it is what it is, and I have to deal with the reality on this one. So thanks for your feedback!

 

[CowTown]

I might add, I won't be joining my husband on the kayaks, but the river rafting trip that we're in the process of planning right now, I still have to think about. The boats will be much less risky then the kayaks, and apparently the river we're planning on going down is very mellow, so i'm not sure if I want to be the party pooper, because if I don't go that will effect the whole trip since we need two people per boat. Hmmm. What a drag to have to think about. If it's mellow water like they say it is, then I might just do it....but no kayaking.