Caravanning after heart surgery

 I would love to say I can help but I am in the position where my overweight partner aged 67 got a triple bypass 2 years ago..he insisted on starting up caravanning again a couple of months ago..I drive but cannot tow..it's painful watching him with the sweat running off him while we are pitching..putting up the porch awning takes ages.im only 5.4 and struggle helping ..took us recently almost 3 hours to connect the water sort the awning.etc etc..meantime he had to keep stopping with the sweat dripping off him..he struggles to get down on the ground and even longer to get back up...I'm hoping someone will reply and say it gets better...

Hi Reading this it could have been me that's written it :( my partner is 18 stone 6ft 4 and 68 years old.he got a triple bypass 3 years ago..im afraid he's going to hate me soon as I'm going to have to say enough is enough..he has brought one of those gardening kneeling seats to help him get back up when pegging otherwise he cannot get back up.i help as much as I can with pitching and even say to him leave it and I will do it but that doesn't go down well.and like you im 5ft 4 I can drive but I cannot tow..my partner gets short of breath and huffs and puffs.it looks painful watching him struggle with his sweaty red face and i know its painful for him in his cgest and shoulders.. to me it does not look like a pleasure for him anymore its more his stubborn streak with saying he's not giving it up.i would give up caravanning in a heartbeat as in all honesty ive never truly enjoyed it but for my partner its a totally different story..he gave up drinking and smoking and still works but sees the caravanning as his only thing left before his bypass :(  ☹ 

First thing I'd ask is do you really need to erect an awning as that is usually the most difficult part of pitching.  We don't usually bother these days.  We leave the table and chairs outside. If you have a motor mover then that also takes much of the strain out of the job.

He sounds as though he's overdoing it and is not prepared to 'give in' but I sincerely hope that doesn't come at a price. 

My hubby is reasonably fit and well at 71 years but I tow and we each have our own jobs when pitching or leaving a site so we share the load. 

I love caravanning but he'd give it up in a heartbeat I know.  I feel we only have a few years left before we make the decision to stop caravanning.

 

 

Certainly seriously consider a motor mover if you don't already have one.

Hope it all goes well for you

I am 77 and had 3 stents inserted last year ,now find wth not so drastic surgery and 6ft and 13st ,   even i will not put up a porch awning on the day of arrival   ,my OH is not in the best of health and a non driver so cannot really help a lot,,

The only time now we have the lightweight porch awning in use is if we are any longer than a week,  i then just take my time with plenty of rests, 

Most of the  time now we do not use an awning ,but we have on our Bailey a roof mounted wind out  Thule canopy which we find quite adequate for our needs most of the time

 Ps i went many years without a Motor Mover and although not used alot it is there if needed,it was on "doctors orders" he has a caravan ,that OH bought one and had it fitted

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I'm the same as AD.  Mover essential.  A few years ago in Italy (Lake Tressimino) we met a Brit on site who had had a heart attack whilst staying at the same site the previous year!  His wife did not drive so Red Pennant came to his aid even arranging for his outfit to be driven back to UK.  My message is, subject to Doctor's orders, go for it.

I am only coming up to 68, however due to arthritis I definitely don't want to faff with an awning. Getting down is not too bad ............! I certainly could no longer safely manhandle our 1.5 kg caravan on a flat tarmac surface, never mind gravelled and sloping. Similarly I only use the 3.9 kg propane bottles since they are lighter and less awkward due to lesser bulk.

Anyone who undergoes heart surgery is invited, along with their partner/spouse to attend informative and helpful sessions which advise on a gradual recovery programme. These include input from pharmacists who give information about the drugs that may be described, a dietitian who will give useful information about healthy foods, and if so requested, weight loss and lifestyle changes. There is usually a qualified physiotherapist as well giving advice on suitable exercise, frequency of exercise and tasks that should and shouldn’t be attempted. The course is rather generic, designed principally for those whose lifestyle and/or dietary/drinking/smoking dependencies might have had a contribution to heart disease, but it is possible to get further help if there is something in particular that might help recovery, particularly with coming to terms with a life changing event. Partners are invited because it can help the recovered to share this recovery with someone else who can then understand what is involved.

From a caravanning point of view, heavy lifting of anything can be an issue. Anything that raises heart rate above a certain guidance threshold is an issue. Eliminating, sharing, changing how you do some tasks will help. There is also a mental health element involved as well as physical, any heart attack or heart problem for most individuals is very very scary. Some folks have provided some great ways of continuing with being able to caravan, so I hope this helps. Each patient/person is different though, and a good understanding of what caused the need for surgery, and how best to deal with it is critical.

Margaret had a quadruple heart bypass about five years ago. Not that it is particularly relevant as I have never expected her to get involved with  the heavy stuff associated with caravanning. However about eight years ago we did have a bit of an epiphany when bringing back the caravan from the dealer we found there was a problem with the motormover and we had difficulty getting the caravan back in the back garden which is up a slight slope. Previous shorter vans I was able to reverse in but not so easy with this van as it was longer. I had also not long before that had a hip replacement so perhaps not the strength I once had. I am not sure that it scared us but it did rather illustrate our limitations. The following year we changed to a motorhome after 30 years of caravanning. I would say that has given us a new lease of touring life as we find it so much easier in setting off and setting up, far more relaxed. I think we all have to face the possibility that we won't all want to carry on with our hobby for ever. If it becomes a struggle and lacking in enjoyment you do have to question whether it is the right thing. All I would say is that you also have to think about what might replace it as it would leave a big hole in many of our lives. I also worry about the longer term impact of COVID. It has forced us to have a break from our hobby and many will still be uncomfortable going back to it any time soon. It has also impacted on alternatives holiday options that many of us in the older age group like to take part in like cruises and coach trips so there is a big void waiting for us all if we are not careful.

David