Our blog is generally about life and times on Rush. This post is different – an update for those we’ve not spoken to recently.

Don’t worry – it will end well!

En-route to Kalamata in late May, Amanda began to feel dizzy and fatigued. The following morning, on Rush, she felt significantly worse. Frighteningly so… Following three days on the excellent Kalamata hospital’s cardio ward and multiple tests and scans, their team was confident Amanda’s heart was strong, so set her free. Back on Rush, in the heat, it was tough. Amanda was utterly fatigued – sometimes unable to move even a few metres. Anxiety, naturally, exacerbated the problem.

We needed to get home. At that point getting onto a plane seemed unimaginable but on the day Amanda was amazing. Ending up locked in a Gatwick stairwell, just the two of us, due to our slow progress through the airport is another story! Friends Alan and Helen (due to join us on Rush in Malta at that time…) picked us up and the relief on getting into their car was deep.

Amanda had more tests in the UK, ruling out other key potential causes of her condition, leaving what seems most likely to be allostatic overload – probably finally triggered by intense training for a Swim-Run, on top of various other mental and physical stresses going on over a period – perhaps also with a virus unknowingly present.  

This condition is debilitating, both physically and psychologically, and recovery can take months… It’s important to avoid over-exertion and stress while working through a recovery process. Amanda was initially barely able to do anything each day.

However, we were onto it early, Amanda is otherwise healthy and had the focus to tackle it with increasing knowledge through research. We’re also fortunate to live in a peaceful place surrounded by amazing friends and family.

We felt we had to accept that Amanda would be out of action for at least six months but, as I write this, two months after the first symptoms, she seems to have turned a corner. A period of establishing a safe baseline of activity which doesn’t precipitate another crash, plenty of rest, re-establishing a sleep regime (disrupted by the condition), serious nutrition and avoidance of stress seem to be working. Quite suddenly over the last week, Amanda has been able to do more. Care is needed to ensure she doesn’t go too far, too fast and cause a set-back. 

Rush is in Kalamata, un-moved since we moored at the end of April – comprehensively packed up with sails and lines etc. removed. The team at Kalamata Marina have been lovely. We’ve cancelled her planned winter in Motril, southern Spain (also cannot speak highly enough of the Marina de Motril team) and re-booked at Cleopatra, Preveza. Depending on progress, we’ll either go back together in September for some gentle cruising or I’ll go, with a friend, to deliver her to Cleopatra for an early lift.