There’s nothing like a near-death experience to change your perspective on life. I had one right in the middle of my swim trek in Greece. (The Milos Explorer trip.) Before going, I knew that we would spend most of the day either on the boat or swimming in the ocean. I sometimes get seasick. I’d tried an over the counter anti-nausea medicine once, years ago, and it made me so sleepy I missed most of the fun I was trying not to feel sick for. The logical answer was to take the less-drowsy formula and all would be fine. Or so I thought. On day 3 of our swim trek, I took one with breakfast and felt fine all morning. We boated for about an hour or to a neighboring island. I had a splendid morning swim, a crossing from one island to another, which is my favorite type of open water swimming. When I swim out in the “deep end” of the ocean, I feel as though I’m in another world. I’m in a bottomless, magical blue abyss and I absolutely love it. I felt great that morning and swam in a fast, silky smooth zone.
After we all finished the crossing, we boarded the boat and headed toward another island to enjoy lunch at a local open-air café. While on the way, I laid down on a bench to rest. About twenty minutes later we stopped and dropped anchor. I got up quickly and suddenly felt nauseous. I was annoyed because I had taken a pill that morning to avoid this very feeling, but went to the side of the boat. I then felt dizzy as well, so I quickly scampered to the end of the boat where I could sit down on the edge and throw up if necessary. The next thing I knew I was in the water with Bruce, one of the swim guides, and totally disoriented. I kept asking why I was all wet and couldn’t figure out how I got in the ocean. Bruce calmed me down and said I had fainted. Fainted? It sounded so Victorian-age. Bruce later told me he had gone to the back of the boat just in time to see me fall into the ocean and sink like a rock. At first, he thought I was just goofing off and was annoyed because it was lunch time, not play time. But, luckily, he jumped in after me and somehow got me back to the surface.
I was still disorientated while trying to climb back on the boat. The next thing I knew I was in the dingy, sitting with my head in someone’s lap (I think it was the other swim guide, Coll.) I tried to sit up so I could throw up over the side but David (the British doctor who was also a Swim Trek participant) told me not to sit up. I obeyed and promptly threw up in the dingy. I felt a little bad about that but they said it didn’t matter. I’m not sure if the Greek boat captain felt the same way since he was the one who had to clean the boat. We got to shore where Coll and David helped me walk to a shaded chaise lounge, conveniently placed at the waters edge, just for me. Actually, my feet hardly touched the sand so I’m pretty sure Coll and David did all the work of moving me. I felt like everyone was fussing a little too much and that I was being a drama queen. At that time, I didn’t realize I had passed out more than once. I hadn’t even considered the ramifications; those thoughts came after lunch on the boat.
The next dingy-load of people included my sister, Audrey, who was horrified that she was lounging around at the front of the boat, enjoying herself, while I dropped into the ocean. She joined us while I followed David’s strict protocol of remaining horizontal for a full twenty minutes, then sitting up for ten minutes before I could walk. David kept taking my pulse and watching me closely. By the time I joined the others for lunch I felt fine, albeit a bit shaken up.
This photo shows the main characters in my drama. Dr David is at the far end of the table, Swim Guide (and rescuer of sinking swim trekkers) Bruce is in the back, left side wearing an orange shirt. Audrey is in the blue shirt in front and I’m sitting across from her. The other swim guide, Coll, who half carried me up the beach and to this cafe is at the head of the table. Isn’t he handsome? (Almost as handsome as Hubby.) I’ve got to admit, all the male attention I received was kind of fun. I’m sure they were all impressed when I puked in the boat. I’m pretty glamorous that way. The other people are our fellow adventurous swim trekkers. The food was awesome and I felt much better by the end of lunch. Which was a pity, since no one had to carry me back to the boat.
After lunch we relaxed a bit then boated to our next swim spot. Bruce told me to stay on the boat and skip the afternoon swim. Audrey stayed with me. I was fine with that because by then I had started processing it all. What had happened? What did this mean? Should I quit open water swimming? (Unthinkable.) Should I quit driving? (Inconvenient.) Was I okay? Was something bigger coming? Audrey calmed me down and made me laugh when she said that if she had gone home from Greece without me she would be in big trouble with the rest of our family. I focused on the positives and even felt a little pleased when Bruce said I sank like a rock. (Sinking means I don’t have too much body fat on me!)
After we returned to the hotel that afternoon, Audrey, Bruce and I took a taxi to the medical clinic on the other side of Milos. It was a clean, modern facility without a wait. The nurse took my vitals and then the doctor sauntered in. It appeared as if someone had pulled him away from an afternoon on the beach. His flip flops, sunglasses and loose, casual shirt went well with his long, beachy hair. He asked me questions, listened to my heart and my lungs and then pronounced me well with two thumbs up. It was definitely one of the most casual and enjoyable doctor visits I’ve ever had. When we checked out, the receptionist said there was no charge. If you’re ever sick, Milos is a good place to be. We celebrated with chocolate cake that evening after dinner.
Later that night,I talked to my twin sister, Suzy, who did some internet research and found other people had reported blacking out after taking the same medication I had. That made me feel much better. It felt great to have a reason for such a bizarre event.
Dr. David read the label and said the active ingredient, Meclizine, was rarely prescribed in England because it’s a “dirty” drug with numerous side effects. The non drowsy version was a completely different drug than the original formula. This reminded me that even if something is available over the counter, it doesn’t mean that drug is safe for everyone.
The next day, Audrey and I stayed at the hotel. We spent a nice day exploring the fishing village, hiking, reading by the ocean and swimming in the bay. I thought about all the little miracles that happened and how grateful I was that things turned out as they had. I’m grateful Bruce had come to the back of the boat just in time to see me fall. I’m grateful I didn’t “come too” when I was underwater. I was so disoriented that had I been underwater I’m sure I would have filled my lungs with water and drowned. Since Bruce was there, I’m grateful I passed out into the ocean instead of in the boat where there were many hard surfaces to bump my head, break my nose or knock out a tooth or two. I’m grateful that Dr. David was on that trip and was willing to help. I’m especially grateful to be alive.
I don’t drink but I was happy to buy Coll, David and Bruce a drink to celebrate my continuing life.
Two years ago I was in Greensboro, North Carolina for the Master’s swim meet. While browsing through a small shop I fell in love with, and purchased this card. I hung it on my office wall, where is still hangs today.
I hope I didn’t jinx myself with the card! Thankfully that day didn’t come in Greece. After our day off, Audrey and I re-joined the swim trek group and enjoyed more beautiful ocean swims without further incident. We did miss the cliff jumping adventure so we may have to return to Milos sometime.