Why I STILL Haven't Been Cleared To Go Backpacking (plus Answering Your Most Asked Questions)

00:00 Hey Y'all
00:18 Seeing My Cardiologist
02:17 Heart Monitor and Scheduling a Stress Test
03:41 My Cardiologist Ghosted Me
05:34 Update On Garmin SAR Claim
06:25 Answering The Most Asked Questions About What Happened
10:56 Future Plans
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[@JSWilliamssr]

Dixie, I used to fly search and rescue in the Air Force. You absolutely DID NOT risk the lives of the crew. They were not flying in a combat zone and they are highly trained and can land out there safely in their sleep. Don't listen to the trolls. You did the right thing.

[@LucyBarnard]

Not to mention those kind of comments discourage people from using these services. So really, it’s this type of shaming comments that put lives at risk.

[@chriscon8463]

Thanks for your service! I retired as a C-130 nav a few years ago.

[@hagendf]

Yeah, and besides, they are trained and understand the risks related to search and rescue.

[@michaeldew7904]

@@hagendf 100% agree. Plus if it was too dangerous for them to rescue you, they will wait until it IS safe.

[@robertedwards7749]

The men and women who train and work in SAR (search and rescue) no matter if they are Military or Civilian are the type of humans that live and breathe by the motto, "That Others May Live." The work they perform is their life's blood and only extreme circumstances will prevent them from doing their work. In my time in the USAF and as a civilian I have volunteered with different SAR groups. Never have I met a finer group of men and women to this day. JSWILLIAMSSR, Thank you for your Service not only to Our Country but to your fellow Man. (I was at March AFB,78/8, and met the folks with the 303rd flying HC-130H birds with the "Cat Whisker's", where were you?) I got to participate in 2 international SAR Competitions what a wonderful time and memories.

[@a.w.thompson4001]

Educating yourself, waiting six weeks while working out on the new medicine, pressing the button, and forming a relationship with an additional cardiologist all sound very sensible. Don't let the trolls get you down, Dixie.

[@danlibby8366]

Dixie, Speaking for myself but I’m sure others agree. Search and rescue, firefighters, police and paramedics all take an oath and we ALL know what we signed up for. That is, we prefer a successful recovery vs a body bag. This was a daytime transport with observation of an alert and oriented x3 person. Those recoveries make us feel good, that we helped. If you had waited, your rescuers could have had a sad situation that shows no joy. Feel NO shame. Stay safe and get better. (Old retired S&R guy)

[@redrockcrf4663]

Absolutely true here also. SAR very much wants to hear from you and save you rather than deal with a critical or fatal situation a few hours later. Devices like the Garmin are an improvement, because it is possible to message SAR without necessarily hitting the SOS.

[@Mike___Kilo]

We look forward to our callouts. It’s not that we hope for people to be lost or hurt - of course we don’t - but if we wanted to stay home all the time we’d get another hobby.

[@twwtb]

SAR would rather get to you sooner than later.

[@sammonicuslux]

You are NEVER foolish, Dixie!! What IS foolish is the US Healthcare system. I hope all goes well for you with the new doctor.

[@noyopacific]

My impression was that Dixie had thoughtfully considered the issues and likely consequences before pressing the SOS button, especially since she was in distress when she had to evaluate her situation and make the decision. I confess that had I been in that type of situation and known what it was going to cost to press the button I would probably have been less rational. I make a yearly donation to the local air ambulance service which is supposed to cover me if I ever required an air evacuation. I suspect that if I ever had to use it, making a claim might not be so simple and easy. Thanks for the video Dixie !

[@Diametricallyopposed00]

Never trust a doctor that says ‘just take this prescription’…the medical industry is upside down.

[@photog1529]

Everybody is quick to get down on the US healthcare system. I don't know Dixie's situation, but it would appear that she doesn't have adequate medical insurance if she's relying on GFM donations to pay the bills or to cover her deductibles if she is insured. With a possible genetic pre-disposition to heart disease, it would be imperative to stay on top of things, including an annual physical/EKG at the very least. I surely hope she overcomes whatever the situation is and is able to acquire appropriate medical insurance if she doesn't already have it.

[@thomaskavanagh549]

@@photog1529 yeah...because "free medicare " is such a socialist institution. You can have the best treatment as long as you have insurance ?

[@hal9058]

​@@photog1529adequate medical insurance is the issue for far too many, if not most Americans. It's entirely fair to get down on the US medical system since it doesn't actually serve the people who need it.

[@heyrobin]

Retired nurse here with only one piece of advice: In healthcare the squeaky wheel gets the grease! Best of luck to you! Congratulations on the nuptials! I'm glad to see you enjoying life despite such serious health concerns!

[@annhysell6064]

Dixie, I'm an RN, ski patroller, sailor, backpacker et al. I also quit working to care for my elderly mom. Requesting help when you need it is absolutely the right choice. I have watched your channel for a long time and you certainly weigh each decision with common sense. Your viewers appreciate that you are "matter of fact". Be well.

[@christimartin8512]

Dixie, request your records from your current cardiologist (who has not responded). By law, they have to give you copies of those records within 10 days! That could save you a lot of money and not having to do these tests again, or at the very least, it will give your new doctor an accurate history and baseline for your treatments. To get your records, call and request them over the phone, then ask when you can pick them up. Stay on them. They HAVE to turn those over. Do not just sit back and wait, thinking, “well, if it were serious, the doctors would have responded.” NO! My hubby was in the same situation years ago, went in for tests, got no responses for a month, so assumed there was no problem with his heart; then he had a heart attack while playing softball one night, and needed a stent installed! His prior stress-test results (not given to him in a timely manner) showed his heart was skipping every third beat and he also had sleep apnea. He is just damned lucky he did not die because of the doctor’s neglect. Since then he has been on meds and has done just fine. (Whew!) You are not to blame for what happened to you! You did the right thing to take care of your health, in whatever way you need to. You trusted your instincts, even when you had initial doubts, and you absolutely made the right decisions, ultimately. Do not pay any attention to all of the armchair critics and keyboard warriors. You do YOU!

[@GettinFiggyWitIt]

I'm so sorry to hear that you and your husband had to go through that. I can't emphasize your first point enough. I always utilize features such as mychart to see my test results as soon as the doctor gets them. I don't like going to practices that don't offer it. I had an incident in my early 20s that went on for months of me telling any doctor who would listen that there was something very wrong until it reached a crisis point in the middle of the night and I would have been paralyzed from T12 down if I hadn't been rushed to the hospital in for an emergency spinal cord decompression and spinal fusion. Doctors very rarely give you all of the information you need. In my opinion, it was irresponsible of the doctor to not just order the stress test to be done at another facility, especially if he wanted to corroborate something he'd seen on the event monitor that Dixie had worn and then discuss all of the results at once. She should absolutely request her records from the old cardiologist, and make sure to sign up for mychart at the new practice. Too many people falsely believe that they're safe if they're under a doctor's care and unfortunately, that's just not true. If anything I said comes off as a lecture, I don't mean it that way at all. I just know that a lot of people blindly trust their doctors, and that can be a dangerous thing to do.

[@martinep6293]

The diet of a backpacker in many cases, is simply dreadful, and something I would only eat if I wanted to make myself sick. I would not rule out all these years of "trail angel" poisonning have not resulted in some damage. Never being overweight is not an argument (althought very positive of course). Of course also genetics is a factor, but nobody escapes the ravages of processed food over time. Exercise cannot nullify them. I would go back to square one: exclude ALL processed food. Nobody needs that. Find out how much sugar you should really eat. Optimize everything. Take nothing for granted. It is an experiment. Have fun. I never eat snacks and I cannot remember wanting any. Sometimes I take walnuts or pecans along (no sugar of course) for day hikes going up more than 2000 feet and over 8 miles. 6 miles is a trip to the mailbox=no walnuts😂 . Right after catching covid 19, I cancelled climbing anything over13k, for 2 years, just in case. I am in my 70s.

[@robertedwards7749]

SHAME on ANYONE who feels its their duty to look down on or shame anyone for being careful with their life. Dixie, you have no reason to listen to or even heap on your own shoulders any shame for being pro active for your own life and health. Don't do this to yourself. As for myself and I hope for the majority of your followers we love you and your videos and look forward them. By the way I hope you took my comment on your video "How Dangerous Is Kilimanjaro?" to heart and gave your mom a huge hug when you came home from your time in Kilimanjaro. So happy to hear of your getting married. I wish you a long, happy and very successful life together.

[@jimfromoregonusa9899]

I posted this on your original "rescue video" and thought I would repost. In support of your excellent decisions regarding this issue both from a health stand-point and a "rescue stand-point" Having been a "Search & Rescue Multi- Incident Commander" for years, I am extremely proud of you and "ALL" the decisions you made to include your documentary and sharing such important info that others should take heed with.....Excellent excellent choices !! I just wish other rescues I had dealt with had made your "rescue decision" and pushed the button...They would be alive today! Enough said....!

[@HomemadeWanderlust]

Thank you ♥️

[@dfreak01]

I really enjoyed the authentic look behind the scenes. I would be mortified to ask for help. Such guilt. Such second guessing. The feeling of wasting everyone's time. It's nice to see the process.

[@PennYankeeWoodworks]

@@HomemadeWanderlustDixie, any update on the cardiac testing, last I saw you mentioned you switched to a new cardiologist and waiting on a stress test. Have you don’t the stress test, any results? I’m 35 and going through similar cardio issues so your response would really help ✌️

[@virginiamaness4597]

I have watched you, on the advice of my AT-hiking son, from the very beginning. I'm 77 y.o. and not very mobile, but you have motivated me SO much to keep trying and doing my small things. Your attitude is such a pleasure and I've seen, I believe, every single thing you've put on line. Love you! And ignore the unhappy, non- productive, whiners who tell you you're wrong while they're sitting on the couch with a bag of chips. You are what we all want to be. Screw the haters!!!

[@KarlKoesser]

A god-tier video would be something like you and Legal Eagle collaborating to go over every step of wilderness rescue, because there's lots of intricacies - ground vs air transport, insurance coverage variability, the federal No Surprises Act, etc. it's really confusing stuff and giving people a primer ahead of time would be incredibly useful content

[@claramullen]

Hi Dixie I hope all works out with your health and you can enjoy hiking again. Congratulations again on your marriage. Take care.

[@DrofJustice]

Oh, Dixie, so sorry you are struggling with this! Please don’t listen to folks who are mean and critical. You are a great role model and a wonderful woman. I adore watching your videos and seeing you become a gifted videographer. ❤❤ Take the time you need to get the answers.

[@garegardner6782]

SAR here, you made our day! We thrive on the excitement, challenge, risk and especially the chance to do good for someone who needs help. We will ALWAYS come out to get anybody who needs a ride be it chopper, horseback, piggyback...whatever (and you don't even need to be a pretty blonde). So quit the guilt, Trip. Call anytime.

[@jimmysweet8907]

Jessica, Congratulations on your marriage. Your husband is one very lucky man! I do hope the new cardiologist gets you some answers and all your health issues are resolved satisfactorily. All the best! Jimmy

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

I know it's hard to not blame yourself, but I see where you're coming from 100%! Sorry those folks tried to make you feel bad, mistakes happen to EVERYONE! Big hugs to you!

[@elysemillson726]

Dixie you don’t need to justify your actions. You did what you felt was necessary. People tend to second guess others. Take care !

[@bobshaw8112]

Love you Dixie! Because of you and your videos I spent my 65th birthday on my first real backpacking trip in the wind river range in Wyoming with my three kids. It snowed, we experienced a whiteout while on trail with lightning and thunder, saw moose, antelope, grizzly bears (at a safe distance). It was EPIC! Thanks for all you’ve shared. 😊

[@erict5878]

I've had many heart issues but what I believe is that some of the "NEW" cardiologists are more UP TO DATE with the latest in cardiology. WE are so happy for you getting married!! TOTALLY AWESOME! ELATEDED AND SO HAPPY FOR YOU BOTH!!

[@user-gp7ge3zj7q]

Who thought you foolish?You’re an extremely thoughtful and experienced ambassador for us hikers.I’ve been watching your videos adventures for years and its been a great resource for information and inspiration.. I hope the new doctors can help you.Thanks again for all you do for the hiking community.

[@sushi6608]

A few things: Search and rescue exist so that people can search and rescue others. You encourage me to become more informed about the nuances of my health. You are on top of your personal situation and clearly read the literature. I wish you well for a joyous and loving union with Aaron.

[@dlmoody70]

Dixie, I've worked in Cardiology for 30 years as a Cardiovascular Technologist. Too many people either ignore symptoms or explain it away with other possibilities. Some of them end up with heart problems for the rest of their life - might have been different if they had been seen sooner. You did the smart thing getting off trail and seeking medical attention. The patch you wore should give good information to move forward on. Other testing probably ahead for you. Ignore the haters out there who like to find issues with everything other people do "wrong." I liked the fact you documented this and brought up the reality of what occurs. I never had to use my Garmin on the PCT, but now I'm aware of how it works. Thanks for what you do for the community.

[@forester057]

Yeah you could’ve killed them sooner with your dementia pills (statins). Are you a cholesterol obsessed moroon like most cardiologists? Ignoring how someone feels better than ever and lost weight down to high school weight and hyper focusing on one number that has zero correlation with heart disease is super discouraging and clear malpractice. When are you guys going to wake up and realize insulin resistance causes everything. Stop eating carbs and you fix everything. Beef, butter bacon and eggs are what humans should eat. Not fake food you people recommend. Your education was designed to make money for pharma. Not to heal people.

[@grayantihero6059]

Sometimes you don't have any real symptoms especially with it's something like HCM.

[@tericlanton]

Thyroid issues can cause a-fib. You mentioned before you've got some autoimmune stuff going on and you're working with a naturopath. Getting a doctor to run a FULL thyroid panel is like pulling teeth, but you may want to go down that rabbit hole if you haven't. Wishing you all the best!

[@lanes8237]

Yeah Dixie I had to jump on here again and encourage you to ignore the naysayers and guilt finders. Your episodes were such a blessing during Covid lockdowns. You are one of the most positive uplifting people to ever make content and I'm glad you called SAR so they could help you. Hope you get the cardiac issue resolve soon so you can rest easier and get back out on the trail.

[@jurassicstroller803]

So happy for you and new husband! Good luck on the health front!

[@leahangers1088]

Ms. Dixie, being a 75 yr old girl, who has had AFIB, and has been a long-time hiker and backpacker, one essential item that you might consider is a good size piece of nylon or polyester cloth, in bright red, that can be used as a locator for SAR. Good luck in your recovery!

[@amybatchelder3282]

Congratulations on your recent wedding and honeymoon! I have enjoyed your videos for years and have learned so much from you. Without doubt, you absolutely did the right and rational thing by pressing that SOS button!!!

[@stanbyme7874]

Miss Dixie, I’ve learned so much from you. Lost ability to hike in 2020@55 yrs & unsure if mobility will come back. YOU are my eyes, my legs & my Teacher. You’re videos remind me of what was & can be again. ❤❤Take Care of Yourself & be as "Vain" as You like (but no bananas*potassium*🤣)

[@petesheppard1709]

Glad you're bouncing back! Afib is no joke. I had a bout a few weeks ago. I'm a healthy, active 67 y/o male and I suddenly felt the chest tightness and shortness of breath while just walking. When I stopped, the discomfort went away--until I tried to walk again. Thankfully, the ER team at Grandview Medical Center (I'm in Birmingham AL) took care of me and released me the next day. Until it happens, people don't realize how it can hit without warning, then seem to fade, making it tempting to try to push through. ALSO: Where was your father from? The Sheppard family I'm a part of are from Shorter, just down the road! It would be awesome to find we're kin, even if distantly!

[@judithpearson3968]

Congratulations on your marriage. You were a beautiful bride and both of you looked very contented together. For one, I am so glad you pressed the SOS button. With your family history, it would have been very foolish of you to ignore the symptoms you were experiencing. Plus they are really scary. I know from experience. Hang in there, gal. By the way, the way they do stress tests now is so much easier than the old way of walking the treadmill. Take care, Dixie and stay safe.

[@Maureen.walkdontrun]

Congratulations on your wedding. Costa Rica is gorgeous! Hope you get to the bottom of your medical issues soon. Thanks for the update.

[@adventureswithfrickandfrack]

You were out in the wilderness. You felt weird. You had chest pain. Your watch said you were in a-fib. OF COURSE you hit SOS. That was the right thing to do based on the info you had at the time. Congratulations on your Marriage ❤❤❤Make sure your medical records and your heart monitor stuff gets to the new doc. You should at least be able to find something out about your heart monitor results. December is coming up so you'll know something soon.

[@GenericHedgehog]

Hey Dixie! Hope you dont mind this as a suggestion, but have you considered talking to your doctor about POTS or different forms of tachycardia? And Covid has been linked to myocarditis and pericarditis, so that would be something to chat with the doctor about as well. Also, consider having them check your thyroid hormones and thyroid antibodies. As a person with Grave's disease, which is hyperthyroidism's autoimmune disease, I have been well informed of the effects it can have on someone's heart (namely palpitations), and I know you've mentioned some other symptoms as well that would make me wonder about you having Grave's disease or Hashimoto's as well. If you choose to check this route out, make sure you push the doctor for a FULL thyroid panel (they almost always first check TSH but you can have antibodies and a normal TSH) and full antibody panel. It took me almost ten years from when I first started wondering before I finally was diagnosed. Best of luck and prayers for you!

[@beckyleheny8636]

Same here! I totally agree with your recommendations!

[@Narrowway7]

My MIL just had heart attack two days ago. She’s in her 60s and has hashimotos. I had considered the correlation. Now seeing your comment makes this even more likely a cause.

[@GenericHedgehog]

@@Narrowway7 so sorry about your MIL! I hope she’s doing alright after. Definitely something I’ve been told to watch with my Grave’s, so whenever I hear similar symptoms to mine I always jump to Graves or Hashimoto’s.

[@susankaempfer8427]

At this point I think she needs a new cardiologist, frankly.

[@GenericHedgehog]

@@susankaempfer8427 she did say she’s seeing a new one but not til December because American healthcare.

[@rogerlevasseur397]

You did the right thing. The weather was decent conditions and they had a place to land. I can say that I'm surprised at the helicopter type that was sent - a full up medical type. In the White Mountains of New Hampshire, when deemed necessary, a NH Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter is dispatched to do the rescue, using the winch if needed. The medical type helicopters only pickup in front country locations, such as after a carry-out from a forest trail.

[@lorens7837]

Love being on your journey with you, Dixie. Thank you for the very interesting and informative update.

[@3rwparks3]

Don't listen to the negative comments.. Only listen to the positive. There are many unhappy jerks on these platforms that try to drag people down to their level. Don't pay any attention to them. Most importantly get well and keep smiling.

[@Allie_Rose]

Congratulations and many years of happiness together! You look very happy! 😊🥳

[@bobbers]

Congratulations!! I have followed you for a long time and feel you are an honest, caring, and responsible person. I would not feel guilt over the rescue incident, you did the right thing! Keep rockin it on your channel....looking forward to seeing more adventures!

[@MercyUS]

Congratulations! So happy for you both! Prayers for your health!

[@jman1121]

Hey Dixie! It was super awesome to meet you in person at the meet and greet! It was also great to hear you speak. You definitely should do more of those. You did the right thing. I'm sorry about all of the medical bills, I know that adds to the stress, especially with matters of the heart. You will get it ironed out. Best wishes!

[@savonneriedecouverte]

Thank you so much for sharing all the things. You made the right call. I hope that the comments of people who weren’t there to feel how you felt will never stop you from sharing. Your experience is a huge help to all of us.

[@TheMachoGabacho]

Thanks for sharing all of this, Dixie. I’m just starting down the road of heart issues and you made me feel better about it. Three months ago I went to the ER for tingling in my left arm and chest pain. It’s amazing and disappointing how slow the medical process is. I finally have appointments over the next two weeks for calcium scoring, a stress test and a proper evaluation from a cardiologist. I have top notch PPO insurance and I can’t believe that it’s taken three months to get all of this done. In the meantime I haven’t hiked or biked, and it’s hard to be stuck in the house every weekend. You made me realize that I’m not the only one who is frustrated and feelin impatient. Hopefully this all works out for both us and we can get back to doing what we love. In the meantime, enjoy the married life and spend plenty of time with your new hubby. I’m sure he appreciates having you around.

[@TheRealJerseyJoe]

Congratulations Dixie, so pleased that you are doing well. Wishing you both all the very best !

[@robertdube2841]

Hello Dixie, As a news cameraman, I fully understand your instinc to document what hapened to you on trail. I would have done the same. It's a normal thing when you do a lot of filming. Bravo!!! Thake care !!! 😊

[@sharvo6]

Dixie, good luck on your life journey! I am so happy to know that you have a loving caring person to share that with you.

[@savagetrout]

Oh, and by the way; as a former mountain search and rescue technician (Yavapai County Sheriffs Office SRT) and a current medical professional... we live for this stuff! We understand the risk and know the dangers. We volunteer to help those in need and will be there regardless of the circumstances.

[@taracarmichael1221]

Thank you so much for being willing to share your personal/medical experiences. It's not something everyone is willing to share and it can be very helpful to the rest of us. Congratulations on getting married! Love that you found someone so supportive!

[@user-zj5hn8ze1m]

Dixie, as others have said, don't beat yourself up for the decisions you made and action you took. Second guessing by people who weren't there is a fool's errand. I really appreciate that you have shared so much information about your health condition and your decision to push the SOS button on the Garmin. I started carrying one this past year, and it's nice knowing what to potentially expect. I just turned 75 this week and have come to realize that health is not something to be taken for granted. I depend on you and a couple other hiking channels for planning my own wilderness adventures. I hope you're tromping on the trails for decades to come!

[@perrymccullough511]

You are absolutely doing the right thing on switching Drs! (On so many levels!) I have high hopes for your full recovery and clearance to get backbout there doing what you love, and what WE love to see you do! This isnt your fault...you did what reasonably could have been expected, and should have been informed of any potential complications. CONGRATS ON THE MARRIAGE!! He's a very lucky young man!

[@stevedunning7367]

Congratulations!! Thanks for taking the time to bring us along on your adventures! Forget the haters and get healthy!

[@vicster1981]

Feel your pain Dixie, I have through no fault of my own been in 2 RTAs this year, the lack of being able to get out hiking is dreadful, waiting for my neurologist to give me the all clear but have missed the majority of this years season. Take the time you need to heal, and don’t beat yourself up for using the Garmin as intended (that’s what is for). Congratulations on your wedding and can’t wait to see you happy and healthy back on the trail. ❤

[@suzanneadams1]

Good job on working to understand what happened. It sounds like you’re doing all the right things and taking good care of yourself.

[@dandavenport4565]

Thank you for the update Dixie ! Be well !

[@danos5181]

Lots of good health and stress-free happiness to you Dixie!

[@KyleHatesHiking]

Congrats on getting married Dixie!! Hope you'll be back on the trail soon, but no rush either!

[@raktoda707]

Glad you are as relentless in your search for good health as you are for finishing a thru hike.There are different chapters in our life,many which we wish to skip,others we cherish forever.Family and outdoors will be in your heart forever in one form or another.You are beyond helpful just sharing this information with us .As far as trolling dingbats go, just ignore them they only attack & terrorize something they can never attain .You remain a class act in all eyes.Take Care,heal well for baby Dixie is coming soon,you better be able to keep up with that ball of fire !

[@jameslangham7493]

Dixie listening to your story makes me glad to live in Canada where most of those costs are covered, I have just learned that I have atrial fibrillation thanks to my Apple Watch and am now seeing a cardiologist. Thanks for your honest comments on your situation. It’s made me so much more aware.Thank you.😊

[@willbarton4508]

Congratulations you two. May God bless you two with many many Happy, Anniversaries.

[@TXMEDRGR]

I hope everything works out for the best. Congratulations and good luck to both of you.

[@daven.7685]

I am 62 and on my second cardiac ablation. They last about 5 years before it needs to needs to be done again. I am at the end of my “warranty period” on this second one. Generally, for the past 5 years I have been symptom free from Afib and tachycardia. However, in August I was at 8,300 ft. in California’s Desolation Wilderness, and had a terrible night with constant symptoms all night long. Altitude can definitely be a trigger! I hope you can forego an ablation due to your insurance situation. Without insurance, there would be no way for me to afford these ablations. And, congratulations on your marriage!

[@stevenqirkle]

I had my first experience with Afib a little over a year ago. I was staying in a mountain lodge at 10,000 ft after a pretty strenuous 10 hour hike, followed by an (un)healthy amount of drinking. It came on in the middle of the night and was super scary, and I definitely thought about getting a helicopter rescue, but fortunately it cleared up before it was time to hike out. There is no way I could have made the hike out while in Afib - even getting up to use the bathroom had me feeling out of breath. Afib is pretty common, and there’s a strong genetic component - so probably not too surprising given your family history of heart problems. It’s also more common in endurance athletes than the general population. Finally it’s a multifactorial disorder - so it’s definitely possible that your genetics, the altitude, the fact that you’re an endurance athlete, the medication, etc all added up to trigger Afib on this occasion. I have been able to completely avoid going into Afib since my diagnosis basically just by avoiding alcohol after big exertions (I can also trigger it pretty much on demand by going overboard on cardio and booze - which my doctor asked me to do while wearing a heart monitor for diagnosis). Ablations are also quite effective I hear, particularly in younger patients. So I’m definitely wishing you the best in terms of getting everything under control and being able to continue doing what you love!

[@sunflowersadie543]

Congratulations Dixie! So happy for you both

[@joestevens3348]

Dixie may your health always be 100% and that you are able to continue making content that we all enjoy watching. Your fortitude and wonderful mindset is entertaining and inspiring. Supporting you at all times.

[@goodandgreen]

Ever the upstanding hiker! Thanks for sharing your continued medical journey. Good luck with the future!! You are taking excellent care of yourself. ❤

[@contempl8ive]

I’m glad to hear there isn’t any immediate emergency on your heart monitor results 🎉, and glad to hear you’re looking after yourself in the medical system. I hope you’re finding some good alternatives to fill the void of thru hiking in the interim and congrats on the marriage ❤❤

[@sgtjarhead99]

Dixie, as much as we love your content and adventures, it's not worth seeing you sick. Take your time. Take care of yourself first. God Bless.

[@tommckinney1489]

Thank you, Dixie. I'm behind you 100%.

[@UndineAlmani]

Hope you get cleared soon! I had a similar issue about 10 years ago and it turned out it was a mix of messed up electrolytes (also potassium can be easily returning false values if the blood is not collected properly from the vein, e.g. when drawing too strongly and not letting the tube fill up by its own pressure) and psychological factors, but I was still happy to get it cleared up. That's just so important so one can sleep again without worrying. And I mean, in this medical system, we often don't get answers, not because they're not there or not measurable, but because the people working in it are either overworked or just unwilling to walk the extra mile...

[@Woods_Hiker]

Thanks for the in-depth update on the rescue. I had an atrial fibrillation episode in the 1990's where i could hear my atrial valve outside of my body. Scary. I went immediately to the er for examination & obsrvation. I was born with a malformed heart valve. I was never given a reason for what exacerbated/led to the occuremce but I did used to smoke cigattes back then so that could've contributed to it.

[@CinkSVideo]

You certainly didn’t need to clear things up. I’m glad you are pushing to find out what’s happening. Also, so very happy that you found (refound) someone who fits with you.

[@AnxiousGary]

Best of luck with everything, hope you had an amazing time in Costa Rica!

[@sandracarter2905]

The wedding photos you’ve shared with us on your socials are so beautiful. You are radiant in them! Congratulations

[@Cierbhal]

Dixie, I've done the worst kind of rescue all over the world, ones like yours are a little break from the crazy stuff. Those folks on the bird are doing their job and most times their passion and a 3x responsive rescue is fun because you can talk to the rescue. You absolutley did the right thing, especially when you watch said a-fib. Great job on getting a new doc. Stay safe and keep driving on. And congrats on gettin' hitched.

[@katrinak8318]

Thanks for the update and for choosing to share with us. (I’m rolling my eyes at some of these comments.) I’m glad you’re taking care of yourself ❤

[@user-ez8ju7wf2o]

Hi Dixie...hope all of your health issues are resolved....congrats on the marriage...I watched your 5hr video on the AT, that was in August, I have purchased all my gear( lol), watched every video you have made...I start my thru hike in February 2024...thanks for all the videos, it's been a real inspiration....prayers to you and yours...

[@kenstory6713]

i agree, don't let them guilt trip you, you didn't bring this on yourself, I'll be praying for your health and well being, God bless you 🙏

[@TrekkingTheRockies]

Hello Dixie, I've been a fan and watching your videos for a couple of years, when my husband and I finally had the time to get back into hiking and backpacking I found your channel. I take Spironolactone for type 2 rosacea. I lived with a severely red face and constant breakouts for a year and a half. I'm totally clear now and have yearly blood work to check my potassium levels. I'm all good with blood pressure and my levels. I've hiked over 600 miles and over 121,000 ft. of elevation gain in those miles this year. I have never had any heart issues. I know you have a predisposition to heart problems so my experience with the medication may be different for you. I thought I was a subscriber since your videos always show up on KZbin. I watch KZbin through my large TV. It's the best way to have the full experience of your videos. I wish you all the best with your health and future adventures. Congratulations on your wedding and marriage. ❤

[@andifuss8141]

Congratulations! And I hope you have a speedy recovery! I still have so many questions for you about your pack weight, etc.

[@bernielamont825]

Jess, no matter what you do or did there will always be haters, it's almost like they have nothing better to do.

[@Dentspeed]

Congratulations! You guys look so happy! I wish you the best of luck with your health issues.

[@marydaz]

Honestly, knowing the cost healthcare I need (and I do have "good" insurance with my employer) stops me from scheduling what I need lots of times. It's so sad we live like this and I'm sorry you're dealing with the stress of that on top of worrying about your health. Glad you are getting a new doctor's opinion and appreciate your transparency.

[@sandrapaterson1750]

I am so very sorry to hear about all of your medical troubles. I hope that your new cardiologist can figure things out (with you) so that you can get back on the trail again. Congratulations on your marriage too❤️

[@amynelson9362]

Congrats on gettin' hitched, Dixie! So happy for you and your husband! I wish the two of you the best. For whatever reason, backpacking just doesn't seem to be in the cards for you this year, but you'll get there. Enjoy time with your husband in the meantime!

[@wildflowersadventures]

Cheering you on, Dixie! We support you! ✝️🙏🏼💜

[@yvonnesmith8245]

Congratulations Dixie! I wish your husband and you much love and joy. We love you 🥰❤️

[@rayhill8283]

Wow! I'm glad you're okay. Congratulations!!! I've been watching your excellent videos from the start. Be safe, not sorry! We can pause on your videos. God bless!

[@waynelondon9776]

I am happy you are ok and appreciate you sharing your experience and congratulations on your wedding. 🎉🎉 I have moved to the USA from Canada and feel like the quality of healthcare in the US is top notch if you can afford it and/ or have great insurance but every trip to the doctor I feel like I need an undergraduate degree in accounting and medicine to understand who I am paying for what services. I am hopeful that you get your health back on track soon so we can see you on the trails again!

[@shawndyer8140]

Glad you got out well and healthy.

[@TMoore1202]

Hi Dixie, love your videos, love your advice, and love your attitude/spirit/personality - you always make me smile (and make me want to get out there and hike). I know you can go into your old Cardio's office and request your full medical records which will include the heart monitor results. This way, you can bring that data to the new cardio, and not have to pay for the heart monitor again or have to do a heart monitor testing now well after all the issues have occurred. Good Luck and I hope the doctors are better there than they are here in FL... :-)

[@janefreeman995]

Agree, it's so essential to have access to all reports, lab reports. It's incredible how often overworked doctors, practitioners make mistakes or overlook crucial info.

[@mattn676]

Per my research, if you're hiking/backpacking in California you only need membership in REACH Air Medical Services in order to have medevac insurance. The CHP(California Highway Patrol), the military, and search and rescue organizations do not charge for rescues. And, of course, some sort PLB device would be a must on the trail.

[@charlottesmith3449]

Gosh Dixie, have been watching you for years, just want to jump in here and say you're doing a great job and take it easy on yourself! Life is what happens while you make other plans...so do take time to self-care--maybe a massage and spa day, yeah? We will wait for ya to be back at it when the time is right!

[@Super64heavy]

Congratulations 🎉on exchanging wedding vows! Blessings to you both.

[@artjustice8378]

Dixie I agree with the last person. I worked search and rescue as well and you did nothing wrong. That is what we trained to do and enjoy doing it. Good luck with everything.

[@gregoryaashley]

Congratulations on your recent marriage! I am praying for a quick and complete resolution to your health issues. Also, you absolutely did the right thing both in terms of precautions with the acne medication and with pressing the SOS button. Garmin themselves say that if the outcome is uncertain you should use the SOS. Given your situation and with the information that you had, the outcome was unclear if you didn’t get evacuated. God bless.

[@thelacys7486]

Ditto on all the comments in support of you pushing the button. For anyone who wants to criticize your personal medical decisions, well just don't let them take up space in your brain. After all, what you take is between you and your doctor. You are awesome through and through. Just keep on keeping on. Wishing for you the best possible outcome for your health and looking forward to your next backpacking adventure. Keep the faith. Myself and so many others will be here cheering you on! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@ninart5899]

Congratulations on your wedding! You looked beautiful. You do your thing your way and make your decisions as you see necessary. No one else is walking in your shoes. Love your treks! Look forward to more when you do!

[@tommydyo6606]

Great advocacy for your self care. This video is a super important learning tool. Thank you for your transparency.

[@RoughingItWithRuth]

Thank you for this great informative video, Dixie! And congratulations on your marriage! You have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about with regards to pushing the SOS button and the events that led up to it. People who are trying to make you feel guilty about what you did are incorrect and clearly not experienced enough in the outdoors to fully appreciate what an emergency situation can be like.

[@lessiewood5812]

Congratulations glad your going good. I can relate to Aphib. Had the ablation feeling good. Was none sympathetic until I passed out at home. Don’t fool around with your health. Your awesome and thank you for all the great video’s . Stay healthy and safe and happy trails to you both.

[@Samantha-pn4zk]

There is a reason "get a second opinion" is common parlance in the medical field. It is because doctors are human. They have biases, egos, compassion fatigue, etc. A quick aside- our friend had been feeling lethargic but was an active and healthy middle-aged man. He met with his GP who just looked him over (no more than a stethescope to the chest) and said he was fine. He knew that was bull, so he went to another doctor and after a scan they said he needed to stay in the hospital and be operated on that day because he had a tear that would basically make his heart explode any second. You are your own best advocate and you are the most familiar with how your body normally functions. Don't let the apathy of a medical professional make you second guess yourself or halt you from seeking the advice of someone who will prioritize your well-being.