SEAWORTHY
A sea kayaker with ankylosing spondylitis charts his course
to the good life
Author Unknown
When a wave in the San Francisco Bay knocked Vineet Buch from his kayak two years ago, boaters in the distance didn’t notice. He swam around for 3 ½ hours before being rescued—an extraordinary feat considering that he has ankylosing spondylitis (AS)—a form of arthritis that primarily affects the spine. But Buch doesn’t let his condition stand in his way.
In fact, when a fellow sea kayaker called him “a liability” after the accident, Buch decided to master the sport. In May 2009, he competed in the Molokai World Championships of Kayaking, a 23 mile, open ocean race off the coast of Hawaii.
“There are two things I’ve always trusted”, say Buch, 38, who lives in San Mateo, California. “You should assume you can do anything and only grudgingly accept that you can’t. And you have to be active. Being active transforms your thinking.”
Exercise hasn’t always been a pleasure for Buch, who has experienced periods of excruciating pain and fatigue. Once, he says, he had to lie down in a grocery store aisle to rest. Still, he stayed active, swapping gym sessions for water aerobics.
His biggest hurdle wasn’t the physical pain. It was overcoming the fatigue and mental toll, which he calls his “biggest enemy”.
Having an outlet—diving headlong into his passions of exploration and fitness—was key to building the mental strength he needed. “You will never really get better if you only think of yourself as a patient and victim.” Says Buch.
In 2004, after unsuccessful treatments with several biologic drugs, he found relief with infliximab (Remicade). Tow weeks after his initial infusion, he went on a backpacking excursion in the Sierra Nevada practically pain free. He has thrived on high intensity activities, from long distance biking to running a 7-minute mile, ever since.
“I’m not convinced life with AS has been an entirely pleasant journey, but I like the place I’ve gotten to,” he says.