Bicycling and my heart -- and maybe yours too - Page 2 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

08-08-2004, 06:26 AM

On 7 Aug 2004 15:25:35 -0700, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Joe Davidson) wrote:

>I am very slowly gaining strength but
>even now can only go 12 miles at 10mph. When I am riding and I see
>someone zip by me (which doesn't take too much!), I feel real pangs
>of envy and even anger. Why are they going so effortlessly?

I focus on just riding, at least I'm out there. I like to ride thru the neighborhood, see
all the TVs on thru windows from the street, thinking that for this moment I'm not just
watching TV, but riding a bicycle. Keep it up, no matter the speed or those passing. You
are passing everyone still indoors.

---
"BitwiseBob" - Bob Anderson
Eugene Oregon

08-08-2004, 07:28 PM

Joe Davidson wrote, in part:

> The valve replacement operation really knocked the starch out of me.
> The operation itself was successful, but it is now 15 months later and
> I am still fatigued and weak. I am very slowly gaining strength but
> even now can only go 12 miles at 10mph. When I am riding and I see
> someone zip by me (which doesn't take too much!), I feel real pangs
> of envy and even anger. Why are they going so effortlessly? Why
> can't I do that? In the past when I said "body! do this!" my body did
> it. Now it just is the start of a negotiating session.

Joe, I empathize with you. The beginning of last September I had major
abdominal surgery and was banned from cycling (and from lifting anything)
for several months. Everyone told me that recovery would be slow, but I'd
never been in that position and I didn't really believe them. I know this
is different from two open heart surgeries, which I'm sure hits you much
harder, but I still feel like I understand what you're talking about.

Anyway, recovery was slow, like the doctor promised, but what you might
find interesting is that when things changed for me, they changed
suddenly. All spring, I'd try to get in the biking habit, but one short
ride would wear me out and I wouldn't feel up to it the next day. About
the middle of May, it all came together without any warning. I've been
commuting regularly since then and I honestly don't think there has been a
single day I haven't ridden except in terrible weather or when I had to
travel out of town.

At this point, I'm not at all interested in speed and only mildly
interested in distance. I'm way more interested in enjoying the ride. To
the extent I could be said to be working on anything, it's consistency --
both in terms of riding daily, and riding always like I mean it. If I find
myself limping home, or going pedal-pedal-pedal-pedal-cooooaaaast,
pedal-pedal-pedal-pedal-cooooaaaast, I figure I've pushed it too far. I
think I'm averaging 65 or 70 miles a week, with 35 miles the longest
single ride.

I wish you all the best. Even with the frustration you're experiencing, I
strongly suspect that riding often is the best thing either one of us
could be doing.

--
Paul Turner

08-08-2004, 07:28 PM

Joe Davidson wrote, in part:

> The valve replacement operation really knocked the starch out of me.
> The operation itself was successful, but it is now 15 months later and
> I am still fatigued and weak. I am very slowly gaining strength but
> even now can only go 12 miles at 10mph. When I am riding and I see
> someone zip by me (which doesn't take too much!), I feel real pangs
> of envy and even anger. Why are they going so effortlessly? Why
> can't I do that? In the past when I said "body! do this!" my body did
> it. Now it just is the start of a negotiating session.

Joe, I empathize with you. The beginning of last September I had major
abdominal surgery and was banned from cycling (and from lifting anything)
for several months. Everyone told me that recovery would be slow, but I'd
never been in that position and I didn't really believe them. I know this
is different from two open heart surgeries, which I'm sure hits you much
harder, but I still feel like I understand what you're talking about.

Anyway, recovery was slow, like the doctor promised, but what you might
find interesting is that when things changed for me, they changed
suddenly. All spring, I'd try to get in the biking habit, but one short
ride would wear me out and I wouldn't feel up to it the next day. About
the middle of May, it all came together without any warning. I've been
commuting regularly since then and I honestly don't think there has been a
single day I haven't ridden except in terrible weather or when I had to
travel out of town.

At this point, I'm not at all interested in speed and only mildly
interested in distance. I'm way more interested in enjoying the ride. To
the extent I could be said to be working on anything, it's consistency --
both in terms of riding daily, and riding always like I mean it. If I find
myself limping home, or going pedal-pedal-pedal-pedal-cooooaaaast,
pedal-pedal-pedal-pedal-cooooaaaast, I figure I've pushed it too far. I
think I'm averaging 65 or 70 miles a week, with 35 miles the longest
single ride.

I wish you all the best. Even with the frustration you're experiencing, I
strongly suspect that riding often is the best thing either one of us
could be doing.

--
Paul Turner

08-08-2004, 07:28 PM

Joe Davidson wrote, in part:

> The valve replacement operation really knocked the starch out of me.
> The operation itself was successful, but it is now 15 months later and
> I am still fatigued and weak. I am very slowly gaining strength but
> even now can only go 12 miles at 10mph. When I am riding and I see
> someone zip by me (which doesn't take too much!), I feel real pangs
> of envy and even anger. Why are they going so effortlessly? Why
> can't I do that? In the past when I said "body! do this!" my body did
> it. Now it just is the start of a negotiating session.

Joe, I empathize with you. The beginning of last September I had major
abdominal surgery and was banned from cycling (and from lifting anything)
for several months. Everyone told me that recovery would be slow, but I'd
never been in that position and I didn't really believe them. I know this
is different from two open heart surgeries, which I'm sure hits you much
harder, but I still feel like I understand what you're talking about.

Anyway, recovery was slow, like the doctor promised, but what you might
find interesting is that when things changed for me, they changed
suddenly. All spring, I'd try to get in the biking habit, but one short
ride would wear me out and I wouldn't feel up to it the next day. About
the middle of May, it all came together without any warning. I've been
commuting regularly since then and I honestly don't think there has been a
single day I haven't ridden except in terrible weather or when I had to
travel out of town.

At this point, I'm not at all interested in speed and only mildly
interested in distance. I'm way more interested in enjoying the ride. To
the extent I could be said to be working on anything, it's consistency --
both in terms of riding daily, and riding always like I mean it. If I find
myself limping home, or going pedal-pedal-pedal-pedal-cooooaaaast,
pedal-pedal-pedal-pedal-cooooaaaast, I figure I've pushed it too far. I
think I'm averaging 65 or 70 miles a week, with 35 miles the longest
single ride.

I wish you all the best. Even with the frustration you're experiencing, I
strongly suspect that riding often is the best thing either one of us
could be doing.

--
Paul Turner

08-08-2004, 07:28 PM

Joe Davidson wrote, in part:

> The valve replacement operation really knocked the starch out of me.
> The operation itself was successful, but it is now 15 months later and
> I am still fatigued and weak. I am very slowly gaining strength but
> even now can only go 12 miles at 10mph. When I am riding and I see
> someone zip by me (which doesn't take too much!), I feel real pangs
> of envy and even anger. Why are they going so effortlessly? Why
> can't I do that? In the past when I said "body! do this!" my body did
> it. Now it just is the start of a negotiating session.

Joe, I empathize with you. The beginning of last September I had major
abdominal surgery and was banned from cycling (and from lifting anything)
for several months. Everyone told me that recovery would be slow, but I'd
never been in that position and I didn't really believe them. I know this
is different from two open heart surgeries, which I'm sure hits you much
harder, but I still feel like I understand what you're talking about.

Anyway, recovery was slow, like the doctor promised, but what you might
find interesting is that when things changed for me, they changed
suddenly. All spring, I'd try to get in the biking habit, but one short
ride would wear me out and I wouldn't feel up to it the next day. About
the middle of May, it all came together without any warning. I've been
commuting regularly since then and I honestly don't think there has been a
single day I haven't ridden except in terrible weather or when I had to
travel out of town.

At this point, I'm not at all interested in speed and only mildly
interested in distance. I'm way more interested in enjoying the ride. To
the extent I could be said to be working on anything, it's consistency --
both in terms of riding daily, and riding always like I mean it. If I find
myself limping home, or going pedal-pedal-pedal-pedal-cooooaaaast,
pedal-pedal-pedal-pedal-cooooaaaast, I figure I've pushed it too far. I
think I'm averaging 65 or 70 miles a week, with 35 miles the longest
single ride.

I wish you all the best. Even with the frustration you're experiencing, I
strongly suspect that riding often is the best thing either one of us
could be doing.

--
Paul Turner

08-08-2004, 07:28 PM

Joe Davidson wrote, in part:

> The valve replacement operation really knocked the starch out of me.
> The operation itself was successful, but it is now 15 months later and
> I am still fatigued and weak. I am very slowly gaining strength but
> even now can only go 12 miles at 10mph. When I am riding and I see
> someone zip by me (which doesn't take too much!), I feel real pangs
> of envy and even anger. Why are they going so effortlessly? Why
> can't I do that? In the past when I said "body! do this!" my body did
> it. Now it just is the start of a negotiating session.

Joe, I empathize with you. The beginning of last September I had major
abdominal surgery and was banned from cycling (and from lifting anything)
for several months. Everyone told me that recovery would be slow, but I'd
never been in that position and I didn't really believe them. I know this
is different from two open heart surgeries, which I'm sure hits you much
harder, but I still feel like I understand what you're talking about.

Anyway, recovery was slow, like the doctor promised, but what you might
find interesting is that when things changed for me, they changed
suddenly. All spring, I'd try to get in the biking habit, but one short
ride would wear me out and I wouldn't feel up to it the next day. About
the middle of May, it all came together without any warning. I've been
commuting regularly since then and I honestly don't think there has been a
single day I haven't ridden except in terrible weather or when I had to
travel out of town.

At this point, I'm not at all interested in speed and only mildly
interested in distance. I'm way more interested in enjoying the ride. To
the extent I could be said to be working on anything, it's consistency --
both in terms of riding daily, and riding always like I mean it. If I find
myself limping home, or going pedal-pedal-pedal-pedal-cooooaaaast,
pedal-pedal-pedal-pedal-cooooaaaast, I figure I've pushed it too far. I
think I'm averaging 65 or 70 miles a week, with 35 miles the longest
single ride.

I wish you all the best. Even with the frustration you're experiencing, I
strongly suspect that riding often is the best thing either one of us
could be doing.

--
Paul Turner

08-11-2004, 11:50 AM

The valve replacement ( a mechanical valve) cured my afib. I do take
coumadin, but it does not effect my performance -- I took it for two
years before the operation and it did not affect it then.

I am taking 12.5 mg/day of Atenolol, which may affect my perforamnce,
but it is a very small dose.

When I did take amiodarone it left me a complete wreck, with no energy
at all.

Joe Davidson

> did the valve replacement fix the a-fib? im assuming they used an artificial
> valve since you're still young.
> i also have the same congenital prolapse and my father had valve surgery
> recently. (he wwas hiking 5 or more miles every day before the a-fib and
> surgery) now one thing that keeps him down is the amiodarone he takes for
> the a-fib (which did not go away after the valve repair). this drug also
> caused some thyroid problems (now being dealt with another drug) which also
> bring him down. if you have the art. valve you must be on cumadin (sp?).
> does that affect performance? you know, a successul valve surgery is a great
> thing and you may be alive today because of a good surgeon but i think it
> takes a very long time to recover from something like that.
> dammit why dont they hurry up and get that stem cell stuff going so we can
> grow our own new hearts!
> -alan

08-11-2004, 11:50 AM

The valve replacement ( a mechanical valve) cured my afib. I do take
coumadin, but it does not effect my performance -- I took it for two
years before the operation and it did not affect it then.

I am taking 12.5 mg/day of Atenolol, which may affect my perforamnce,
but it is a very small dose.

When I did take amiodarone it left me a complete wreck, with no energy
at all.

Joe Davidson

> did the valve replacement fix the a-fib? im assuming they used an artificial
> valve since you're still young.
> i also have the same congenital prolapse and my father had valve surgery
> recently. (he wwas hiking 5 or more miles every day before the a-fib and
> surgery) now one thing that keeps him down is the amiodarone he takes for
> the a-fib (which did not go away after the valve repair). this drug also
> caused some thyroid problems (now being dealt with another drug) which also
> bring him down. if you have the art. valve you must be on cumadin (sp?).
> does that affect performance? you know, a successul valve surgery is a great
> thing and you may be alive today because of a good surgeon but i think it
> takes a very long time to recover from something like that.
> dammit why dont they hurry up and get that stem cell stuff going so we can
> grow our own new hearts!
> -alan

08-11-2004, 11:50 AM

The valve replacement ( a mechanical valve) cured my afib. I do take
coumadin, but it does not effect my performance -- I took it for two
years before the operation and it did not affect it then.

I am taking 12.5 mg/day of Atenolol, which may affect my perforamnce,
but it is a very small dose.

When I did take amiodarone it left me a complete wreck, with no energy
at all.

Joe Davidson

> did the valve replacement fix the a-fib? im assuming they used an artificial
> valve since you're still young.
> i also have the same congenital prolapse and my father had valve surgery
> recently. (he wwas hiking 5 or more miles every day before the a-fib and
> surgery) now one thing that keeps him down is the amiodarone he takes for
> the a-fib (which did not go away after the valve repair). this drug also
> caused some thyroid problems (now being dealt with another drug) which also
> bring him down. if you have the art. valve you must be on cumadin (sp?).
> does that affect performance? you know, a successul valve surgery is a great
> thing and you may be alive today because of a good surgeon but i think it
> takes a very long time to recover from something like that.
> dammit why dont they hurry up and get that stem cell stuff going so we can
> grow our own new hearts!
> -alan

08-11-2004, 11:50 AM

The valve replacement ( a mechanical valve) cured my afib. I do take
coumadin, but it does not effect my performance -- I took it for two
years before the operation and it did not affect it then.

I am taking 12.5 mg/day of Atenolol, which may affect my perforamnce,
but it is a very small dose.

When I did take amiodarone it left me a complete wreck, with no energy
at all.

Joe Davidson

> did the valve replacement fix the a-fib? im assuming they used an artificial
> valve since you're still young.
> i also have the same congenital prolapse and my father had valve surgery
> recently. (he wwas hiking 5 or more miles every day before the a-fib and
> surgery) now one thing that keeps him down is the amiodarone he takes for
> the a-fib (which did not go away after the valve repair). this drug also
> caused some thyroid problems (now being dealt with another drug) which also
> bring him down. if you have the art. valve you must be on cumadin (sp?).
> does that affect performance? you know, a successul valve surgery is a great
> thing and you may be alive today because of a good surgeon but i think it
> takes a very long time to recover from something like that.
> dammit why dont they hurry up and get that stem cell stuff going so we can
> grow our own new hearts!
> -alan